Strictly winner Ellie Leach ‘wants time away from Vito to assess her feelings – but he is keen to call them a couple’
THEIR sizzling chemistry on the dance floor has had everyone wondering if there’s something romantic rumba-ling between the Strictly champions.
But Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola were quick to laugh off relationship rumours during their appearance on This Morning yesterday.
The ex-Coronation Street star, 22, who became the youngest celebrity to win Strictly Come Dancing during Saturday night’s final, insisted they are “friends for life”.
But body language expert Judi James believes Ellie is keen to “let the dust settle before making any commitment about Vito”.
Throughout the competition she observed how the young actress was in “restraint mode”, with gestures aimed at calming her dance partner’s “natural propensity for tactile and gushing, passionate displays”.
While Vito showered her face with kisses and threw his arms around her at every opportunity, Judi said Ellie was “focused and determined”, putting any distractions on hold until she had that Glitterball in her grasp.
Now that they are champions and able to express their authentic feelings, Judi said Ellie demonstrated “six verbal cues” that she would prefer to keep her cards close to her chest, for now.
Speaking to The Sun, she said: “On the dance floor this couple produced more chemistry than a science lab, and their synchronicity and displays of emotional connection added the winning glow to their routines.
“Vito is still looking as besotted with Ellie as he did during the run of the show, and she seems to adore him, but she also shows signs of being very level-headed and diplomatic.
“Her restraining signals seem to imply that they should keep the fans guessing for longer – and she’s sensible beyond her years to do so.
“Strictly relationships can be like holiday romances, and she probably wants time and space to bump back down to Earth before making or showing any stronger emotions.”
‘Time to breathe’
When quizzed by hosts Craig Doyle and Josie Gibson on how they’ll cope post-Strictly, Judi observed how Ellie’s hand gestures implied she wants to “take time to breathe and assess her feelings and any next moves”.
“She raised both hands between them and used emphatic eye contact. It hinted that Vito might be keen to call them out as a couple but that she needs to take time out first,” Judi explained.
Judi also pointed out how, for once, Ellie and Vito’s body language lacked synchronicity on the This Morning sofa.
“Ellie sat quite primly with her legs crossed away from Vito and her hands clasped over her knees,” she said.
“He sat splayed out and he used every excuse to touch Ellie, with no affirming or mirrored response.
“When she said she’d miss training, Vito grabbed her arm and said ‘Don’t worry, we can call you in,’ and her smile dropped like a brick.”
And while Vito was more than happy to acknowledge their “magic chemistry” with a “smug smile”, Judi told how Ellie’s gestures towards Vito tended to be “playful or even gently mocking rather than besotted”.
“Ellie’s smile was a much more rigid, social smile that suggested she’d prefer to keep her cards close to her chest,” she said.
“Vito might even have thrown in the ‘love’ bomb at one stage but Ellie was keen to correct that to their strong ‘bond’.
“Ellie pointed to him and pulled a face at the presenters when he said they could carry on training.
“She even threw a cocked thumb at him when he suggested he’d be ringing her when she’s taking a ‘break over Christmas’.”
Telling look
When Josie bluntly asked whether there is a romantic connection there, Judi observed how Ellie didn’t look at Vito, which she believes is telling.
“When someone is in love they will tend to be desperate with curiosity to see their reaction to questions like this,” she explained.
“But Ellie bent forward in a cut-off ritual to hide her face as she laughed.
“When she straightened, she used a raised hand to ‘conduct’ Vito as she said, ‘We’ve just been having the most amazing time,’ in what looked and sounded like a political swerve.”