December 7th 2024.
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola, two of Strictly's most beloved contestants, recently sat down with Metro to chat about their journey on the show. Despite being paired with last year's winning professional, Vito, Sarah is quick to dismiss any talk of favoritism.
"We haven't been shown any favoritism so far, but it's not too late for some to be shown," Sarah jokes, referencing the notoriously tough judge Craig Revel Horwood. As they catch up from the Strictly studio, Sarah, who is 53 years young, reflects on her impressive performances on the show. She has consistently wowed the judges, with her Argentine Tango earning an impressive 38 points. However, there was some controversy surrounding their performance, with a small mistake at the beginning costing them a perfect score.
Craig was quick to pick up on the error, but still praised their routine, giving them nine points. Some fans have accused the judges of showing favoritism towards Sarah, especially on musicals week when they danced to a song from Wicked. The movie adaptation of the musical was breaking records at the time, leading some to believe that they had an unfair advantage. But Sarah is quick to point out that they actually faced a major disadvantage that week: time.
"We were supposed to dance to a song from Chicago, with an amazing routine choreographed by Matt Flynn," Sarah explains. "But on Saturday night, we were told by compliance at the BBC that they were concerned about the use of the word 'gun' in the song. We had to scramble to come up with a new routine during the live show."
Vito chimes in, clarifying that their routine was based on the stage musical rather than the movie, and that Wicked had been featured on previous musicals weeks. With any accusations of favoritism put to rest, the two slip into their easy banter, joking about their average day of rehearsal which involves toast breaks and buttering tips.
As they laugh and poke fun at each other, it's clear that their partnership extends beyond the dance floor. Sarah even admits that she has brought some of her Miranda character's quirks into their rehearsals, much to Vito's amusement. But when it comes to their chances in the competition, they remain focused on the present.
"We're taking it one week at a time," Vito says. "You don't want to think too far ahead." Sarah agrees, adding that they are all like a family on the show, with no sense of competition between the contestants. She even playfully assigns dance styles to her Miranda co-stars, showing just how much she has embraced the Strictly experience.
As their interview comes to an end, Sarah and Vito's playful banter and genuine camaraderie is evident. They may have had a lucky turn of events with their partnership, but their hard work and dedication have earned them a spot in the hearts of Strictly fans. And as they continue to dance their way through the competition, we can't wait to see what they have in store next.
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