Corrie's Ellie Leach shares unusual link to fellow Strictly contestant
Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Leach has revealed a link to another contestant on the show, saying she's "excited" to perform with him.
The Coronation Street actress, 22, who played Faye Windass on the cobbles, has just been announced as the tenth contestant joining the BBC dance show, which kicks off in September.
Speaking about how happy she was to be slipping into sequins alongside Waterloo Road and Emmerdale star Adam Thomas, whose brother Ryan Thomas was in Corrie, Ellie said: "I know Adam, I'm really excited to see him again because I've not see him for a while." When asked if it would be "nice to have a friend there" on BBC Breakfast, she said: "Exactly, a little piece of home."
Ellie first joined Coronation Street in 2011, but left Weatherfield in May 2023 after a slew of explosive storylines. Opening up about making her debut on the primetime BBC show, she said: "It still doesn’t feel real that I’m going to be doing Strictly!! It’s always been a dream of mine so I guess dreams really do come true!!!!"
The actress, who is Corrie star Brooke Vincent's cousin, admitted she was starting to get "nervous" now as the competition start date nears. She shared: "I'm so excited, I'm getting a bit nervous now it's getting nearer to the time, but yeah, so excited!" Ellie confessed she had known about Strictly for ages, but had kept it a secret, only telling her family the news. She said excitedly: "I'm the type of person if someone says: 'Don't say anything!', I'm like: 'Okay!' I'm so trustworthy!" The actress added her family are "so excited" and "buzzing" for her to be on the BBC One dance show.
Corrie's Sue Cleaver says I'm A Celebrity stint helped her to push boundariesFellow soap star Adam also appears to be buzzing about making his debut on Strictly. It's been an exciting week for the show after the Emmerdale actor, 34, was revealed as the eighth contestant on Tuesday's The Hits Radio Breakfast Show. Adam said of joining: "I am so excited to be joining the cast of this years' Strictly Come Dancing. I've been such a big fan of the show for years, I can't believe I'm actually doing it! I can't dance to save my life but I'm buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro. Get me on that dance floor...I can't wait!"
Adam and Ellie join a host a famous faces on Strictly, including Sherlock star Amanda Abbington, Strictly veteran Angela Rippon and EastEnders actor, Bobby Brazier.