Coronation Street star Ellie Leach has revealed a hidden connection to her Strictly Come Dancing co-star Adam Thomas.
Leach, 22, is making her final preparations before she takes to the floor in the first live show of this year’s edition of the BBC dancing competition.
Partnered up with 2022 finalist Vito Coppola, the ITV soap star is excited to get onto the ballroom dancefloor to make her dancing debut.
READ MORE: Strictly Len Goodman’s life – predicting own death, football injury and romance
But speaking ahead of the live show on Saturday (September 23), Leach – who plays the role of Faye Windas on the ITV soap – opened up on her connection to fellow competitor Adam Thomas.
(Image: BBC)
Thomas, 35, currently stars in the revived BBC series Waterloo Road after a nine year stint on Emmerdale playing farmer Adam Barton.
But despite the acting stars appearing in different shows, they both have a secret connection.
Speaking to the Daily Express, Ellie said she was thrilled to be joined by her mate Adam in the competition.
“When I found out Adam was doing it I was really excited because I was like, ‘Finally I don’t feel like I am going to be on my own’ because obviously we know that we’re doing it but we don’t know who else is doing it,” she beamed.
She added that she felt “so excited” when her soap star colleague’s name was confirmed, and the pair have been bantering together since.
Ellie and Adam share a link together already through Adam’s brother, Ryan Thomas.
(Image: Instagram)
Ryan, who previously won the final series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2018, appeared on the cobbles alongside Ellie for over sixteen years.
Playing the role of Jason Grimshaw, Ryan was involved in a number of heavy storylines including being a ladies man, eventually marrying and divorcing Sarah Platt and being involved in the murder of all-time baddie Callum Logan.
Jason flew to Thailand, after Ryan left the soap in 2016, and has stayed there since, with the most recent update coming in 2020, when he was said to have contracted COVID during the pandemic.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Ellie, who worked with Ryan in some scenes, met her Strictly co-star as a result of the friendship she built up with Ryan during his time on the show.
As a result, she said she felt overjoyed when she recognised his name as one of the fellow competitors.
“I know Adam, I’m really excited to see him again because I’ve not seem him for a while,” she said, speaking on BBC Breakfast after she was revealed as a participant.
She added that she would be calling his presence on the show “a little piece of home”.
(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
Leach has also admitted she is nervous ahead of taking to the floor in the upcoming series, but added she was eager to get going.
“I’m so excited, I’m getting a bit nervous now it’s getting nearer to the time,” she confessed.
Ahead of her appearance, Ellie added that she would be like to be in it for the long run, saying she will take all judges’ advice on board.
“I think it pushes you so you think, ‘Next week I need to focus on this'” she explained
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday evenings at 6:15pm on BBC One.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
