14 November 2023 , 09:51
605
0
Ellie Leach says her weight is dropping due to her intense dance routine on Strictly Come Dancing.
The Coronation Street actress, 22, and her dance partner Vito Coppola, 31, are dancing every day except Sunday from 9am until 6pm. When they're not dancing, Vito gives her exercises to improve her strength and posture.
"I've lost a lot of weight," Ellie admits. "You're training so much. I still need to work on my fitness levels but even the dance we're doing this week, I wouldn't have been able to do three weeks ago." Before joining Strictly, Ellie wanted to get fit but didn't enjoy working out.
Ellie is now dancing every single day except Sunday (ITV)
She opened up about her gruelling routine with Vito (Instagram)"I've never really been into physical activity or going to the gym and stuff like that," she told OK! Magazine. "But I've always loved watching people dance. So to be able to learn how to do it now, it's amazing.
"My body and my mindset are changing so much each day. I don't know how much weight I've lost but I can feel myself getting stronger, which I think is great."
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness
Ellie certainly looks incredible on the show and after spending all her time on Coronation Street dressed in either school uniform or one of Faye's drab cardigans, she is enjoying being whirled through the BBC's glitziest dressing-up box.
Former soap actress Ellie gushed about her love for the show, saying: "The costumes and the hair and makeup are my favourite part about Strictly and always have been, even when I watched it when I was younger. The fact that I get to try all these different makeup looks and the costumes, it makes you feel 10 times better. When you put the costume on, everything changes and it all really comes together."
Fans have been speculating about Ellie and Vito's relationship due to their affectionate displays. Amanda Abbington stirred the pot by calling them a "beautiful couple" on Instagram. Despite their flirty exchanges online, Ellie blushingly said of their on-screen kiss: "It was only a kiss on the cheek. He gives me a kiss on the cheek every Saturday!" She added defensively, "It was definitely on the cheek."
Last week Ellie explained the muscles that are working the hardest are in her cheeks, simply from spending all day smiling. "Every day we have so much fun and I go home and I’m like, 'Oh my cheeks!' she laughed. "We’re just having such a good time. It’s a roller coaster, but everything is just amazing. Everything is 100% heightened."
Before Strictly brought its upbeat razzle-dazzle into her heart, Ellie was struggling. Her five-year relationship with boyfriend Reagan Pettman hit the rocks over cheating allegations, and at the same time she was written out of Corrie. Ellie joined the soap aged just 10, tackled huge storylines and spent more than half her life playing teen mum Faye Windass.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]