Strictly Come Dancing professional Vito Coppola sent a sweet message to his partner Ellie Leach after confirming their romance this week.
Vito, 31, posted an Instagram message paying tribute to Ellie, 22, after the couple made it through another tense Strictly results show and to Blackpool week.
Revealing his nickname for Ellie, Vito wrote: ‘My Lulú you make me proud more and more well done. It’s was very difficult but you did it.’
‘I am happy to be able to guide you for another dance together on the iconic Blackpool ballroom. Make sure you eat and Rest well. See you tomorrow.’
On Sunday’s results show host Claudia Winkleman referred to Vito’s affectionate nicknames for Ellie as she asked the dancer why he calls her ‘a diamond’.
Sweet: Strictly Come Dancing professional Vito Coppola sent a message to his partner Ellie Leach after confirming their romance this week
My Lulu: Vito, 31, posted an Instagram message paying tribute to Ellie, 22, after the couple made it through another tense Strictly results show and to Blackpool week
‘I think for me Ellie is like a diamond, but not like a normal diamond, she is this rough diamond that you need to put under pressure and shine the front and the sides,’ Vito explained.
‘At the moment we are in between the shiny and the rough,’ he added to a bemused reaction from Claudia.
The Coronation Street star and Vito scored 35 points out of 40 for their Rumba to True Colours by Cyndi Lauper on Saturday night.
It comes after Vito ‘confirmed’ his romance with partner Ellie, calling her ‘my baby’ in a seductive Instagram post.
The Italian hunk posed in the sultry black and white photograph while flexing his tattooed muscle, captioning the upload: ‘Just finished another day of rehearsal. Well done to my baby Ellie Leach.’
He shared the update on the Strictly couple on Wednesday evening after they had spent hours in the training room ahead of Saturday night’s live show.
They were then pictured putting on a very cosy display in rehearsals, practicing the intimate dance with their faces just inches away from kissing.
His declaration of love towards the former Coronation Street actress, 22, comes after their ex-Strictly co-star Amanda Abbington , 51, called them the ‘most beautiful couple’ on social media while saying she was ‘so proud’ of their performance.
Diamond: On Sunday’s results show host Claudia Winkleman referred to Vitos affectionate nicknames for Ellie as she asked the dancer why he calls her ‘a diamond’
Wow: Ellie and Vita scored 35 out of 40 for their sexy rumba on Saturday night
Incredible: The intimate dance came days after they appeared to confirm their romance
Strictly pro dancer Vito called Ellie ‘my baby’ in a seductive Instagram post earlier this week
Just days earlier the dancing duo declared their love for each other in gushing social media tributes amid reports ‘sparks are flying’ behind the scenes.
And Amanda, who quit the BBC show last month, appeared to let the cat out of the bag as she took to Instagram on Sunday, referring to the pair ‘the most beautiful couple’.
Ellie shared a snap of hers and Vito’s latest performance which she branded as a ‘magical night’ as they topped the leaderboard for a second time.
Writing: ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you. What a magical night, we are so grateful for all of your support and we’re soooo happy to be through to another week on that Strictly dance floor’.
Fans and famous friends rushed in their droves to praise the pair with former co-star Amanda commenting: ‘Stunning. So proud of the both of you. You are the most beautiful couple!’.
contacted Ellie and Vito’s reps for comment at the time.