Strictly's Ellie Leach opens up on 'difficult' time in emotional statement

Ellie Leach has posted a lengthy statement on Instagram, revealing that life is "hard" as she embarks on the UK tour of Cluedo 2. The reigning champion of Strictly Come Dancing has made her stage acting debut as Miss Scarlett.

Posting a cryptic photo of herself in a dark room as she takes a bath, she added the statement: "It's our last two shows tomorrow before a weeks break!

"I'm loving doing this show and seeing different parts of the country, but touring is also difficult! Being away from home and family is hard and not being able to fully settle in places as you're not there for long enough, it sometimes makes me feel like I don't know where to place myself [...]

"I'm lucky to have my cluedo friends around me to remind me that we're all touring together and we're not alone! Finding time to just light a candle and switch off is really important for me and I find it just really helps me re centre! Happy Friday everyone, have a fab weekend."

Ellie won the hearts of the nation last year when she won Strictly Come Dancing alongside Vito Coppola. She is best known for being on the ITV soap Coronation Street.

Playing Faye Windass for 12 years, she left the soap last year before signing up to Strictly Come Dancing. She became the youngest winner of Strictly at the age of 22-years-old, beating Layton Williams and Bobby Brazier to the title.

The role of Miss Scarlett was originally meant be filled by Helen Flanagan, however she pulled out due to "medical reasons." The soap actress revealed that she had psychosis following the split from footballer Scott Sinclair.

The duo, who were together for 13 years, started dating when Helen was only 19 years-old. In 2022, Helen announced that she had called time on her relationship with Scott, who is the father to her children Matilda, Delilah and Charlie.

Helen broke her silence on social media earlier this year to announce her health ordeal, but insisted that she is in "really good happy place now" after therapy.

The 33-year-old shared: "Basically I really struggled mental health wise December/January. I felt really not great in my head over Christmas and I didn’t really feel that much different when I took the kids away for new year.