Ellie Leach's four-word message to 'boyfriend' Vito Coppola after emotional Strictly win

Ellie Leach's four-word message to 'boyfriend' Vito Coppola after emotional Strictly win

Ellie Leach had a four-word message for Vito Coppola after they won Strictly Come Dancing 2023 last night. The former Coronation Street regular paid tribute to her professional partner and rumoured boyfriend moments after being awarded the Glitterball.

The 22-year-old and youngest-ever show winner moved viewers at home with her kind statement about the 31-year-old Italian. "This is for you," she urged, before reiterating the statement again.

Ellie and Vito triumphed over Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell as well as Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin in the grand finale. Speaking after the viewer vote was confirmed, she said: "I actually, genuinely cannot believe this."

"For once, you're crying more than me," she told Vito. Talking about their triumph, he continued: "I mean this is like the cherry on the cake."

Turning to Ellie, he then stated: "You have been so amazing, you are Strictly, you represent Strictly. You are finally, you know, the diamond I was talking [about]."

Ellie Leach told her Strictly partner Vito Coppola the win was for him

Ellie is yet to comment on her win online, while Vito has shared a number of videos of the big moment via Instagram.

On the judges' scoreboard, provided as a guideline, Layton, 29, had been in the lead with a total of 119 points.

Second to them was Bobby, 20, who received 117 points, and they were followed by Ellie with 115 - who cinched the trophy with the help of the public.

For their show dance, the couple performed a Jennifer Lopez megamix and she was praised for taking a "risk" with a lift that she was unable to execute.

Ellie Leach became the youngest ever winner of Strictly Come Dancing

Their final performance, which they chose from their back catalogue, was the American smooth to the song Ain't That A Kick In The Head in the style of Robbie Williams.

Afterwards, judge Anton Du Beke said he was "getting emotional" before he told the soap star he was proud of her.

Ellie and Vito previously addressed dating rumours, with the pro saying: "We are in the rehearsals all day, we have so many things to think about, choreography… we have to have the time to eat, we nap a little bit, then we go home and we eat and sleep because we rehearse again so we really are so focused.

"All of this beautiful experience, words cannot describe how we are enjoying every single rehearsal, every single second of this amazing experience."