'Food is my first love'

Strictly professional Vito Coppola talks about the BBC show's recent scandals, returning stars and appearing on Celebrity MasterChef

- JEN PHARO

He's got the moves, the muscles and he can cook, but for Strictly Come Dancing champion Vito Coppola, love is off the menu.

The Italian dancer - who won the Glitterball Trophy with his celebrity partner Ellie Leach last year has revealed that despite speculation of a simmering romance between him and the Coronation Street beauty, he remains footloose and fancy free as he waits to find out who his new star dance partner will be.

"At the moment, I am, as Lady Gaga says, in love with my art, with my passion, with my job," sighs Vito, 31. "I'm very lucky with my career. So at the moment, it's just me, myself and I." However, just because there's no partner at home to spoil him, it doesn't mean Vito is missing out on candlelit meals. As part of his self-care routine when he's in the UK and away from his native Italy, the dancer likes to cook for himself in the evenings, light some candles and think about the many blessings in his life.

"Sometimes I treat myself," explains Vito. "I like to prepare nicely, even though it's just myself, with a bit of decoration and food, and I light a candle and I say to myself, 'OK, I'm grateful for this, I'm grateful for this life, I'm grateful for this food.' I think of my family, because food always brings me to my family.

I just feel very, very happy and grateful, actually. So sometimes I have a date with myself."

Being single gives Vito time to focus on his career, which is about to take him into the Celebrity MasterChef kitchen to see if he's inherited his beloved nonna's pasta skills.

"I love dancing, and it's my passion, but food is my first love," explains Vito. "I always say food feeds the world - it connects people, reunites people, and keeps people together. Before even starting to dance I've been eating, and trust me, I've been eating a lot!"