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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Mark Jefferies

New Strictly star should be wary of curse after fling with Italian show partner

Strictly has unveiled four new pro dancers – and one has already proven to have irresistible moves on the Italian version of the show.

Vito Coppola, 29, not only won the title in Italy last year with pop star Arisa, 39, but ended up dating her too.

The pair are no longer an item which could make him an ideal partner for a flirty celeb on the BBC show.

He said: "I am really excited to become part of this family.

"I cannot wait to start this new adventure and to challenge myself."

The dreaded Strictly curse – with dance partners falling for each other while on the show – has ended more than one high profile relationship.

Vito Coppola is one of the new dancers who will take to the Strictly dance floor later this year (Uknown)
The handsome dancer won the Italian version of the BBC show alongside pop star Arisa last year (Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

Vito has been poached by the BBC after one series on the Italian version. The three other dancers joining Strictly for the 2022 series are Michelle Tsiakkas, Carlos Gu and Lauren Oakley.

Former under-21 British national champion Lauren has been leading lady to Strictly stars Giovanni Pernice and Anton Du Beke during their national tours.

Birmingham-born Lauren, 31, said: "I’ve grown up watching Strictly, always hoping that one day I could be part of the best show on television, doing what I love the most. Now that it’s happening, it doesn’t quite seem real."

Newbie Lauren said the news she is joining the BBC show doesn't 'seem real' (Uknown)

Latin dance champion Michelle, 26, who is from Cyprus, said: "Being a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing has been my dream ever since I was a little girl. I cannot believe my dream has come true. I can’t wait to step on that magical dance floor and give it my all."

Chinese national champion Carlos 29, said he is "thrilled" to be joining the team.

Head judge Shirley Ballas praised the new recruits saying: "Wow... going from strength to strength. This is going to be a year of brilliance."

Carlos is another of the new faces who will be appearing on the BBC show in the autumn (INSTAGRAM)

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The new additions come after two-time winner Oti Mabuse and Aljaz Skorjanec announced their departures.

The quartet will join current professionals Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Cameron Lombard, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk,

Giovanni Pernice, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu in the new series.

The last series of Strictly was won by Rose Ayling-Ellis with her professional partner Giovanni Pernice.

Strictly Come Dancing returns for its 20th series this autumn on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer.

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