To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Strictly Come Dancing star Vito Coppola has revealed he will be re-joining the live tour very soon.
Last year the professional dancer, 32, made it to the final of the BBC series with his celebrity partner, Miranda actress Sarah Hadland.
Last week the show’s annual live tour kicked off, but a few days before Vito announced he would be sitting some of it out due to injury.
‘I’m battling some lower back pain at the moment. I can walk and move but going and doing full-on dancing with lifting and sharp twists…it’s best at the moment to have a little rest,’ he shared on This Morning.
But, just over a week on, Vito has now announced he’s going to be back on board tomorrow.
Posting a video on Instagram he shared he had some ‘good news’.
Strictly Come Dancing star Vito Coppola has revealed when he will return to the live tour (Picture: Vito Coppola/ Instagram)
‘My back is much better and thank you so much to all of the people who have been so supportive and so lovely and sent me many messages,’ he began.
‘I am getting better, and I will be back soon this week!
‘I’ve been doing all of the exercise and physio and therapy to recover as soon as possible. Determination, consistency and perseverance. I cannot wait to be with you all. I will be back with you on tour and I want to dance for you all.’
He then shared another video today saying that although he wouldn’t be performing at tonight’s show in Sheffield, he was going to watch the show and learn the routines.
‘I will be back on tour dancing tomorrow in Newcastle,’ he confirmed.
Last week Vito was appearing on This Morning when he spoke about needing to sit out of some of the tour.
He spoke about his back injury on This Morning last week (Picture: Ken McKay/ ITV/ Shutterstock)
‘I have a little injury,’ he said.
‘We are used to having a little bit of pain in the body but I’m battling some lower back pain at the moment.
‘I can walk and move but going and doing full-on dancing with lifting and sharp twists…it’s best at the moment to have a little rest.’
He continued: ‘But hopefully I will be able to dance again from the Sheffield shows.’
The dancer also confirmed he would be replaced for the first three shows by fellow pro Nikita Kuzmin, who was paired with Olympic hockey player Sam Quek on the last season of the TV show.
Vito was due to perform with Sarah Hadland throughout the run (Picture: PA Wire)
Vito, who won Strictly with Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach in 2023, went on to explain he had physio appointments and assessments planned this week as part of his recovery.
Although he was disappointed to miss out on some of the shows he declared: ‘But I’ll be back soon!’
‘In the meantime, you will have the best experience, and you will love (your) first show in Birmingham,’ he told Sarah.
He was replaced by Nikita Kuzmin for some shows (Picture: Guy Levy/ BBC/ PA Wire)
Last month it was confirmed Chris was unable to participate in the tour at all as it clashed with his stand-up tour.
Speaking on the ITV breakfast show too, he said: ‘It’s fine to have two different feelings about the same thing.
‘I would’ve loved to have done more dancing with Dianne, and it would’ve been a lot of fun, but also I’m very lucky to have people want to watch me do stand-up and I’m enjoying getting back into that,’ he added.
The Strictly live tour will run from January 17 until February 9, with shows in Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle, Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and London.
Strictly Come Dancing is streaming on BBC iPlayer. This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV1.
This article was first published on January 13, 2025.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.