Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola on their chemistry and getting Strictly-fied
Sarah, have you always wished for Vito to be your partner?
Sarah: That doesn’t quite capture it! The contestants have a session focused on chemistry, where the dancers show you some moves. There was one dancer I initially had my eye on, but as soon as I started dancing with Vito, I realized, "He’s the one for me. If it’s not him, I’m not sure what I’ll do!"
Did you experience that same spark, Vito?
Vito: Absolutely, I sensed it right from our very first encounter. Occasionally, I hear people tell me, "Vito, you can be overwhelming."
Sarah: I often hear the same feedback: "Take it easy." I've been on set with other actors who have commented, "Who gave Sarah Hadland caffeine? Whoever it was, they need to stop!"
Vito: Right now, we’ve got an abundance of energy, and it feels great. It’s important to discover how to manage all this momentum. Personally, I prefer to take things as they come; I don’t map out everything in advance, but I believe that in the end, we will figure it out.
What other similarities do you share?
Vito: We are both passionate about animals.
Sarah: I can't get enough of this! My cat Percy, who is a not-so-slim ginger tabby, will be sporting a different version of our costume every week. Keep an eye on our social media! He’s totally comfortable in a hat or bandana and has even worn a doll's Frozen dress. I might reach out to Vicky Gill, the costume designer from Strictly, to create something special for Percy. With his support, I think we’ll really go far!
Vito: We ought to see if we can incorporate Percy into our dance routine and have him join us on the Strictly stage.
Sarah: We were hoping to include some animals in our daily activities. I thought it would be fun to walk with a sheep, a lamb, or even a piglet. Why isn't this more common? And what if I held a guinea pig? I could gently spin it around before handing it over to Vito. It’s all in good fun, with no harm to any of the animals.
Vito: I think I can come up with a way to plan the dance.
Sarah: Vito and I are huge food enthusiasts too. He'll be in charge of bringing the lunch.
Vito: I’m committed to making sure we have a great meal. I’ll base my recipe on the week’s theme or the type of dance we’re practicing! We have all the ingredients—we just need to combine them to create a delicious dish... a performance.
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola participated in Strictly Come Dancing. Photo by Yoshitaka Kono (@yoshitakakono).
If you could be any dish, which one would you choose?
Sarah: Are we considering having dessert? How about some tiramisu?
Vito: We totally embody the essence of tiramisu. Want to know why? In Italian, "tiramisu" translates to "lift me up." We are Team Tiramisu!
Sarah: Absolutely, it's got coffee in it! Go Team Tiramisarah!
Have you had fun getting into the Strictly spirit?
Sarah: It's incredible! The first time I laid eyes on my outfit, it was essentially just three pieces of purple Lycra held together with six safety pins. I thought to myself, "This is super simple. How are they going to make this fancy?"
After my fitting, I turned to the mirror and was hit with a wave of emotion. I was completely taken by surprise and soon found myself in tears. I've never worn anything so stunning. Lisa Armstrong is doing my makeup, while Lisa Davey is styling my hair.
I long for a cascade of glitter to be poured all over me while Vito spins me around. He really gets me spinning fast! On the first day, I felt really dizzy.
What’s the reason behind participating in Strictly, and why is this the right time?
Sarah: I’ve been a huge fan of the show for a long time. A part of me was really scared to take on something I’m truly passionate about. Eventually, after hearing so many people say, "Why aren’t you giving it a try? We know you’ll enjoy it," I decided to go for it.
My mom attended the launch event and declared it the best night she's ever had. Although she can be somewhat picky, she couldn't help but rave about Vito, saying, "Not only is he extremely good-looking, but he also has an amazing physique. He's a genuinely wonderful young man." It was almost as if she was a bit annoyed by how much she liked him!
A shortened version of this interview can be found in the newest edition of Radio Times.
Tune in to Strictly Come Dancing this Saturday at 7 PM on BBC One and iPlayer.
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