STRICTLY winner Ellie Leach opens up about how ‘terrified’ she was after being told about her Coronation Street exit during the next episode of Drama Queens.
The 23-year-old, who is best known for playing Faye Windass in the ITV soap, left the programme last year.
Back in April 2023, The Sun revealed how the popular soap star, 22, was leaving the show after 12 years.
She later landed a place on Strictly 2023 and went on to win the show with partner Vito Coppola – and has then gone on to play Miss Scarlett in the recent production of Cluedo.
During the next instalment of ITVBe’s Drama Queens, Ellie chats to her mum and dad about what she felt like when she was given the news that her alter-ego Faye was leaving Corrie.
Ellie tells them: ‘I can’t believe I left Corrie a year ago.
“And to think when I left Corrie I was like ‘I don’t know what I am going to do… I’m really scared’.
Talking to camera, Ellie adds: “On Corrie, when I got told hat they had a storyline for me, but it was going to be an exit storyline, obviously I was like: “Oh my God, my life is over…'”
“I was like “I don’t have anything. I don’t have a job and I don’t know when the next one is going to come.
“If the next one is going to come. Thank god Strictly came a couple of weeks after
“It is like a blessing in disguise. If that didn’t happen then I wouldn’t have had the year that I’ve had.”
During the chat with her mum and dad she say: “At this point we are still putting the show (theatre show Cluedo) together.’
“Mark the director said ‘I thought it was going to be a struggle to get you out of your comfort zone of being naturalistic, because it’s completely not naturalistic, the play.”
Ellie joined the cast of Coronation Street in 2011.
She played Faye Windass until 2023.
At the time of the news she was leaving, an insider told us: “Ellie’s been on the soap since she was 10 years old so it’s all she’s known, she sees the cast like an extension of her family.
“She’s sad to be leaving, but grateful that her character won’t be killed off.
“She’s going to have a go at trying other acting roles for a bit.”
The soap star has been involved in a number of hard hitting storylines over the years, including teen pregnancy, early menopause and even being sent to prison for attacking a neighbour.
Ellie is now starring in the new reality show Drama Queens.
Who is on the cast of ITV's Drama Queen
Drama Queens is a new ITVBe reality show that follows the lives of nine soap women and their real lives away from the chaotic world of soap. Take a look at all the women on the cast...
- Ellie Leach– Played Faye Windass in Coronation Street between 2011 and 2023
- Lucy Fallon– Currently plays Bethany Platt in Coronation Street
- Brooke Vincent– Played Sophie Webster in Coronation Street between 2004 and 2019
- Laura Norton– Currently plays Kerry Wyatt in Emmerdale
- Roxy Shahidi– Currently plays Leyla Harding in Emmerdale
- Amy Walsh– Currently plays Tracy Robinson in Emmerdale
- Rita Simons – Played Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders between 2007 and 2017 and currently plays Marie Fielding in Hollyoaks
- Jamelia– Currently plays Sharon Bailey in Hollyoaks
- Jorgie Porter – Currently plays Theresa McQueen in Hollyoaks
