Former Coronation Street star Ellie Leach has revealed the "most challenging" element of her new television role.
The 24-year-old actress, who shot to fame playing Faye Windass for over a decade before leaving in 2023, has landed her first acting gig since departing the ITV flagship soap.
After exiting Coronation Street, Ellie won Strictly Come Dancing and later featured in a touring stage show of Cluedo 2 as a last-minute replacement for ex-Corrie co-star Helen Flanagan.
She's now set to play the "sassy" Mimi McQuinn in Channel 5's drama The Good Ship Murder, which returns on Tuesday night (January 6).
In a new Instagram clip, she revealed: "She's not like anyone I've played before. Hello, I'm Ellie Leach, and I am playing Mimi McQuinn. She's very sassy, she's giving boss and I loved it. She's quite rude to people, so maybe that was the most challenging part. That's also the most fun part.", reports Wales Online.
"Deep down, she is quite a nice, normal person but this whole persona of being a star really comes out and I think that's what I loved most about her character", reports the Mirror.
Fellow industry stars quickly expressed their enthusiasm in the comments section of Ellie's Instagram post. Colson Smith, who played Faye's on-off romantic partner Craig Tinker in Coronation Street, wrote: "Yeyyyyy! Go on Ellie," whilst Angela Scanlon, who competed alongside Ellie on Strictly, replied with several clapping hands emojis.
The crime series has aired two seasons and a festive special starring Catherine Tydlesley, who recently made a comeback to Coronation Street as Rovers Return landlady Eva Price, and X Factor winner Shayne Ward, who previously played her fiancé Aidan Connor in the show.
Ellie was a regular fixture on Coronation Street between 2011 and 2023, having been brought in as the adopted daughter of Anna Windass (Debbie Rush) and involved in several significant storylines during her time on the programme.
Most notably, the character fell pregnant at only 12 years of age and kept it hidden from her relatives until she was forced to reveal the truth while going into labour above the corner shop. She decided to name the infant after pop star Miley Cyrus, but later arranged for her to reside with her father, a schoolmate, and his family when they moved to Canada.
Faye later began a relationship with tragic Seb Franklin, who was murdered, and was diagnosed with premature menopause. Eventually, Faye's daughter returned with her father, Jackson, and they moved to Slough as a family.
Yet in truth, despite her Strictly success, Ellie kept a low profile on the small screen, and earlier this year, she began flogging clothes on the Vinted marketplace app for as little as £4.
Ellie was devastated when soap bosses announced they could "see no future for the character" and had previously been frank about her work situation. The actress recently alluded to a trip abroad whilst jokingly describing herself as "unemployed".
She wrote: "Working lunch (we are booking a holiday)," alongside a photo of her friend, adding: "She's a student and I'm unemployed."
However, speculation mounted about a new venture when she started posting updates from Malta.
In 2023, Ellie spoke openly about the difficulties of maturing in the spotlight due to her soap stardom. She confessed: "It's very scary, don't get me wrong, I've met some amazing people through this job. I would never have had the opportunities that I've had if it weren't for Coronation Street. But it's hard, being young."
Her appearance on Strictly, where she partnered with professional dancer Vito Coppola, also made a significant impact. Despite their chemistry on screen fuelling speculation about a relationship, both firmly dismissed any romantic connection.
Looking back on their experience together, Ellie revealed how profoundly the programme affected her, stating: "The days after were very emotional. My time at Strictly was life-changing, and to have the bond and friendship I made with Vito was amazing.
"It's the sort of friendship I'll cherish for the rest of my life. I'm very lucky and grateful for the experience."
Despite sporting matching bee tattoos, Ellie and Vito insist they are merely good mates. "From the moment we met, we just clicked," she shared, adding that she now regards Vito as a member of her extended family and that they "message every day."