Ellie Leach was petrified she would hurt 'Strictly Come Dancing' partner Vito Coppola during their routine.
Ellie Leach was petrified she would hurt her partner Vito Coppola during a dance routine
The ‘Coronation Street’ star, 22, has been putting on her dancing shoes every week on the BBC show, with her most recent performance being an Argentine tango, which required Ellie to step on Vito’s thighs whilst she wore high heels.
During an appearance on spinoff show ‘It Takes Two’, host Janette Manrara asked Vito if the move was painful.
He admitted: “Yeah, actually my calf was screaming, there are a few bruises here.”
The ITV soap star then added that she was terrified of performing the move all week out of fears that she would injure her partner.
She said: “I was actually really scared to do that and throughout the week, we'd get to that bit and I'd be like, 'I don't want to do it'.
"I'd kind of like freeze, because I felt like I was hurting you.”
Vito then jumped in to reassure her that she should’t have been concerned.
He said: "I just told her to go for it, don't worry.”
Luckily, the pain Vito endured as a result of the move was worth it, as the pair topped the leaderboard with a jaw-dropping 38 points, with contestants Bobby Brazier and Dianne Bushwell trailing close behind with 37 points.
The pair have gotten closer and closer over the course of performing on the BBC show, with Ellie revealing to Bella magazine what her favourite things about Vito were.
She said: “I love that you want to be a teacher who brings fun into the training room, because that’s what you need.
"As well as pushing me and the hard work, we just really enjoy ourselves … I just laugh at Vito all the time, even when he’s trying to be serious.”