AN emotional Ellie Leach broke down in tears, as the Strictly Come Dancing favourite heads into tonight's big final.
This evening the former Coronation Street star will dance for the Glitterball Trophy, against Bobby Brazier and Layton Williams.
Last night, the actress, who is the bookiesâ favourite to win, appeared on Strictly spin-off show It takes Two, alongside pro partner Vito Coppola.
During the episode, Ellie became emotional when she was shown messages of support from her family.
It Takes Two host Janette Manara played Ellie the clip which, alongside her cousin Brooke Vincent, featured her parents, sister and best friend all sending her their best wishes.
But it was all too much for for the TV star and she was visibly choked up, as she watched her family say how proud they were of her.
Read More on Strictly
Ellie, Bobby and Layton's Strictly dances revealed ahead of grand final
Strictly winner ârevealedâ as Ellie, Layton and Bobby vie for trophy
When it was Brooke's turn she said: "Ellie is like the loveliest person," the mum-of-two gushed.
"Every week when we sit down and watch her itâs like we see a new part of her come out. She's grown up like a woman, she's grown in confidence. She's just growing," she said.
Ellie's parents Alan and Karen were also emotional as they praised their daughter.
"She's always been quite shy and really loveable," said her mum.
Most read in Reality
BOMBSHELL
Maya Jama stuns in plunging thigh-split red dress and see-through black outfit
HARD TO PLEASE
Strictly fans call for judge to be FIRED after âoutrageous undermarkingâ
not invited?
Towie cast in huge shake up as starâs place on show âhanging in the balanceâ
fan fury
Ferne McCann fans tell her to âdump Lorriâ after he ‘belittles her’ on camera
While her dad added: "Proudest parents in the world just watching her doing what she's doing,
Luckily Ellie's dance partner Vito was on hand to comfort her, and was seen wiping a tear from her face.
Meanwhile, this week, as the only woman left on the show, Ellie declared she is now âdoing it for the girls.
Speaking ahead of tonight's final she said: âHonestly, I feel so so lucky to be in the final, everyone in this competition has been so amazing.
âIâm doing it for the girls! The last woman standing!
âI just loved everything about this experience. I just feel really, really grateful to be here.â
In the final, the pair will perform a show dance to a Jennifer Lopez megamix – which zany Italian pro partner Vito Coppola has described as âa bit like minestroneâ as it combines so many dance styles.
Ellie never thought sheâd reach this point.
She added: âI was so nervous at the start. I was like, âlook, Iâm really sorry. There's gonna be things that I don't know if I can doâ, and I was really, really scared.
âI've never had any dance experience. I actually cannot believe that we are in the final, and also how quick the time has gone.
âIt feels like Christmas Eve every night, like youâre excited to wake up Christmas Day.â
Ellie and Vito have had tongues wagging with their growing closeness but the dancer has now revealed the real reason any romance has been put on ice.
Asked about their chemistry, he said: âWe have so many things to think about, you know, and choreography, and lift up and down, left, right, diagonal.
"And after we finish, we have the time to eat fast. We nap a little bit because we need to take the energy to continue.
"After we go home, we make sure we go to sleep the next day we have to go again.
âSo we really are so focused on all this beautiful experience.
âWe just had a very great connection, a 50/50 partnership since the beginning.â
Ellie said: âI think that, obviously, we've danced together for how many weeks now? Itâs been three months we've been together every single day.
Read more on The Sun
I lost ÂŁ635 by selling an iPhone on eBay after buyer claimed device was fake
Asda trick to get discounts revealed as customer bags ÂŁ10 of shopping for 10p
"And you really have to have a strong partnership to be able to trust in each other.â
The final is on BBC One tonight at 7pm.
Source: Read Full Article