Vito Coppola calls Ellie Leach 'my baby' amid romance rumours

Vito Coppola has called Ellie Leach "my baby" amid romance rumours.

The 31-year-old 'Strictly Come Dancing' pro has been paired with the 22-year-old former 'Coronation Street' actress - who split from her boyfriend in May after he cheated on her - and he has added fuel to the fire with his latest Instagram Story.

Alongside a black and white snap of himself in a white vest, he wrote: "Just finished another day of rehearsal!!! Well done to my baby @ellielouiseleach (sic)"

His post comes after former 'Strictly' contestant Amanda Abbington referred to them as the "most beautiful couple" as she praised their recent performance.

Ellie previously admitted "being cheated on was upsetting", but she was looking forward to putting all her energy into 'Strictly' as she tried to regain confidence in herself.

She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Self-confidence is something I’ve always struggled with.

"As an actor, people don’t see that – they think you’re this confident person and you can do anything.

"I’m hoping 'Strictly' will bring that for me, push me and make me realise I’m capable of things."

And she credited Vito with helping her focus on the positives.

She explained: "Vito has taught me so much already. He tells me, 'It’s a competition with yourself. If you’re tired, fight it, if you’re stressed, fight it'.

"I also don’t praise myself enough, I just focus on the wrong. But then he’ll say to me, 'Yeah, but you just did that…' "

And just last week, the soap star - best known for playing Faye Windass on the cobbles - revealed how Vito and the show have helped with her body confidence.

She told The Sun newspaper: "Vito’s keeping me snacked up. We always have snacks on hand, so we’re definitely eating.

“But I think the physical activity side, I can definitely see the impact it’s having.

“The fact that I’ve been dancing on live TV in front of millions of people is crazy to me.

“I do think it gives you a little bit of that confidence to be like, ‘Oh, as if I’ve done that and as if that’s me.' "