The professional dancer took to social media as he looked back across the year
Vito Coppola joined the cast of Strictly Come Dancing in 2022(Image: Vito Coppola Instagram)
Strictly Come Dancing star Vito Coppola “thanked” 2025 as he looked ahead to the new year and opened up about the moments he’ll “cherish”
The professional dancer joined the BBC series back in 2022 for the show’s 20th series, arriving from the Italian version (Ballando con le Stelle) and making it to the final with his first partner, Fleur East.
In 2023, Vito won his first Glitterball trophy with former Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach, after pipping Layton Williams and Bobby Brazier to the post.
For the most recent series, Vito was paired with model Ellie Goldstein who became the BBC series first contestant with Down Syndrome. However, following a dance-off with Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon they were eliminated from the series.
This marked the first time since joining Strictly Come Dancing that he hadn’t made it to past the halfway point of the competition, with him heading all the way to the final in 2024 with actress Sarah Hadland.
Following the elimination, Vito gushed to Ellie: “Honestly, there are no words I can use to describe how proud I am of you and you did really change my life so much.
“You made me such a better person. At the beginning of this year, I said to myself, ‘Please, please, please can you send me a beautiful angel into my life?’ And now you arrived.”
He did, however, take home the win in Strictly’s Christmas special with TV personality Scarlett Moffatt after the duo received a full 40 points for their festive routine.
The dancer won the Christmas special for 2025(Image: Instagram)
Taking to his Instagram, Vito shared a reflection of 2025 in Italian as he welcomed 2026. Translated, he wrote: “This time I choose to write in Italian to thank not only a year that was different and in difficult ways, but above all to thank the people who were part of it.
“Thank you for making my year so right! I won’t mention any names because the people who have really been a part of my life know that… people who are ‘always’ there completely unconditionally.
“I owe you the greatest thanks, because you taught me that with love, passion, dedication, sacrifice, persistence, perseverance and determination that we choose how to lead our lives.
“My biggest fortune is not what I do, what I accomplish or what I have materially, but it is to always be surrounded by people who give me love, so much love, so much that it even hurts sometimes, to be part of something bigger than ourselves, that He gives us smiles and moments of shared happiness, that we will cherish forever in our hearts and, that define happiness!
“At the same time, with an equally smile, I thank the people who chose not to be a part of my life anymore, because they taught me that we are all passerby and there is no right or wrong, there are only choices that define who we want to be. Sometimes you have to let the light in, after that there will be room for new people..
“Thank you 2025, I’m taking a lot of you with me in this new year, but I’m also leaving a lot on this last day, because it’s just like that! Life is wonderful and you should always live it to the fullest and without regrets.”
The dancer concluded: “I am ready for you dear 2026, ready to learn, to rejoice, to cry, I am ready for everything, as long as I have the people I love by my side, who are my only great and eternal wealth!”
