It almost looked like a kiss… (Picture: BBC)
While speculation surrounding Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola’s rumoured romance continues, it has now been claimed that their relationship looks to be ‘one-sided’.
The 22-year-old Coronation Street actress actress and pro dancer, 31, have sent fans wild with some teasing clues that the infamous Strictly curse has struck for the first time this series.
Ex-Strictly contestant Amanda Abbington seemingly confirmed the pair were an official couple just days ago, and they’ve since been spotted getting rather intimate.
But, the emotions could all just be coming from one side, body language expert Judi James has claimed, after Ellie and Vito almost pulled a Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell moment with a near kiss towards the end of their performance.
Judi told Metro.co.uk: ‘The couple seemed to be going for Bobby and Dianne’s nearly-kiss record at the end of their dance but missed it by a few seconds.
‘This ritual is a feature of Strictly routines, where the couple end their dance to pose with their mouths teasingly close as fans go wild, waiting for a loss of control leading to a real mouth kiss.
Romance rumours have been swirling (Picture: PA)
‘Vito hovered over Ellie’s mouth for a good nine seconds. Any thoughts of genuine passion were dashed though when you could hear both of them heaving for breath after their busy routine.
‘If there is any budding fondness between these two it’s emerging in two very different sets of body language signals.’
Judi continued: ‘Ellie seems to look up at Vito with signals of respect for him as a coach. Vito though gives the impression that he can’t stop showering her with kisses and hugs.
‘He buried his face in her neck at the end of the routine, pulling her close before planting a volley of kisses over her cheek.
‘They’re making any emotions look very one-sided at the moment though’ (Picture: PA)
‘Ellie is the one looking away as he envelops her in a double arm encircling hug around the neck and shoulders and her eyes remain fixed on Tess [Daly] as he rubs her arm in a gesture of affection.
‘While Vito showered her with kisses, Ellie adopted a body pose that looked shy and girlish, giggling at Tess or Claudia [Winkleman] while standing with her fingers meshed in a hand clasp that is held in front of her lower torso.’
Judi concluded: ‘Vito’s confidence and his tactile behaviour blends well with Ellie’s more coy-looking rituals.
‘They’re making any emotions look very one-sided at the moment though, with all the hugs coming from Vito and the shy smiles from Ellie.’
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This comes after Ellie opened up about how much her partner means to her, saying she’d be ‘lost’ on the dancefloor without him.
In a clip on Friday’s It Takes Two, she said: ‘I don’t even want to think about taking to the dancefloor without Vito.
‘I would be completely lost. It would be my worst nightmare.’
Strictly Come Dancing continues tomorrow night at 7.20pm on BBC One.
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The Strictly pair are caught up in romance rumours.