DYNAMIC DUO - We're both excitablewe've got golden retriever energy'

Sarah Hadland and her Strictly partner Vito Coppola on their work ethic, the joys of Marmite on toast, and sharing a two-man tent

- SHELLEY SPADONI

What happens when you put two big balls of energy together in the same room? Something like Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola, we imagine. Actress Sarah, famed for appearing in comedy series Miranda with her best mate Miranda Hart, has been taking Strictly Come Dancing by storm alongside Italian pro Vito and their sense of fun, as well as dedication, is palpable.

As we catch up with them for an exclusive OK! shoot, the pair are in raptures about the 70s vibes of the decor and clothes. “We feel amazing — these outfits! I actually feel a bit gangster!” laughs Sarah, as Vito adds, “I love it. Very, very cool.”

These two have clearly formed a bond — Vito teasing Sarah about teaching her to “walk properly”, followed by her pulling off the most complicated dance move without batting an eyelid, then doing a brilliant impression of Vito’s accent as she describes hilarious moments in training. Here, they talk Strictly, cultural exchanges and why it will be hard to leave the “glorious technicolour” of the show when it’s all over…

When OK! asks about her Strictly journey so far, it seems Sarah still can’t quite believe she’s performing on the glitzy BBC show. “I’ve always been a Strictly superfan, so this is so surreal. Every year I have a big group of friends I watch it with, and now I’m in it! It’s mad. It’s simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying.”

Mum-of-one Sarah, 53, likens it to being on a “speeding train”, saying, “Sometimes, you want to get off, have a cup of tea and a lie-down, but you wouldn’t dream of it, because it’s so thrilling you don’t want it to end. It feels like a fairy tale. Everything else will feel like black and white after this.”