BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Sarah Hadland confesses she 'fancies her co-star'

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Sarah Hadland has admitted being attracted to a fellow star on the BBC talent show but has said she knows where her commitment lies

When asked if she had the hots for a Strictly Come Dancing star, Miranda actress Sarah Hadland made her feelings clear when she replied: "I’m alive aren’t I?".

The supposed curse of Strictly Come Dancing has struck down many celebrities and professional dancers. The intensity of training and the close physical contact involved has reportedly been to blame for the breakdown of marriages, seen numerous affairs embarked on and has even led to the birth of some babies. With rumours that Pete Wicks and his partner Jowita Pryzstal are doing the tango off screen as well as on, another of this year’s contestants isn’t hiding her passion for one of the dancers either. Sarah Hadland, 53, who played Stevie Sutton in comedy series Miranda, has confessed she is undeniably attracted to one of the pros.

The dancer in question just happens to be her partner on the 20th anniversary series of the BBC talent show, Vito Coppola. When she was asked if she had the hots for Vito, 32, who won last year’s series with Coronation Street star Ellie Leach , when she first met him, she didn’t hesitate in confirming she did. "What a ridiculous question to ask me. Yes, I fancied him. I’m alive, aren’t I?" she replied. "If you’re female and have a heartbeat, how could he NOT be anybody’s type?"

Talking to The Sun before their passionate paso doble dance which they performed to Gala’s Freed From Desire, Sarah revealed how close they were getting in rehearsals and the effect it was having on her. "The paso doble we’re doing this week is very serious and sensual, and when we started learning it I was very, very giggly," she said. "I kept the eye to camera because there’s a lot of, I’m going to call ‘tuppence to thigh’... There’s a lot of groin to thigh, and I have to look deep into his eyes - which makes it ten times worse."

Despite her confession, Sarah, who is believed to be currently single, also revealed she is keeping things very professional and won’t be falling victim to the curse because she has decided where her commitment lies. "I haven’t got energy for both," she said. "I’ll be honest - I can either do the dance or have an affair, but I can’t do both. I’m committed to the dance now."

As for Vito, he remains firmly focused on the business at hand and although he realises there’s an expectation for great things after he lifted the Glitterball trophy in 2023, he feels it’s important to treat his time with Sarah as a unique experience. "It’s another journey," he commented.

I define myself as a mirror teacher. I don’t have just one way of teaching and the celebrity or whatever student has to adapt on me - it’s the other way around. I adapt and I suit. The way I was teaching to [former Strictly partner] Fleur East is different to the way I was teaching Ellie. And it’s different from the way that I’m teaching Sarah. That is why it’s important to really get to know the person."

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