Coronation Street star Ellie Leach has shared her excitement over where her current storyline may go despite rumours of an exit being on the horizon. The actress is known for playing Faye Windass in the ITV soap having grown up on screen after making her cobbles debut in 2011.
And 12 years later, things appeared to have come full circle for Ellie on-screen as her latest storyline has seen her reunited with her daughter. Earlier this year, Faye opened up to her step-mum Sally Metcalfe as she appeared distracted at work. She revealed that her ex Jackson Hodge had been in touch and told her that he and their daughter, Miley, were back in the UK after living in Canada with his parents.
Faye and Jackson conceived their child after the two teens slept together at a party, with Miley then born in 2015. And while Sally seemed open to the idea of Faye reconnecting with her daughter, her step-daughter deemed it as the "worst news ever".
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However, Corrie fans have since watched Faye bonding with the little girl she gave up all those years ago after her dad, Tim, initially went behind his daughter's back in order to see his only grandchild.
But Faye has since been struggling to mix her new life with her boyfriend - or should we say fiancé - Craig Tinker and her old one with Jackson and Miley.
She even kissed Jackson who later told Craig that Faye wanted to be with him, despite accepting Craig's impromptu proposal. But next week, at the precinct, when Miley admits how much she’s going to miss her and while Faye hides her emotions, Miley puts pressure on Faye to move to Slough with her and Jackson.
But there's another curveball for Faye in the Rovers when Craig tells Faye that he’s been given a secondment with CID. Faye is quizzed about her feelings for Jackson by her brother Gary and she admits that Jackson tried to kiss her. But it’s Craig she loves and Jackson refuses to accept it.
Gary lures Faye and Jackson to the furniture shop and urges them to talk. Jackson tells Faye that by choosing Craig over him, she’s making the biggest mistake of her life.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News at the annual Pride of Manchester awards with TSB, which took place on Wednesday night (May 10), Ellie spoke about Faye's current predicament and wasn't drawn on claims she's set to wave goodbyes to the cobbles.
"The storyline at the minute is a really nice one at the minute," the soap star said on the red carpet at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel. "I think it has been hard for Faye because she's had such a terrible time and now that her daughter's come back, she's finally getting that love and bond that she's probably always wanted but never thought that she could have.
"She gave her [Miley] up when she was so young so I'm really excited to see where that's going to go. And I've been really happy doing all the scenes with Frankie who plays Miley and Joe who plays Jackson so it's been really nice to work with them."
Ellie was at the big bash in Manchester city centre with her Corrie co-stars Colson Smith and Sair Khan. The trio were on hand to present the Fundraiser of the Year award which went to John Jones MBE. The 80-year-old received the special recognition after he raised close to half a million pounds for his local hospice, and the local hospital that cared for his wife, by playing the accordion.
"I'm really really excited," Ellie said on the red carpet ahead of the Pride of Manchester ceremony. "I know it's going to be an emotional one! I have never been to the Pride of Britain awards before and I have always wanted to so I'm super lucky to be here, particularly in my home town. The winners are all so deserving of their awards."
But Ellie did have a bit of a problem ahead of the emotional night - she forgot her tissues. The 22-year-old, from Bury, looked gorgeous in a plunging black top which skimmed her waist and was paired with matching wide-leg black trousers. She swept her brunette locks into a stylish bun and added a pop of colour with a slick of red lipstick.
"I know it's going to be an emotional one," she said on the red carpet but when asked if she had some tissues at the ready, she replied: "Nothing fits in this bag..." before showing us the minimal contents of her tiny clutch bag.
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