# Ellie Leach

Ellie Louise Leach (born 15 March 2001) is an English actress, known for portraying the role of Faye Windass on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street between 2011 and 2023. Following her exit from the soap, she won the twenty-first series of the BBC contest Strictly Come Dancing.

## Early life

Leach was born in Manchester, Greater Manchester on 15 March 2001. Leach attended Fairfield High School for Girls. Leach is a cousin of Brooke Vincent, who played Sophie Webster in Coronation Street between 2004 and 2019.

## Career

Leach began her television career appearing in television advertisements for Staples and McDonald's. In 2009, Leach appeared in the film A Boy Called Dad. In 2010, Leach appeared in an episode of Moving On as Stacy.
In 2011, she was cast in the role of Faye Butler, a potential adoptive child for Anna (Debbie Rush) and Eddie Windass (Steve Huison) on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. In April 2023, it was confirmed that Leach would be leaving Coronation Street after 12 years in the role of Faye, with her departure scenes set to air in a "huge story" in July 2023. It was initially reported that Leach had chosen to leave Coronation Street but would not be killed-off, leaving the door open for the actress and the character to return in the future. However, Leach later confirmed the show's bosses had told her they could "see no future for the character" resulting in her role being axed.
Following her exit from Coronation Street, Leach signed up to appear as a contestant on the twenty-first series of the BBC dance competition Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered with professional Vito Coppola and the pair went on to win the competition. At age 22, she became the youngest celebrity to win the show, a record previously held by Olympic gymnast Louis Smith of series ten, who was 23 at the time.
Strictly Come Dancing performances
| Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Result |
| Week # | Dance/Song | Horwood | Mabuse | Ballas | Du Beke | Total | Result |
| 1 | Jive / "Can't Tame Her" | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 29 | No elimination |
| 2 | Foxtrot / "Perfect" | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 3 | Viennese waltz / "Waiting on a Miracle" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 33 | Safe |
| 4 | Samba / "Copacabana" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
| 5 | Paso doble / "Insomnia" | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 37 | Safe |
| 6 | Salsa / "Murder on the Dancefloor" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 38 | Safe |
| 7 | American Smooth / "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Safe |
| 8 | Rumba / "True Colors" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| 9 | Charleston / "Love Machine" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Safe |
| 10 | Argentine tango / "Bills, Bills, Bills" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 38 | Safe |
| 11 | Quickstep / "Belle" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 36 | No elimination |
| 12 | Cha-cha-cha / "Mambo Italiano" Street/Commercial / "Blow Your Mind" & "Physical" | 9 9 | 10 9 | 9 10 | 9 10 | 37 38 | Safe |
| 13 | Paso doble / "Insomnia" Freestyle / Jennifer Lopez megamix American Smooth / "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" | 9 9 10 | 10 9 10 | 10 9 10 | 10 9 10 | 39 36 40 | Winner |

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2009 | A Boy Called Dad | Katie | Film role |
| 2010 | Moving On | Stacy | Episode: "I Am Darleen Fyles" |
| 2011–2023 | Coronation Street | Faye Windass | Series regular |
| 2012 | Coronation Street: A Christmas Corrie | Faye Windass | Television short |
| 2015 | The Sound of Music Live | Nun ensemble | Television film |
| 2023 | Strictly Come Dancing | Herself | Winner; series 21 |
| 2024 | Drama Queens | Herself | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2013 | 2013 British Soap Awards | Best Young Performance | Coronation Street | Nominated |
| 2013 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Young Actor | Coronation Street | Nominated |
| 2014 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Young Actor | Coronation Street | Nominated |
| 2015 | 2015 British Soap Awards | Best Young Performance | Coronation Street | Nominated |
| 2015 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Young Actor | Coronation Street | Nominated |