Tag: Celebrities

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Willow Wood patron becomes Strictly champion

Willow Wood Hospice patron Ellie Leach blew the competition off the dancefloor to be crowned a worthy winner of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. 

The 22-year-old actress from Tameside emerged victorious in the youngest-ever final line-up on Saturday night to lift the glitter ball trophy, ahead of actors Bobby Brazier, 20, and Layton Williams, 29.

Ellie, who was the bookmakers’ favourite to win, performed three dances with partner Vito Coppola – one chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a show dance.

The four judges gave advisory scores but the final decision was taken by the public through a vote, which Ellie topped after 12 weeks of tangos, salsas and foxtrots.

“I genuinely cannot believe this,” Ellie said on BBC One in the aftermath of being announced as the 21st winner of the show.

“For once, he [Vito] is crying more than me,” she said. She turned to her dance partner and said: “This is for you.”

Ellie, a former pupil of Fairfield High School For Girls in Droylsden and Aldwyn Primary School in Audenshaw, is best known for her 12 years playing Faye Windass on ITV soap Coronation Street.

Her family, friends and ex-Corrie co-stars cheered her on from Ellie’s hometown pub The Snipe in Audenshaw on the night and celebrated her success.

Ellie has described her experience on Strictly as “life-changing” and totally different to filming scenes on the famous Corrie cobbles.

Her exhilarating and versatile performances wowed the judges and audiences both in the studio and at home throughout.

In the early weeks of the competition, back in October, Ellie agreed to become Willow Wood’s youngest ever patron. She was already a friend of the Hospice, where her grandad sadly died.

Everyone at Willow Wood congratulates Ellie on her achievement and cannot wait to welcome her back at the Hospice as a Strictly champion.

In the build-up to the final, staff from across the Hospice wished Ellie good luck:

And this is how we congratulated Ellie on her victory on our social media channels:

By Adam Higgins

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Strictly star becomes our youngest ever patron

Willow Wood is delighted to announce that Ellie Leach has agreed to become the Hospice’s youngest ever patron.

The 22-year-old local actress is already a friend of the Hospice, where her grandad sadly passed away, and she has also supported some of our events.

Ellie will be familiar to many soap fans after starring as Faye Windass in ITV’s Coronation Street for 12 years, before she left the famous cobbles behind in May this year.

She has connections to Tameside, where the Hospice is based, as she was born in Audenshaw and is a past pupil of Fairfield High School For Girls in Droylsden.

Ellie is currently on our TV screens every Saturday night, strutting her stuff in the 21st series of Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC, alongside her professional dance partner Vito Coppola.

Her performances have already been well received by the judges and audiences at home. Everyone at Willow Wood is supporting Ellie and wishes her well in her bid to claim the coveted glitter ball.

You can follow her dancing and career progress on Instagram and TikTok, as well as her support for the Hospice on the Willow Wood social media platforms.

Our patrons believe in the aims of Willow Wood, help raise valuable funds for our work and generate awareness of our achievements and campaigns.

Ellie said: “I am absolutely honoured to become a patron for Willow Wood. I am in awe of the work that the Hospice does and would love to be a part of it.”

Philip Millson, Chair and Trustee of Willow Wood Hospice, commented: “We are absolutely delighted that Ellie has agreed to come on board as a patron and be associated with the Hospice.

“She is well known to so many people and will be a fantastic ambassador for Willow Wood.”

Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Willow Wood Hospice, added: “Ellie is an absolute superstar and a fabulous role model for young people.

“She is passionate about hospice care and is very keen to be involved. We cannot wait to work with her to help improve the Hospice’s profile and support patient care.”

Ellie will be in good company as a patron, joining fellow former Coronation Street stars Julie Goodyear MBE and Julie Hesmondhalgh, as well as celebrated cartoonist Tony Husband, comedian Justin Moorhouse, Greater Manchester’s Vice Lord Lieutenant Sharman Birtles MBE, former Civic Mayor of Tameside Brian Wild and retired businessman Phil Cowper.

By Adam Higgins