Vito Coppola reveals he is a devout Christian and attends church every week as the Strictly professional addresses BBC show's new series and how he is the protective 'big brother' of five new dancers

He has described dancing as his entire world, but his faith appears to be just as important to him.Strictly Come Dancing favourite Vito Coppola has revealed he is a devout Christian – and goes to church every week without fail.The Italian dancer, 33, who joined the BBC hit in 2022, attends a mass in central London each week, which reminds him of home.Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: ‘I never stop, only [one day] which is Sunday morning.‘I like to wake up and to go to church because I'm Christian and we grew up with, you know, my mom, my family, we always go to church on Sunday morning.‘And there's a beautiful, Italian church, in Farringdon actually. It's called Saint Peter, Saint Peter's Church, and I go there. Strictly Come Dancing favourite Vito Coppola has revealed he is a devout Christian - and goes to Church every week without fail The choreographer, who is an ambassador for Italian bakery brand Balconi, also shared an insight into the five new professional dancers who have joined this year’s series of Strictly‘The mass is in Italian. The priest is Italian and so it makes me feel, you know, a bit closer home. After that, I go home, I make food.‘I do lots of video calls with my family, with my grandparents, with my brother, with my mom.‘So this helps me a lot to remember to myself who I am, where I come from, my roots. I am the extension of my family, so if I'm here and I'm able to do what I'm doing and to live the life I'm living, it's because of them.‘So I owe them everything, you know, and I'm so, so proud of them. I love them so much.'Vito was speaking as the new brand ambassador for Balconi, the Italian bakery brand he grew up with.The choreographer also shared an insight into the five new professional dancers who have joined this year’s series of Strictly.They include Ukrainian Aleksandra Isaeva, Italian hunk Cristian Priori, South African Latin champion Lethabo Monametsi as well as Canadian dancer Mark Karmalita and UK National Ballroom Champion Maddie Ingoldsby.Vito said: ‘They are settling in beautifully, beautifully. They are nice, they are very respectful and polite and gentle and kind and honest, and I'm taking them on as a big brother. I'm taking them under my wings.’The three-time World Championship finalist continued: ‘The only one I knew before was Cristian, the Italian guy. We used to compete together, so we know each other, but all the others I just said like “guys, whatever you need, whenever, just call me, even at 3am”.’The new pros have replaced Strictly’s longest-serving female pro Karen Hauer, who was axed by producers along with Michelle Tsiakkas, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Gorka Marquez.Vito added: ‘So with these five new pros, I just feel like they are my new brothers and sisters. So I love to take care of them and to look after them.‘Of course, I mean, not because they necessarily need it, but I make sure that they know that if they need me, I am there.And also because I remember when I came here. When I came here, I thought, I don't know if people in the UK [would like me] you know, it's a different culture.‘Maybe they find me too much because I'm quite, you know, active and quite an excited puppy always around.’Last year, Vito was partnered with actress Ellie Goldstein, who made history as the first model with Down Syndrome to appear on the cover of British Vogue. Last year, Vito was partnered with actress Ellie Goldstein, who made history as the first model with Down Syndrome to appear on the cover of British VogueThe pair, who are still dancing together after developing a close friendship, were eliminated during week five.This year’s lineup includes celebrity hairdresser Chris Appleton, Love Island star Cache Mercer, YouTuber John Nellis, EastEnders actress Lacey Turner and Gavin and Stacey’s Melanie Walters.Vito Coppola has teamed up with the Italian Balconi cake brand – available in all major retailers now (RRP from £1.75). For more information, visit www.balconiuk.com or @balconi_uk