Strictly Come Dancing 2023 winner Ellie Leach has told this year's contestants to work hard if they want to succeed. The former Coronation Street star, who lifted the glitterball trophy alongside professional dancer Vito Coppola, shared the advice she would give herself looking back on her time on the show.
Speaking as the competition continues, Leach said: “The advice that I would give myself throughout the whole series really is to cherish every moment because it goes so fast. Once that launch show is on, it’s like boom you’re in it, it goes so quick. So it would just be to cherish every moment.”
No secret to winning
Leach admitted there was no secret to winning, adding: “I think if you put in the hard work, you’re going to see that rewarded.”
“It’s one of those things where you really do have to put your all into it. There’s no point in being like, ‘It’s alright, it’ll work itself out,’ I think you do really have to work hard if you want to succeed and do yourself proud,” she said.
Life after Strictly
Leach, who was speaking amid a collaboration with The Royal Mint as Miss Scarlett for the new Cluedo 50p, recalled how her life changed after Strictly, despite being known as Faye Windass on Coronation Street for more than a decade.
She said: “It was completely different. People knew me from Corrie but they knew me as a character, and then when I did Strictly, they got to learn my own personality.”
“That was what was really strange and something that I was worried about before going into Strictly, like I wonder if people are going to like me for me, because you are judged on your personality by the public. To be yourself was crazy. But I loved it, it brought out a whole different side to me as a person so it was fun to play around with that,” she added.
First elimination
This year's contestants include Delta Goodrem, Lacey Turner and Will Best. The second elimination is set for this weekend after celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and partner Amy Dowden became the first couple to be sent home.
Chris said: “I think it’s been such a whirlwind of emotion. I’m 43 and I got good at doing what I did – which is hair.”
“To come and do something like this, I felt so out of my comfort zone and saw myself in a way I never saw myself, and it challenged me in ways I never knew I could be challenged,” he added.
“I am very grateful for everyone who has been involved. It’s been so amazing to be part of something that I grew up watching and got to be a part of it. The most important thing I think I will take from this show is having a friend in Amy because I genuinely love her and I am so grateful I met someone who has so much heart and passion. I only wish I could have done better for her because she deserves to go further in the competition, but we did put everything into it.”
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
