Strictly Come Dancing final 2023: Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola open the show with a VERY steamy Paso Doble and impress the judges with an almost PERFECT score
During the 2023 final of Strictly Come Dancing, Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola became the first couple to take to the floor on Saturday with the very steamy Paso Doble.
The duo, which is said to be an itemsizzled in their skimpy costumes before achieving a near-perfect score.
It comes after the show started in incredible style with a spectacular group routine.
And viewers were left in tears as professional dancer Amy Dowden made her surprise return to the floor amid her battle with cancer.
Amy, who had to sit out the final series, looked sensational as she barely managed to do without her wig after losing her hair to chemotherapy.
Fans quickly took to social media after the dancer took center stage and strutted her stuff.
During the 2023 final of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday, Ellie Leach and Vitto Coppola were the first couple to take to the floor for a very steamy Paso Doble
This year’s final sees Bobby Brazier, Ellie Leach and Layton Williams battle it out for the coveted glitterball trophy.
Each celebrity and their professional dance partners will have to dance three times; their favorite dance from the series, a show dance and the jury’s choice.
EastEnders actor Bobby, 20, and Dianne Buswell, 34, will dance their Couple’s Choice to This Woman’s Work by Maxwell.
The lyrical dance is a tribute to Bobby’s mother who died in 2007 at the age of 27 after a short battle with cervical cancer.
Their show dance will be to La La La Land Medley, while the judges have asked them to perform their Samba to Young Hearts Run Free by Candi Staton.
The 2023 final of Strictly Come Dancing kicked off in incredible style on Saturday with a spectacular group routine
And viewers were left in ‘floods’ of tears as professional dancer Amy Dowden made her surprise return to the floor amid her battle with cancer
Fans quickly took to social media after the dancer took center stage and strutted her stuff
As for Ellie, 22, and Vito, 31, they will do their show dance to Jennifer Lopez Megamix, the jury chooses Paso Doble for Insomnia by 2WEI, and their favorite routine: the American Smooth to Ain’t That A Kick In The Hoofd by Robbie Williams.
Layton, 29, and Nikita, 25, will dance to Friend Like Me by Ne-Yo, do the judges’ choice, which is their Quickstep to Puttin’ On The Ritz by Gregory Porter, and perform their favorite dance, the Tango to Tattoo of Loreen .
Strictly Come Dancing 2023 kicked off in September and was once again presented by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman with the return of judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas.
The 15 celebrities hitting the dance floor this year are Bobby Brazier, Annabel Croft, Les Dennis, Angela Rippon, Nigel Harman, Zara McDermott, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Amanda Abbington, Ellie Leach, Angela Scanlon, Nikita Kanda, Adam Thomas, Eddie Kadi , Jody Cundy and Layton Williams.
Professional dancers Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Vito Coppola, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Márquez, Luba Mushtuk, Lauren Oakley, Giovanni Pernice, Jowita Przystał, Johannes Radebe , Michelle Tsiakkas, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu also returned.
Star Amy Dowden was unfortunately unable to participate after being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, but was able to make several cameos during the series.
COME STRICTLY DANCE 2023: THE PROFILES OF THE PARTICIPANTS
Layton Williams
Age: 28
Profession: Actor
Layton says: ‘Absolutely exciting to confirm that I will be taking part in Britain’s most iconic dancing competition! It’s time to take it to the ballroom. I’m so excited to learn new skills from the best. Bring on the sequins… ALL the sequins!”
Age: 22
Profession: Coronation Street star
Ellie says: ‘It still doesn’t feel real that I’m going to do Strictly!! It’s always been a dream of mine, so I guess dreams really do come true!!!!’
Age: 20
Profession: EastEnders star and model
Bobby says: ‘I’m so excited to be part of the Strictly line-up, I can’t wait to start training as a professional dancer and add a few moves to my locker. I look forward to performing for everyone.”