Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Vito Coppola has revealed he is a devout Christian who attends mass at an Italian church in London every week without fail.
The 33-year-old Italian choreographer, who joined the BBC flagship entertainment show in 2022, visits Saint Peter's Church in Farringdon, central London, every Sunday morning to stay connected to his heritage.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Coppola explained that Sunday morning is his only period of rest during a demanding schedule, dedicating the time to religious service, cooking, and speaking with his family in Italy.
Weekly Mass at Saint Peter's Church
Coppola said he was raised in a Christian household where attending Sunday church was a regular family routine. Finding an Italian-language mass in the UK capital has helped him maintain that tradition while living away from home.
"I never stop, only [one day] which is Sunday morning," Coppola said. "I like to wake up and to go to church because I'm Christian and we grew up with, you know, my mom, my family, we always go to church on Sunday morning. And there's a beautiful, Italian church, in Farringdon actually. It's called Saint Peter, Saint Peter's Church, and I go there."
He added: "The mass is in Italian. The priest is Italian and so it makes me feel, you know, a bit closer home. After that, I go home, I make food. I do lots of video calls with my family, with my grandparents, with my brother, with my mom."
Coppola emphasized that his family remains the foundation of his career and personal life. "So this helps me a lot to remember to myself who I am, where I come from, my roots," he said. "I am the extension of my family, so if I'm here and I'm able to do what I'm doing and to live the life I'm living, it's because of them. So I owe them everything, you know, and I'm so, so proud of them. I love them so much."
Saint Peter's Italian Church, located on Clerkenwell Road in the Farringdon area of central London, was consecrated in 1863. Built to serve London's growing Italian immigrant population, the church remains a historic focal point for the Italian community in the capital, offering regular Roman Catholic services conducted in the Italian language.
Coppola spoke about his faith while serving as the new brand ambassador for Balconi, an Italian bakery brand he grew up eating in Italy. The cake range is available across major retailers with a recommended retail price starting from £1.75, with further information published on balconiuk.com and the social media account @balconi_uk.
New Professional Dancers Join Strictly Lineup
Alongside discussing his personal life, the three-time World Championship finalist offered insight into the five new professional dancers joining the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The new line-up features Ukrainian dancer Aleksandra Isaeva, Italian dancer Cristian Priori, South African Latin champion Lethabo Monametsi, Canadian dancer Mark Karmalita, and UK National Ballroom Champion Maddie Ingoldsby.
Coppola said he has taken on a protective, mentorship role for the incoming group, describing himself as a "big brother" figure eager to support them as they adjust to the high-profile BBC production.
"They are settling in beautifully, beautifully," Coppola said. "They are nice, they are very respectful and polite and gentle and kind and honest, and I'm taking them on as a big brother. I'm taking them under my wings."
He noted that he previously knew Priori from international dance competitions, while extending an open invitation to all five newcomers to reach out whenever they need assistance.
"The only one I knew before was Cristian, the Italian guy. We used to compete together, so we know each other, but all the others I just said like 'guys, whatever you need, whenever, just call me, even at 3am,'" Coppola explained.
He added: "So with these five new pros, I just feel like they are my new brothers and sisters. So I love to take care of them and to look after them. Of course, I mean, not because they necessarily need it, but I make sure that they know that if they need me, I am there."
Coppola reflected on his own arrival in the United Kingdom when he joined the cast in 2022, recalling his initial worries about adjusting to British television culture. "When I came here, I thought, I don't know if people in the UK [would like me] you know, it's a different culture," he said. "Maybe they find me too much because I'm quite, you know, active and quite an excited puppy always around."
Strictly Come Dancing is the BBC's flagship celebrity ballroom competition. First broadcast in 2004, the long-running series pairs professional dancers with celebrity contestants who perform live routines each weekend for a panel of judges and public votes.
The five new professionals join the cast following significant roster changes ahead of the new series. Producers axed long-standing female professional Karen Hauer alongside Michelle Tsiakkas, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, and Gorka Marquez.
Hauer was previously the longest-serving female professional on the show, having joined the cast in 2012, while Spanish professional Marquez had been part of the professional line-up since 2016 and reached multiple series finals.
Ellie Goldstein Partnership and Celebrity Lineup
During the previous series of Strictly Come Dancing, Coppola was partnered with actress Ellie Goldstein. Goldstein made history as the first model with Down Syndrome to appear on the cover of British Vogue.
The pair developed a close friendship during their time on the show and continue to dance together following their elimination in week five of the competition.
Goldstein, who has featured in major international campaigns for brands including Gucci Beauty, has been widely recognized for expanding representation for disabled people within high fashion and prime-time entertainment.
The upcoming series features a diverse celebrity roster competing for the glitterball trophy. The line-up includes celebrity hairdresser Chris Appleton, Love Island star Cache Mercer, YouTuber John Nellis, EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, and Gavin and Stacey actress Melanie Walters.
Turner is an award-winning actress who has played Stacey Slater on the long-running BBC soap opera EastEnders since 2004. Walters is best known to television audiences for her portrayal of Gwen West in the acclaimed BBC comedy series Gavin and Stacey. Mercer previously rose to fame on ITV's reality dating series Love Island.
