Ellie Leach’s mother has said that her daughter has formed a ‘great connection’ and ‘wonderful friendship’ with her partner Vito Coppola on Strictly Come Dancing.
The Corrie star, 22, and the Italian dancer, 31, have sparked much speculation about the nature of their relationship in recent weeks.
The two have danced intimately together on the BBC ballroom contest, and Vito has taken to calling Ellie sweet nicknames as they train together, such as ‘my baby’, ‘my Lulu’ and a ‘diamond’.
In addition, Ellie has also added ‘love you’ to messages to Vito on social media, while former co-star Amanda Abbington appeared to accidentally out the pair by referring to them as a ‘beautiful couple’ on Instagram.
Her mother Karen, 50, has now discussed the couple’s close bond, saying Vito has helped Ellie come out of her shell and revealed that he has even joined the Leach family at their home several times.
Candid: Ellie Leach ‘s mother has said that her daughter has formed a ‘great connection’ and ‘wonderful friendship’ with her partner Vito Coppola on Strictly Come Dancing (Ellie and Karen pictured together)
Romance rumours: The Coronation Street star, 22, and the Italian dancer, 31, have sparked much speculation about the nature of their relationship in recent weeks (pictured on show)
Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, Karen said: ‘Even though Vito is teaching her to dance, he has also been helping her focus on her self-confidence and inner strengths, which is something she has always suffered with growing up.
‘They have formed such a wonderful friendship and have a great connection on the dance floor.’
She gushed: “He is such fun to be around and so confident. He has spent dinner with us on a few occasions. Wow, he can eat! It is great for me as I am a feeder, so he fits in just fine.
‘He loves to hang around over my shoulder while I’m cooking to see what ingredients I’m putting together. It is lovely having him over. He has such a lovely aura about him.’
It comes after Ellie also addressed the romance rumours swirling around and Vito, and tried to downplay their closeness.
The actress told OK! Magazine that her kisses with the professional dancer are just a sign of ‘deep friendship’.
She said: ‘It was only a kiss on the cheek. He gives me a kiss on the cheek every Saturday!’
And denying that it could have been anything more, she added: ‘It was definitely on the cheek.’
Telling all: Her mother Karen, 50, has now discussed the couple’s close bond, saying Vito has helped Ellie come out of her shell and revealed that he has even joined the Leach family at their home several times
Speaking out: It comes after Ellie also addressed the romance rumours swirling around and Vito, and tried to downplay their closeness
On Sunday’s results show host Claudia Winkleman referred to Vito’s affectionate nicknames for Ellie as she asked the dancer why he calls her ‘a diamond’.
‘I think for me Ellie is like a diamond, but not like a normal diamond, she is this rough diamond that you need to put under pressure and shine the front and the sides,’ Vito explained.
‘At the moment we are in between the shiny and the rough,’ he added to a bemused reaction from Claudia.
Vito appeared to ‘confirm’ his romance with partner Ellie, calling her ‘my baby’ in a seductive Instagram post that delighted fans.
The Italian hunk posed in the sultry black and white photograph while flexing his tattooed muscle, captioning the upload: ‘Just finished another day of rehearsal. Well done to my baby Ellie Leach.’
They were then pictured putting on a very cosy display in rehearsals, practicing the intimate dance with their faces just inches away from kissing.
His declaration of love towards the soap satr comes after their ex-Strictly co-star Amanda, 51, called them the ‘most beautiful couple’ on social media while saying she was ‘so proud’ of their performance.
Diamond: On Sunday’s results show host Claudia Winkleman referred to Vito’s affectionate nicknames for Ellie as she asked the dancer why he calls her ‘a diamond’
Just days earlier the dancing duo declared their love for each other in gushing social media tributes amid reports ‘sparks are flying’ behind the scenes.
Ellie shared a snap of hers and Vito’s latest performance which she branded as a ‘magical night’ as they topped the leaderboard for a second time.
Writing: ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you. What a magical night, we are so grateful for all of your support and we’re soooo happy to be through to another week on that Strictly dance floor’.
Fans and famous friends rushed in their droves to praise the pair with Amanda commenting: ‘Stunning. So proud of the both of you. You are the most beautiful couple!’.
MailOnline contacted Ellie and Vito’s reps for comment at the time.
Hint hint: Vito appeared to ‘confirm’ his romance with partner Ellie , calling her ‘my baby’ in a seductive Instagram post that delighted fans
