Coronation Street star Ellie Leach has shared the saddest part of her final scenes after it was confirmed she's leaving the soap as Faye Windass. Faye will be waving goodbye to Weatherfield as she gets in her dad's taxi and heads for Slough with her ex Jackson Hodge and their daughter Miley.
Rumours about Ellie's exit have been swirling for weeks but it has officially been announced that the actress has called time on her time on the cobbles after 12 years. Fans of the ITV soap have recently seen Faye reunite with Jackson and Miley, years after she gave up her daughter after giving birth at 15.
Faye and Jackson conceived their child after the two teens slept together at a party with Miley then born in 2015 when Faye was just 15 years old. But due to their young age, Faye felt she wasn't capable of looking after a child and Jackson took sole custody of Miley and went to live in Canada with his parents.
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After her initial reservations, Faye has been spending time with Miley and Jackson with the former young couple even sharing a kiss. She has been struggling to mix her new life with her boyfriend Craig Tinker and her old one with Jackson and Miley. But next week, she finally makes a decision as Miley and Jackson prepare to move.
Craig assures a concerned Faye that he would never report her to the police for the hit and run which later saw an elderly gentleman, named Ted, die, before he goes on to suggest they should buy a flat together and set a date for the wedding. Later, when Tim admits how relieved he is that she chose Craig, Faye feels more trapped than ever.
Jackson and Miley invite Faye for a last family outing before they leave but she can't face it. Instead, she breaks down to her brother Gary and admits that she wants to be with Jackson, but she can’t leave Craig because he knows something that could land her back in prison.
Later, Faye tells Craig that Jackson and Miley will be calling around to take some photos before they leave for Slough. As Faye, Craig, Jackson, Miley, Tim and Sally pose for family photos, Miley explains how she plans to put together an album to remember them by. Faye does her best to keep a lid on her emotions but Craig can see she’s deeply upset.
It is then when cop Craig tells Faye that if she wants to go with Jackson and Miley to Slough then she should do it and with her case packed, Faye approaches the car; her decision is made.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News and other press, Ellie was asked to describe her last scene and how she felt. "It was very, very emotional. Obviously, it's Faye leaving the street after 12 years but it's me leaving the street after 12 years as well," the 22-year-old, from Bury, said. "I think the saddest part of the scene is we're in the taxi, we're on our way and then we just see Criag on his own, walking up the street and then Faye's obviously like, 'stop the car!'
"She gets out and she's like, 'I'll always love you. I always have and always will,' and it was just so, so emotional. I think you can see that there are two people here who do love each other but there are so many other factors. Love isn't always enough and I think you can definitely see that in that last scene."
Ellie also reminisced about when she first started on the cobbles back in 2011 and recalled advice from her fellow cast members, including her former co-star cousin Brooke Vincent. "I think people were just like, 'be yourself, turn up on time [and] know your lines,'" the 22-year-old said.
"Obviously that's the main piece of advice you give to anyone who is starting a new job like this. But I remember when I first started Brooke, my cousin, was like, 'Just be yourself. Everyone will love you,' and I think that's just what I've done. I've just been myself and I think that's why I've been here for so long.
"I've been myself but I've also made this part of me and that will never go away. Corrie will always be a part of me and Faye Windass will always be a part of me." Sharing what she'll miss most about being part of the soap, Ellie shared: "I think just the people.
"I know that everyone says we all get along so well and we're like a big family but we genuinely are and I've absolutely loved being able to work with my best friends and I feel like that's just an amazing experience in itself. And to be on one of the biggest soaps ever, it's crazy. It's been an amazing, amazing time and I'll never forget it."
She was also quizzed on who she has made good friends with over the years and who she'll continue to be friends with now she's exited the famous street.
"In this job, it's weird because you've got such an age range of people," she said. "You've got the younger cast members, the inbetweeners and you have the older cast members and I feel like you get friendly who you'd never really usually speak to. So I think Sally Dynevor but she's like my mum. She's always been my mum, she always look after me and I've loved being able to work with her.
"Also, Ryan Russell who plays Ryan, love Ryan, and Channiwue [Sterling-Brown] as well. Honestly, Sally-Ann Matthews, Charli Jordan... you could name so many people. I just love everyone and I'm very, very privileged to call these people my friends and say I've been able to work with them for so many years."
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