HE is the Strictly favourite who is so passionate about food he whips up delicious tiramisu for the cast and swaps sweets with Claudia Winkleman backstage.
But today pro dancer Vito Coppola bravely reveals a personal secret for the first time.
Strictly’s Vito Coppola reveals bullies left him with crippling health battle Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston
Vito, who won lifted the Glitterball in 2023 with Ellie Leach, developed bulimia after being taunted about his body Credit: PA
For Vito, 33, battled crippling eating disorder bulimia from his late teens after being cruelly bullied and taunted about his body by harsh judges and rivals in the “toxic” world of competitive dance.
In an exclusive and emotional interview, he revealed: “I want to be open about that dark period in my life and what I’ve been through.
“Once it becomes an ingrained habit, bulimia — that act of bingeing on food and purging it — is so serious and potentially life-threatening.
“In the competition world there is always someone better, stronger, faster, slimmer or quicker than you, so you push yourself.
“I felt the judging panels idealised the perfect body structure. I felt different because I was taller than most, but I had wider shoulders and judges told me my bum was too big and rounded and my legs were too chunky. It can be toxic.
“I wanted the pleasure of food so I would be eating and then being sick, but in the end that really doesn’t work.
“I did it for a few months but felt very ashamed. It was a betrayal of my values — I was wasting food.
“I felt not clean and I didn’t have much love for myself.”
As the dancer publishes his moving new food memoir, Love, Vito, on Thursday, he explains that his close-knit family in Eboli, Italy, were confused by his alarming behaviour.
He added: “I felt guilty because my family were so worried about me but they didn’t know what was really going on. They didn’t know I had a problem.
“But my mum has a sixth sense. She’s my best friend — she goes dancing and does everything with me — so she understood.
“She was sending me food parcels but then would visit and find them still there, uneaten.
Vito, who danced with Fleur in 2022, admits he ‘felt guilty’ because his family were ‘so worried’ Credit: PA
Vito was also partnered with Ellie Goldstein who has Down’s Syndrome Credit: PA
“Dancing is high energy so you need lots of food to keep going.
“There was pressure dancing in a world where whatever you do it’s never enough. It’s very competitive.
“My background is healthy and in my world we know the value of food but I started to feel judged.
“Dancing is not an objective sport, it is very subjective. I’d say it’s not really a sport at all — it is an art form where who wins or loses is based on the judges’ personal taste.
“I used to cry a lot if another guy was taller and would shove me or push me over — I was always taught not to do that.
“I had sacrificed so much to get to that point and now it was disappearing through my fingers, like water.”
The crisis came to a head when Vito flew to Toronto, Canada, to compete in the World Championships in his early twenties, but collapsed during a fast-paced dance.
He explained: “I fainted during the jive because I had no energy.
“You push yourself but being strong means stepping away from a situation that is toxic and is damaging you.
It scares me to think I was on a path to developing a full-blown, long-term eating disorder, says Vito Credit: Rex
Vito sharing a snap of his breakfast on Instagram Credit: Instagram/@vitocoppola
“I’ve never gone back [to dangerous eating disorders].
“I am very empathetic and want to share my experience. In order to receive, you have to give.
“Dancing is an intense activity but anyone who has danced with me knows that now I am all about regular eating and napping.
“It scares me to think I was on a path to developing a full-blown, long-term eating disorder.”
Vito is returning to Strictly later this year following a bloodbath at the BBC show — with some of his closest friends being given the chop, including Karen Hauer and Michelle Tsiakkas.
But the star insisted that the pros have a strong camaraderie behind the scenes and there is little of the heated rivalry that has been hinted at in the past.
He added: “What you see is 100 per cent what it’s like behind the scenes — we all help and support each other, we’re all in it together.”
While Vito was not able to reveal the identity of his celebrity partner for the new series, he says the first day of rehearsals is always his favourite.
Vito is publishing his moving new food memoir, Love, Vito, on Thursday Credit: Instagram/@vitocoppola
Vito can’t reveal who his new celebrity partner is on Strictly yet Credit: Simon Jones
He added: “People think we know who our partners will be but we don’t know anything. When we meet the celebrities at the end of the summer it’s the most beautiful chaos in the world. It’s like the first day of primary school and I go round like a puppy hugging everyone. Some people break the ice, but I melt it.”
Vito lifted the Glitterball in 2023 with Coronation Street star Ellie Leach, and the pair celebrated with matching aubergine tattoos.
Two years later he was partnered with Ellie Goldstein who has Down’s Syndrome, so had to tailor his usual teaching style to accommodate her additional needs.
He recalled: “I believe everyone can dance with the right teacher to guide you — there are no bad students, only bad teachers. I love the challenge of trying to get the best from the celebs.
“With Ellie, I would put pictures of [former hosts] Claudia and Tess Daly, animals, colours and food around the studio, then direct her towards them rather than giving the steps. My dream celebrity partner would be Jessica Alba.”
Vito admitted he was astonished when Claudia and Tess quit last year. He said: “We were all shocked when we heard they were leaving. I never thought it would happen — we all love them.
“I’ll miss Claudia sneakily handing me chocolate backstage — I need to find someone else to do that.”
But Vito is delighted by the new hosting line-up of former Strictly pro Johannes Radebe, telly favourite Emma Willis and comic Josh Widdicombe, saying: “Johannes, I love him — he is the most amazing soul.
Vito hasn’t met Emma Willis yet but says he’s so excited for her to join the show Credit: Peter Jordan
How to get help for an eating disorder
IF you are worried that you or a friend or relative are struggling with an eating disorder, there are a number of things you should do.
Firstly, these are several signs you should look out for.
The signs and symptoms of eating problems can vary from person to person. However, a combination of the below symptoms could be a sign that additional support might be needed:
Preoccupation with checking calorie or other ingredient content in food
Eating a restricted amount or range of foods
Binge eating
More controlling behaviours such as rules about eating, insisting on making their own meals or only using certain utensils and cutlery
Negative self-image about their weight and/or appearance
Secretiveness or avoiding eating with others
Feeling guilty after eating
Repeatedly weighing themselves
Vomiting after eating, or going to the toilet immediately after eating
Compulsive or excessive exercising
Abnormally low or high weight or changes in weight or body shape
Long-term weight stagnation or failure to grow
Complaining of poor concentration, dizziness, tiredness or feeling cold
Getting stressed at mealtimes
Low mood, anxiety or irritability
Social withdrawal
If you think you may have an eating disorder, see a GP as soon as you can.
A GP will ask about your eating habits and how you’re feeling, plus check your overall health and weight.
They may refer you to an eating disorder specialist or team of specialists.
It can be very hard to admit you have a problem and ask for help. It may make things easier if you bring a friend or loved one with you to your appointment.
You can also talk in confidence to an adviser from eating disorders charity Beat by calling the Beat helpline on 0808 801 0677.
“I have never met Emma but I hope she’s ready for my energy. I will cook her tiramisu.
“And Josh makes me laugh so much. Change is not a bad thing.”
Vito also revealed how the dancers kill time backstage between rehearsals playing spoof games of The Traitors: “We play a short version but I am terrible at it because I can’t lie, so I am the worst player ever. I can only be a Faithful. Carlos Gu does Claudia — he dresses up in the wig and every- thing.”
Vito, who speaks four languages, also won MasterChef in 2024 with a series of traditional recipes inspired by his grand-parents.
He said: “Food has never been just food. Food is life. More than that, food is the love of my life.
“It was a beautiful experience but I didn’t really know what I was getting into. It was so much harder than I expected.
“I used my grandfather’s recipes and that’s why he’s got the trophy now because he was guiding me.
“I was shaking every week particularly when we had to make pizza because I couldn’t go out on that — getting through the pizza round was as good as winning for me.
“I was concerned they would be running to the toilet!”
Although he is a fan favourite now, Vito struggled to settle in the UK when he first came to join the Strictly cast in the summer of 2022.
He had already appeared as a pro dancer on the Italian version of Strictly, beating Bianca Gascoigne in the final.
The star had only visited Britain once before, to dance at Blackpool when he was 15 — the first time he had ever seen a carpet.
He recalled: “Strictly was an immediate ‘yes’ but there was a question mark over the weather and, of course, there are crimes against food in the UK!”
Vito was horrified at being served chicken pasta in London — and when he was offered a ham and pineapple pizza by a potential girlfriend he was so disgusted he faked tummy ache and fled.
He says: “To the girl: If you’re reading this, you asked me to choose between you and my life and I chose.”
But Vito, who even has a T-shirt saying, ‘No cheese on fish’ added: “Once I found Italian restaurants in Britain it helped me reconnect with my country, and going to mass in Italian every week keeps me grounded.
“I never felt I could settle anywhere else but I do feel very settled here now.”
Love, Vito: My Story Of Food, Family And Finding Home is published by Little Brown on Thursday, priced £25.
