Helen Skelton is rumoured to be dating dancer Vito Coppola after growing close on the Strictly Come Dancing tour. The pair reportedly "bonded" while travelling together between UK cities on the tour bus.
Helen, 39, who reached the popular show's final with partner Gorka Marquez last year, has been single since splitting from ex-husband and Leeds Rhinos star Richie Myler, 32, months before the show began. However her involvement with Vito - who also got to the final with singer Fleur East - has allegedly got her co-stars talking.
A source told The Mirror: “Helen and Vito were good friends during Strictly, but really bonded on tour. There were two buses for the cast – the party bus and the quiet bus.
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“They spent a lot of time chatting on the quiet bus and getting to know each other. They have a lot in common – a love of the outdoors, for example.
“Between shows they also spent time together one-on-one, like going for coffee, just the two of them. Then, if the whole group went for dinner, they would sit together, deep in conversation.”
It appears the pair want to keep their closeness away from the public eye. The source added: “If anyone pulled out a phone and started filming, Helen would move away from Vito. She didn’t want to be captured in the background.”
Her eight-year marriage to Ireland international scrum half Richie came to an end in April 2022, months after she gave birth to their third child, Elsie. Richie has since begun a relationship with Stephanie Thirkhill, 32, and the couple are now expecting a baby.
Helen has said dancing on the BBC show helped her feel “liberated”. She has previously admitted: “I’ve found my confidence on the dance floor.”
Vito joined the show as a professional last year and quickly impressed in sizzling routines with the likes of fellow pro Nadiya Bychkova. He then danced his way straight into the final with Fleur, 35.
When the show ended last year, Helen sent the pair an Instagram message with two heart emojis. She has also shared a rare photo of herself on tour with Vito, along with pro dancer Carlos Gu, tour host Janette Manrara and fellow celeb contestants Molly Rainford and Will Mellor.
The source said: “Helen had a great time on tour. It was a fantastic group of people and they had lots of laughs. After it ended [last month], she went straight home to her kids then flew to Portugal for a family holiday.
“Vito went to Italy and then to Limassol, Cyprus, for some teaching sessions there. But they’re hoping to catch up when he’s back in the UK.”
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