Strictly Come Dancing's Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola have continued to fuel romance speculation after the Coronation Street star admitted her father “loves” her pro partner.
The dancing duo wowed the judges with their Argentine Tango to Destiny Child’s Bills, Bills, Bills over the weekend, earning them an impressive 38 out of 40.
Reflecting on her journey thus far, Leach, 22, told host Claudia Winkleman, 51, about the pride her father is feeling about her experience on the show - and added how fond he is of her 31-year-old dance partner during Sunday's results show.
She shared: “My dad is usually a man of few words and he rarely shows any emotion but every week he messages me and is like ‘so proud of you, crying again’ like welling up.
“And he's just been so amazing and such support, it's been nice to know that I'm making him proud.”
She added: “He loves Vito.”
To which the Italian dancer shared: “I love Ellie's family because you know, we exchange cooking recipes and I say like, ‘ok, show me how you do the gravy and the mash potato and I'll tell you how to do pasta’.”
The comments didn’t go unnoticed by viewers at home who took to social media to declare that they “ship” them.
Taking to X, formerly one person wrote: “Whether they are in a genuine couple or not, Ellie and Vito are my 2023 Christmas love story and you shall not convince me otherwise.
“As the kids say I SHIP them.”
“#Strictly can I just say how much I love #Vito! He's like an excited little puppy you just want to pick up and hug. And him and #Ellie just make the best dancing couple ever! And would make a gorgeous couple away from dancing,” another penned.
A third commented: “Aww Ellie and Vito are so cute together, really hope it’s true love.”
Earlier this month, Leach skirted around the question of whether there was more than a friendship between her Coppola.
"We really, really get along and we have a lovely friendship. I hope we can continue that."
She added to OK! Magazine: "We’ve got a really good relationship where we kind of know what the other needs. Vito even lets me have power naps during training."
The star is single after splitting from her boyfriend of five years, Reagan Pettman - who she accused of being unfaithful, in May.
Coppola has also been single since splitting from his ex-girlfriend Arisa last year.
