Ellie Leach - 'I won Strictly Come Dancing and it was life-changing - I speak to Vito every day'

Ellie Leach, who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, has been on the road with a nationwide tour of Cluedo 2 since January and says it has been a big challenge - especially as she misses her friends and family

Since winning the Glitterball Trophy last December with her professional partner - and now lifelong friend - Vito Coppola, Ellie Leach has returned to acting for a nationwide tour of Cluedo 2. Making her stage debut after charming the nation on Strictly, the former soap star is playing the role of Miss Scarlett in the hilarious murder mystery based on the classic board game and set in the swinging 60s.

As the bodies pile up, a cast of colourful characters, including Casualty's Jason Durr as Colonel Mustard, move from room to room, trying to escape the murderer and survive the night. Ellie – known to millions as Faye Windass in Coronation Street – says of the whodunnit, "What can I say – bringing the iconic character of Miss Scarlett to life on stage is so much fun – as is seeing audience members from literally eight to 80 out there, having a really good time."

It's a major step away from the famous cobbles, and Ellie thanks her Strictly pal Vito for giving her the confidence to make her big debut treading the boards. "It's out of my comfort zone, but I've been enjoying it," she smiles. The actress is now 23, but was on Corrie for 13 years since she was nine years old. "Then I went straight into Strictly after that, so this is different to what I'm used to.", reports OK!.

Although Ellie has been touring with the hit show since January, the recent extension until November has left her with mixed emotions - she's thrilled about the extra performances, but it also means more time away from her loved ones. "It's a long time to be away from home. I'm not going to say I've found it easy, I haven't – because I'm a homebird. I live with my family and love being home, so it's something I've struggled with."

"But when you're on tour, you form a sort of surrogate family with the rest of the cast, who are all going through the same experience. If anyone has a problem or feels down or homesick, we're all there to support each other."

To cope with the distance, Ellie brings a few comforting reminders of home. "I have a teddy bear, Norma the rabbit. Yes, I'm 23, but she comes everywhere with me. She's a bit dirty at the moment and needs a good wash! I also like to take a candle. Some people might think it's weird but when I'm at home, no matter what's going on, I light a candle and it relaxes me, so on tour it reminds me of home."

Ellie credits her time on Strictly with preparing her for the demands of her theatre role. "I came into this job thinking it was something I'd never done before. But Strictly really opened my eyes; I built my confidence there. I think everyone saw how much I grew week to week."

Ellie has been sharing how her journey to the Strictly Come Dancing semi-final took her by surprise, and she's full of thanks. She attributes her success to her dance partner Vito, aged 32. "He was an amazing teacher, and he believed in me, which I probably didn't at the start. So when this opportunity came up, I felt excited, because I'd learnt to believe in myself more."

Vito himself was among the first to cheer on Ellie during her performance in 'Cluedo 2', along with two other Strictly stars. "He, Dianne [Buswell] and Joe [Sugg] came to see me at the start of the run. That's what I loved about Strictly, everyone is supportive. When I saw them there, it was like bringing my Strictly chapter into the next chapter of my life. That was really special."

But Ellie’s dance story didn’t end there—she hit the floor once more with Vito as the new series kicked off in September. The duo relived their electric Paso Doble to Insomnia by Faithless, an experience Ellie describes as astonishing. "It was honestly amazing," she recalls. "When we danced the same dance in the final show, we thought that would be our last time - it was before we found out we'd won. So after thinking we'd danced our last dance, doing it again was amazing."

Ellie and Vito soared to success on the dance competition, overcoming opponents such as EastEnders star Bobby Brazier and actor Layton Williams from Bad Education. Their winning American Smooth delivered them a perfect 40 for the first time in the series. During the launch episode of this year's Strictly Come Dancing, Ellie Leach was visibly emotional as she confessed, "I didn't expect this to have such an effect on me."

Following her final dance with partner Vito Coppola, she took to Instagram to share her feelings: "What a joy it was to step on that dance floor one last time with you Vito Coppola. You are my sunshine and I will forever cherish the memories we have made! " Reflecting on their journey, Ellie told us about the profound impact the show had on her, saying, "The days after were very emotional. My time at Strictly was life-changing, and to have the bond and friendship I made with Vito was amazing. It's the sort of friendship I'll cherish for the rest of my life. I'm very lucky and grateful for the experience."

Despite both getting matching bee tattoos, Ellie and Vito maintain they are just great friends. Ellie explained their connection: "From the moment we met, we just clicked," adding that they found the perfect mix of fun and hard work. They keep in touch regularly, with Ellie revealing, "We message every day," and considers Vito as part of her family now.

Vito himself shared with host Tess Daly how tight their bond is, joking, "I often call her at 7am and wake her up," and playfully warning, "She'll never get rid of me." Like many viewers, Ellie has been following Strictly to brighten up her autumn, excited about what the series holds: "To get a glimpse of what's to come this series was fun. I think it's going to be an exciting one."

Ellie has been candid about her feelings regarding Vito Coppola's new dance partnership with Miranda star Sarah Hadland on Strictly Come Dancing. "People keep asking me if it's like watching an ex-partner with someone new, but it's not like that at all. He's the most amazing teacher and I'm so excited for Sarah to experience that. It's not a comparison, either. My experience with Vito was different to Fleur East's, and Sarah will have her own journey. I can't wait to see what they do."