Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Leach has said she’s “living in a dream” following her triumph.
The former Coronation Street star lifted the Glitterball Trophy with professional partner Vito Coppola on Saturday (December 16), with the pair triumphing over Layton Williams and Bobby Brazier in a hotly-contested final.
For the past three months, Ellie’s Monday mornings have involved learning a new dance, but today (December 18) saw the star reflect on her victory in the series, with the actress sharing a heartfelt post on Instagram.
Related: Strictly's Amy Dowden makes surprise return to the dancefloor
“Where to even begin. I don’t think this feeling will ever feel real. For 3 months I feel like I’ve been living in a dream, I’m still waiting for someone to pinch me and wake me up!!!!!!” she began, with the caption accompanying a photo of her lifting the trophy with Vito.
“When I started Strictly I was nervous and shy. I had no self-confidence or self-belief and I was completely a glass half empty type of person… Signing up for Strictly, I knew it was going to be hard. I knew I was going to have fun – I didn’t know just how much fun I would have.
What to Read Next
“Strictly has changed my life. I’m now a yes person. This experience has taught me that giving your best is all you can ask of yourself. I am stronger, more resilient and more confident… I have learnt to cherish every single second of life because you will really see the joy it can bring.”
Related: BBC Breakfast's Sally Nugent admits to having "nightmares" over Strictly Christmas special
Ellie, who played Faye Windass on Corrie for 12 years before her departure earlier this year, concluded the post by thanking fans for their support, saying the win was for people who “feel like they’re not good enough”.
The 21st series of Strictly might be complete, but it won’t be the last we see of the famous dancefloor this year, with the Christmas special set to air next week. The star-studded line-up includes Tillie Amartey, Jamie Borthwick, Danny Cipriani, Dan Snow, Sally Nugent and Keisha Buchanan.
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Tickets for Strictly's 2024 live arena tour are available now.
Interested in talking about Strictly Come Dancing? Visit our dedicated sub-forum
You Might Like...
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
