Strictly Come Dancing 2022 is set to begin on Friday 23 September, with the first live show taking place the following evening (24 September).

A fresh batch of celebrities are preparing to compete for the iconic Glitterball trophy, with the likes of Will Mellor, Kym Marsh, Matt Goss and Helen Skelton all getting ready to take to the dance floor.

Four new professional dancers have also joined the BBC One show for the 20th series, including European cup winner Vito Coppola.

Vito boasts an incredible dance career and is set to compete with former X Factor star Fleur East, 34, on this year's Strictly.


The 29 year old, who hails from Italy, has been dancing since he was a child and boasts some impressive achievements.

Vito started competing when he was just 10 years old and is an 11-time Latin American Champion, three-time World Championship finalist and European Cup Winner.

He also impresses away from the dance floor as he's multi-lingual, and in addition to Italian, he can speak English, Spanish and Russian fluently.

Vito is no stranger to TV and before he joined Strictly, he appeared on Ballando con le Stelle – the Italian version of Strictly and Dancing With The Stars.

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He won Dancing With The Stars with pop star Arisa in 2021, so it looks like he could go far on Strictly this year.

Vito and Arisa, 40, grew close during their time on the show and started dating after being crowned the winners. However, according to recent media reports in Italy, the pair have called it quits after hitting a "rocky patch" in their relationship.

Vito told Italian outlet Mio that he and Arisa are on "good terms" and still have a "friendly bond" despite parting ways.

Speaking ahead of Strictly debut, the Italian dancer said he'd "really excited" to join the show.


Vito said in a statement: "I am really excited to become part of this family. I cannot wait to start this new adventure and to challenge myself. Strictly sto arrivando! (or: Strictly I am coming!)"

He is one of four new professional dancers joining Strictly, with Chinese national champion Carlos Gu, former Under-21 British national champion Lauren Oakley and Latin dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas completing the show's largest-ever line-up of 20 pros this year.

Strictly Come Dancing 2022 begins on Friday 23 September on BBC One.

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