Strictly champion Ellie Leach pays tribute to show finalists as she reveals welcome home celebrations
STRICTLY Come Dancing star Ellie Leach has paid a touching tribute to her fellow finalists.
The 22-year-old admitted she was still processing her win on Saturday night with pro Vito Coppola, which saw her beat Bobby Brazier and Layton Williams to lift the trophy.
But showing she is truly a gracious winner, the Corrie star expressed her pride about everyone involved in the BBC dance competition.
Ellie wrote: “My face says it all!!!! utter disbelief!!!! So grateful to be a part of such an amazing show surrounded by amazing people.
“To my fellow finalists @bobbybrazier @diannebuswell @laytonwilliams @nikita__kuzmin i’m so lucky we got to share that special final together, so proud of you all, you are all incredible.
“Also huge love to everyone who was a part of strictly this year, everyone was amazing!!! Each one of us so different but all connected by one beautiful thing, Strictly Come Dancing.”
Ellie also revealed a banner had been put up in her family home celebrating her win.
Since winning the show, Ellie has been catching up on some much needed family time and headed for a pub lunch on Sunday to mark the end of the series.
And yesterday she headed to the This Morning studios to mark her success.
Speaking about her win, Ellie said: “I feel like it’s never going to feel real. Yesterday I was like, what is going on, and laid in bed all day and went for tea with my family.”
She also played down speculation that she is dating Vito despite their “intense chemistry”.
When Josie Gibson asked if the rumours were true, she said: “Honestly, we’ve just been having the most amazing time dancing and we’ve built a really strong bond and a friendship that will last forever.”
Vito also echoed: “We have a really beautiful bond, a good bond. When you see a person and you connect with a person straight away.
“I’m a very first impression and when we met, we had that feeling that we knew each other for so long.
“I’m so so lucky to have you in my life.”
Craig Doyle appeared to read between the lines and said: “There’s 100 per cent romance, 100 per cent…I can see it.”
Ellie and Vito quickly exclaimed: “No, no.”