Ellie Leach and Bobby Brazier ‘split’ amid future plans in ‘different directions’
Strictly Come Dancing 2024 winner Ellie Leach and runner up Bobby Brazier have reportedly split weeks after their tour together came to an end as their relationship struggled
Strictly Come Dancing stars Bobby Brazier and Ellie Leach have split – just six weeks after their tour together ended.
The 20-year-old EastEnders star – who was paired on Strictly with 34-year-old Dianne Buswell – and 23-year-old Ellie, who won the 2024 contest alongside 31-year-old Vito Coppola, were reportedly in a relationship earlier this year. The pair are said to have grown close during the 2024 Strictly Live! Tour which took them across the UK from January until the middle of February.
But now the romance is said to have fizzled – weeks after the live tour came to an end, meaning they were spending less time together. Ellie – who shot to fame as a star on Coronation Street – lives in the Manchester area. Bobby lives close to London and the EastEnders studios where he continues to act as Freddie Slater on the BBC soap.
Reports have emerged to suggest Ellie and Bobby have decided to throw in the towel on their romance now that they don’t see each other as regularly. While it is also said that the pair hope to maintain a friendship now they are going their separate ways.
Bobby and Ellie’s relationship is said to have fizzled out after the Strictly Live Tour came to an end (
Instagram/ @ellielouiseleach)
Ellie has been persistently linked to Vito Coppola by overzealous fans (
Instagram/ @ellielouiseleach)
A source told The Sun: “Love blossomed between them when they were in close quarters on the tour, but once that ended they both spent much less time together. That gave them space to think about the future, which is likely to take them in very different directions over the coming year or two. So they decided the best thing to do was quit while they were ahead and while they were still pals, because they both really cherish the friendship they have.” The Mirror has contacted Ellie and Bobby’s representatives for comment.
The split comes days after Ellie hit out at speculation she was dating Italian dance hunk Vito. She wrote on social media alongside a black and white snap of the dance professional: “Love this man dearly [red heart emoji] men and women can be friends and can love each other AS FRIENDS… just sayin x @vitocoppola you have the cutest face.” Speaking to Gaby Roslin on BBC Radio 2, Ellie – who played Faye Windass on the cobbles – said Vito was “the best partner” she could’ve asked for.
She said: “I had the absolute best time ever, I don’t think anyone can actually prepare you for what it’s going to be like,” she shared. “I didn’t realise how much fun I would have and how hard it would be.” Meanwhile, Bobby has also downplayed reports he was dating Ellie.
In February, he was asked if he had plans for Valentine’s Day, but he told a reporter from OK! magazine: “No, no, not yet. Maybe I will. If someone asked me out…” However, he later told reporters of Ellie: “She is a lovely lovely friend of mine.” When pressed on any romance between them, he insisted: “She’s a lovely, lovely, lovely friend of mine.”
