Super fans of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing are watching with eagle eyes as romance rumours swirl around one contestant.
Ellie Leach is one of this year’s celebs on the hit BBC show, and many have spotted her getting up close and cosy with one of the professional dancers.
The star was spotted with professional partner Vito Coppola after the Pride of Britain awards on Sunday night, leaving the plush bash in London in a taxi together.
Onlookers say they appeared closer than just pals after impressing judges in the show with their chemistry.
And she has, in the past, spoken glowingly about her professional partner, telling the Mirror : “Vito has taught me so much already. He tells me, ‘It’s a competition with yourself. If you’re tired, fight it, if you’re stressed, fight it’. I also don’t praise myself enough, I just focus on the wrong. But then he’ll say to me, ‘Yeah, but you just did that. Being cheated on was upsetting, but now’s the perfect time to put my all into Strictly and give that 500 per cent.”
But what do we know about the new dancer?
Who is Ellie Leach?
Ellie Leach is an English actress best known for portraying Faye Windass on ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She swapped the cobbles for the dancefloor this year, leaving the soap officially, after 12 years.
The 22-year-old has been in the soap since she was 10 years old and, in that time, was given the opportunity to play out a number of hard-hitting storylines, including Faye’s pregnancy at age 13, a very complicated love life, a stint in prison, and early menopause.
Her final major storyline involved reconnecting with the child she gave up, Miley, which led to her character’s departure from the soap.
Leach left the soap saying she hoped to try different roles, and has started with Strictly, something she has called a lifelong ambition.
Speaking at the launch of the 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!”
Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Ellie admitted to having no official dance experience but said she is “excited to do everything”.
She said: “I’m just excited to kind of be thrown into all of the different dances. I think being able to learn something new on a new scale is amazing.”
Why has she been in the news?
She has recently opened up about trying to “regain her confidence” after splitting from her former boyfriend.
Leach dated dancer Reagan Pettman for five years but reportedly took “time to reflect which direction her life is going in” and has since admitted that she was in fact cheated on.
According to the Mirror, a source said: “She learned that Reagan had gone behind her back, and they split up. It was very sad, but for her the trust was gone and there was no way back for them as a couple.
“Ellie is a really positive person and always has a smile on her face — but it’s been a difficult time. That’s why it was brilliant that she has landed Strictly, it has really given her something to smile about.”
Romance rumours have continued to swirl since she started the dance show, with it said that she is “very close already” with Coppola.
Leach has gushed in the past that Coppola is the “most genuine and loving person ever, ever,” and gives “the best cuddles”.
