{"id":472351,"date":"2026-05-07T04:07:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T04:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/472351\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T04:07:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T04:07:13","slug":"vito-coppola-opens-up-about-bbc-strictly-exits-with-advice-for-co-stars-keep-moving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/472351\/","title":{"rendered":"Vito Coppola opens up about BBC Strictly exits with advice for co-stars: ‘Keep moving’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vito Coppola has offered words of wisdom to his fellow Strictly Come Dancing professionals who have been dropped from the programme amid sweeping cast changes.<\/p>\n

The 33-year-old Italian dancer, who claimed victory in 2023 alongside celebrity partner Ellie Leach, encouraged those departing not to dwell on the news.<\/p>\n

“In the dancing world, there is this rule that I have personally learnt ‘never to be too happy or too sad when something happens,'” he told The Sun. “It just helps you to keep grounded and keep moving.”<\/p>\n

The professional, who first appeared on the BBC show in 2022, also reflected on his deep attachment to the programme.<\/p>\n

\"Ellie<\/p>\n

Vito Coppola won BBC Strictly alongside Ellie Leach in 2022<\/p>\n

| BBC<\/p>\n

“Strictly became my second family, Strictly is the reason I came to the UK,” he shared. “For me, it’s a special bubble.”<\/p>\n

The cast shake-up has seen several long-standing professionals removed from the line-up ahead of the 24th series.<\/p>\n

Karen Hauer, 43, who holds the record as the show’s longest-serving female professional, is among those departing.<\/a><\/p>\n

Gorka Marquez, 35, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, have also been let go as producers implement significant changes to the programme.<\/p>\n

The departures come as part of what has been described as a brutal cull of the professional dancer roster.<\/p>\n

Mr Coppola himself will be returning for the upcoming series, <\/a>having secured his place among the continuing cast members.<\/p>\n

He spoke of the close bonds formed between the professionals, comparing some colleagues to siblings while others he likened to “cousins, aunties”, adding: “I like to recreate my familiar environment.”<\/p>\n

Mr Marquez confirmed his permanent exit from the programme last week, bringing an end to speculation about his future.<\/p>\n

\"Vito<\/p>\n

Vito Coppola talked about the close bonds formed between the professionals<\/p>\n

| <\/p>\n

GETTY<\/p>\n

The Spanish dancer announced his decision on Instagram, explaining that scheduling clashes between Strictly and Dancing With The Stars Spain had prompted him to step away.<\/p>\n

“I’ve decided that now is the time to hang up my dance shoes and say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing,” he wrote.<\/p>\n

The 35-year-old expressed deep gratitude for his decade on the show, noting it had enabled him to “build a career from my passion, find love, start a family, and make lifelong friends”.<\/p>\n

Despite leaving the main programme, Mr Marquez confirmed he would continue performing on the Strictly Pro Tour, which begins this week.<\/p>\n

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He signed off with hopes of one day joining the judging panel, writing: “Hopefully hold up a few paddles and give out some tens along the way.”<\/p>\n

The BBC has confirmed which professionals will return for the upcoming series, with Dianne Buswell among them after competing last year while pregnant and welcoming son Bowden in March.<\/p>\n

Amy Dowden is also set to make a comeback following her early elimination alongside Thomas Skinner in the previous run.<\/p>\n

The returning roster includes Julian Caillon, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przysta\u0142, Johannes Radebe, Alja\u017e \u0160korjanec, Alexis Warr, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu and Lauren Oakley.<\/p>\n

Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas will all be back, with new professional dancers also joining the line-up.<\/p>\n

However, with approximately four months until the 24th series launches, producers are still searching for replacements for departed hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who announced their exit in October.<\/p>\n