Strictly Come Dancing and former Coronation Street star Ellie Leach is set to give fans an insight into the "stress and excitement" that has come since winning the BBC reality show.

Leach, who played Faye Windass on ITV soap Coronation Street from 2011 and 2023, won the latest series of Strictly with partner Vito Coppola back in December, beating fellow celebrity contestants Bobby Brazier and Layton Williams in the final.

Nearly four months on the former soap star has opened up about how much it meant to her being on the popular BBC show and the “stress and excitement” that has come following her Strictly success.

Bury Mercury: Ellie Leach is set to feature on a new ITV reality series Drama Queens.Ellie Leach is set to feature on a new ITV reality series Drama Queens. (Image: BBC)

Ellie Leach gives insight into "stress and excitement" that has followed Strictly Come Dancing win

Leach - along with a range of other soap stars including the likes of Jorgie Porter (Hollyoaks), Roxy Shahidi (Emmerdale and Dancing on Ice) and Rita Simons (EastEnders) - will feature in new reality series Drama Queens which is set to launch on ITVBe and ITVX on April 10.

She has said the new show will give fans a good insight into what her life has been like following her win on Strictly 2023.

Leach, 23, said: "It (Drama Queens) will be good to get an insight into our families, it’s not all glitz and glamour.

“I’ve just started a play which is completely out of my comfort zone.

“People will see the stress and excitement I’ve been feeling since finishing Strictly.”

Speaking about her time on the BBC One dance show, she continued: “I can’t believe I got the chance to be part of it.

“It opened my eyes to what is out there. It was completely out of my comfort zone.”

Asked if fans will catch a glimpse of dance partner Coppola in the upcoming ITV reality series, Leach added: “There are a few bits on tour. He is hilarious and he makes me laugh.

“I wouldn’t have been able to get through it without him.

“He was a great teacher, a great friend and dance partner. He helped change my life.”

When to watch Drama Queens on TV?

Leach will feature on the new eight-episode ITV reality series Drama Queens which follows the lives of a host of female actresses from across three of Britain’s biggest soap operas - Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks.

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The other actresses that will star alongside Leach in the new series are:

  • Jorgie Porter (Hollyoaks)
  • Rita Simons (EastEnders)
  • Jamelia (Hollyoaks and singer)
  • Amy Walsh (Emmerdale)
  • Laura Norton (Emmerdale)
  • Roxy Shahidi (Emmerdale and Dancing on Ice)
  • Brooke Vincent (Coronation Street)
  • Lucy Fallon (Coronation Street)

Speaking about the show Rebecca Kenny-Smith, director of programming (unscripted) for production company Lime Pictures, said: “We’re thrilled to bring audiences a new kind of reality show that goes beyond the glitz and glamour, offering a genuine and raw portrayal of what it’s really like to be a soap star.”

Drama Queens will begin on ITVBe and ITVX on Wednesday, April 10 at 9pm.