The Mix-Up
Claudia Winkleman, host of Strictly Come Dancing, found herself in an awkward situation when professional dancer Vito Coppola mistook her for her co-host Tess Daly during a conversation. The embarrassing blunder occurred while Vito, 31, was chatting with Claudia, 51, and contestant Ellie Leach, 22.
A Good Laugh
As Vito referred to Claudia as "Tess," Ellie quickly corrected him, resulting in laughter from all three. Claudia skillfully handled the situation, insisting that she'll take it in stride. After regaining his composure, Vito revealed that the pair call themselves "team aubergine" because Ellie developed a love for the vegetable from his cooking.
Close Bond
Ellie and Vito have grown close during the competition, even sharing a passionate kiss on stage during a Paso Doble performance just a few weeks ago. The dance brought a sense of revitalization to Ellie, who had experienced heartbreak in May following her split from cheating ex Reagan Pettman. She now sees Strictly as an opportunity to build self-confidence and push herself to realize her capabilities.
Encouragement from Vito
Vito has become a mentor to Ellie, teaching her valuable lessons about competition and self-belief. He encourages her to fight fatigue and stress, reminding her that she is capable of great things. Ellie admits to not praising herself enough, but Vito is there to remind her of her accomplishments.
