TV presenter Helen Skelton had a ball with Vito Coppola on the Strictly tour – and word on the dance floor is the couple are stepping out on casual dates.
Sources say the Countryfile host and the professional dancer have “bonded” after spending time together on the show tour bus as it travelled between UK cities.
Mum-of-three Helen, 39 – who hot-footed it to last year’s final with Gorka Marquez – has been single since splitting from her rugby star husband Richie Myler, 32, just months before the 2022 Strictly season kicked off.
But her link with Italian Vito – who also made the final with singer-songwriter Fleur East – is said to have caught the attention of fellow stars behind the scenes.
A source said tonight: “Helen and Vito were good friends during Strictly, but really bonded on tour.
“There were two buses for the cast – the party bus and the quiet bus.
“They spent a lot of time chatting on the quiet bus and getting to know each other. They have a lot in common – a love of the outdoors, for example.
“Between shows they also spent time together one-on-one, like going for coffee, just the two of them.
“Then, if the whole group went for dinner, they would sit together, deep in conversation.”
But it seems the pair want to keep their closeness under wraps. The source added: “If anyone pulled out a phone and started filming, Helen would move away from Vito. She didn’t want to be captured in the background.”
Helen’s eight-year marriage to Leeds Rhinos scrum half Richie ended last year, soon after she gave birth to their third child, Elsie.
Richie then began a relationship with Stephanie Thirkhill, 32, and they are now expecting a baby.
Helen has said dancing on the BBC show helped her feel “liberated”. She has previously admitted: “I’ve found my confidence on the dance floor.”
Vito joined the show last year and quickly impressed in sizzling routines with the likes of fellow pro Nadiya Bychkova.
He then danced his way straight into the final with Fleur, 35.
When the show ended last year, Helen sent the pair an Instagram message with two heart emojis.
She has also shared a rare photo of herself on tour with Vito, along with pro dancer Carlos Gu, tour host Janette Manrara and fellow celeb contestants Molly Rainford and Will Mellor.
The source said: “Helen had a great time on tour. It was a fantastic group of people and they had lots of laughs.
“After it ended [last month], she went straight home to her kids then flew to Portugal for a family holiday.
“Vito went to Italy and then to Limassol, Cyprus, for some teaching sessions there. But they’re hoping to catch up when he’s back in the UK.”
