Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Goldstein has won praise from learning disability charity Mencap, after her departure from the show with partner Vito Coppola.
The model, 23, who is the first contestant with Down syndrome to appear on the show, went head to head with Balvinder Sopal on Sunday night’s dance-off however the EastEnders star survived her third dance-off and Ellie was sent home.
Following her departure, Jon Sparkes OBE, Chief Executive of Mencap said: ‘We are so proud of our Mencap Myth Buster Ellie for her incredible journey on Strictly…
‘Ellie has done a fantastic job of showing the nation what people with a learning disability can achieve when they’re given the spotlight to shine.’
Vito, 33, left viewers in tears during their exit as he branded Ellie ‘his perfect angel’, while adding: ‘I’ve never had a little sister but I always wanted one. Now, I have you and you’re my little sister forever, and your big brother is always by your side.’
Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Goldstein has won praise from learning disability charity Mencap, after her departure from the show with partner Vito Coppola
Vito, 33, left viewers in tears during their exit as he branded Ellie ‘his perfect angel’, while adding: ‘I’ve never had a little sister but I always wanted one. Now, I have you and you’re my little sister forever, and your big brother is always by your side’
Sunday’s spooktacular Strictly results show saw Ellie and Vito leave the competition after performing performed their Tango to Abracadabra by Lady Gaga in the dance off against Balvinder and Julian Caillon.
The judges were unanimous in their decision, with Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse all choosing to save Balvinder – who has already faced two dance-offs against Ross King and Chris Robshaw.
Head Judge Shirley Ballas – who this week was the judge with the casting vote – said that she would have also chosen to save Balvinder and Julian however added that she thought ‘Ellie was also outstanding throughout the whole competition’.
When asked about how much she enjoyed dancing with Vito, Ellie said: ‘I’ve enjoyed it so much! He is a kind person and all I wanted from day one.’
Vito responded with his incredible speech, saying: ‘Honestly, there are no words I can use to describe how proud I am of you and you did really change my life so much. You made me such a better person.
‘At the beginning of this year, I said to myself please, please, please can you send me a beautiful angel into my life? And now you arrived…
‘I’ve never had a little sister but I always wanted one. Now, I have you and you’re my little sister forever, and your big brother is always by your side.’
Viewers soon flooded Twitter to gush over the pairing, with Vito saying: ‘“can you send me a beautiful angel in my life??” ellie and vito spread nothing but joy every single week and will be greatly missed! #Strictly…
Sunday’s spooktacular Strictly results show saw Ellie and Vito leave the competition following a dance-off against Balvinder and Julian Caillon
When asked about how much she enjoyed dancing with Vito, Ellie said: ‘I’ve enjoyed it so much! He is a kind person and all I wanted from day one’
‘Ellie may not have won #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing but she’s won a place in all our hearts. I genuinelly feel that Ellie & Vito have been one of the most genuine and authentic partnerships on this year’s SCD…
‘Their bond was so real and they’ll be missed so much… Vito Coppola is the BEST professional on #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing in my opinion…
‘3 time SCD finalist – a SCD champion in 2023 and an all round genuinely positive guy who brings the best out of all of his partners. What he achieved with Ellie was sensational!…
‘Ellie has been such a joy to watch on Strictly, she’s clearly had the time of her life and Vito has supported her journey so perfectly with the right level of sensitivity; like any big brother would. Someone pass me a tissue #Strictly…
‘“when ellie comes in the room, everything lights up. all of a sudden looking at ellie, and the world becomes in colours…and i realised that i’ve always lived in black and white.” vito i am sobbing their bond #StrictlyComeDancing #strictly’.
Viewers soon flooded Twitter to gush over the pairing, with Vito saying: ‘“can you send me a beautiful angel in my life??” ellie and vito spread nothing but joy every single week and will be greatly missed! #Strictly’
