BREAKING NEWS: Strictly’s Vito Coppola Reveals ‘Secret’ Off-Camera Agreement With Emma Willis
Strictly Come Dancing star Vito Coppola has revealed the cheeky backstage pact he has already made with new host Emma Willis ahead of the BBC show’s highly anticipated return.
The Italian professional dancer will be back on screens for the 24th series of Strictly, which will introduce a brand-new presenting line-up featuring Emma, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.
While fans are waiting to see how the trio settle into their new roles, Vito has already formed a close bond with Emma — and apparently has a plan to make sure he never goes hungry during the live shows.
Speaking about the upcoming series, Vito said he was “very, very excited” about what lies ahead.
He revealed that although he had admired Emma before meeting her, the pair immediately clicked when they finally came face to face.
“I met Emma, and I loved her since the first moment I met her in person,” he said.
But their first conversations quickly turned to something slightly less serious than ballroom dancing.
Vito Makes Cheeky Deal With Emma
Vito admitted he approached Emma with an unusual proposal before the new series had even begun.
“I said to her, ‘Listen, Emma, we need to make an agreement,’” he recalled.
The 33-year-old explained that long filming days often leave him feeling hungry, so he wants Emma to help secretly keep him supplied with snacks while the cameras are rolling.
“There are many moments where I’m going to be a bit hungry and I need some snacks,” Vito explained.
His solution is simple: bring a box of Balconi cakes backstage and have Emma quietly pass one to him whenever he needs an energy boost.
“You just pass me a cake every now and then, just under the table,” he joked.
Whether the snack-smuggling plan actually makes it through a live episode remains to be seen, but Vito is clearly already enjoying his friendship with the new presenter.
The dancer recently partnered with Italian bakery brand Balconi, a collaboration that has special significance because the cakes were a major part of his childhood.
Childhood Favourite Comes Full Circle
Vito explained that he and his brother grew up eating Balconi cakes in Italy.
They would have them at breakfast and sometimes again before bed with milk.
“We could eat like one entire box per breakfast and one per night,” he joked.
Their enthusiasm apparently became so intense that their father began trying to limit how many they ate, turning the snacks into something of a childhood “hide and seek” game.
For Vito, working with the brand years later therefore feels like much more than a commercial deal.
Vito Excited for Entire New Hosting Team
Emma is not the only new presenter Vito is looking forward to working with.
He also spoke warmly about Johannes Radebe, who is stepping away from his usual professional dancer role to become part of the presenting team.
“Jojo, my lovely Johannes, I love him so so much,” Vito said.
He added that he cannot wait to see his fellow dancer “shine like the most beautiful star in the sky”, and admitted he is particularly excited to see the outfits Johannes chooses for his new role.
Vito also joked about his reunion with Josh Widdicombe.
The last time the pair met, Josh was competing in the Strictly Christmas Special while dressed as a penguin.
Vito said they shared a laugh over the memory when discussing Josh’s return to the programme in a very different role.
The latest comments come as Strictly prepares for one of its biggest changes in years.
With a new presenting trio taking charge, Johannes moving away from choreography and the professionals returning for another series, the BBC favourite will have a noticeably different feel.
But Vito appears fully ready to embrace the shake-up.
And if his backstage arrangement with Emma goes according to plan, he may also be one of the best-fed dancers in the ballroom.
