Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola have been announced as the winners of Strictly Come Dancing 2023.
The Coronation Street actress and her professional partner scored a total of 115 out of 120 for their three dances across the evening. Despite coming bottom of the leaderboard behind fellow finalists Layton Williams and Bobby Brazier, the public vote saw the pair triumph and take home the glitterball trophy.
On being announced as the winner, Ellie said: “I actually genuinely cannot believe this. This is the first time that I’ve seen him [Vito] cry, and for once you’re crying more than me! So this is for you.”
It was Vito’s second successive final on Strictly Come Dancing and his first series win. He said: “This is like the cherry on the cake. You [Ellie] really know what you have been through, I know all the bruises and the blisters and you have been so amazing. You are Strictly, you represent Strictly. You are finally the diamond I was talking about and now you are shining. I’m so proud.”
The live final also featured a spectacular opening routine from Strictly’s troupe of professional dancers – including Amy Dowden who missed this year’s series due to undergoing cancer treatment – along with the class of 2023 returning to the dancefloor for one last time. The legendary Cher (yes really) also appeared to perform ‘DJ Play A Christmas Song’, whilst Years and Years’ Olly Alexander exclusively revealed that he will be the UK’s entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmo in Sweden.
A huge congratulations to Ellie and Vito, well done to Layton and Bobby and their professional partners Nikita and Dianne, and thanks to all this year’s Strictly Come Dancing contestants – it’s been a blast. See you all next year!
Strictly Come Dancing will return for a Christmas Special on Christmas Day at 4.40 PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with a new series due to air in autumn 2024.
