Ellie Leach Defends 'Chaotic' New Era of Strictly Come Dancing

Ellie Leach, winner of Strictly Come Dancing, has voiced her support for the show's latest transformation, embracing the new hosting lineup and revamped format. Despite some viewer criticism, Leach believes the show's evolution is positive and that it continues to be a unifying force for families.

The 24th series of Strictly has seen a significant overhaul, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe stepping into hosting roles previously held by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. While Willis has received praise, Widdicombe has faced some early criticism for his presenting style.

Leach, who won the Glitterball trophy in 2023 with Vito Coppola, expressed her approval in a recent interview, stating, "It was different, but I love the new format." She highlighted the increased dance elements in the launch show as a particular positive, describing the overall experience, despite some chaos, as "so fun."

"Even though it was absolute chaos, I kind of love that. We need a bit of chaos in our lives sometimes," Leach commented.

She also praised the new presenting team, saying, "I love them. I thought they all did amazing." Leach noted Radebe's comfort and existing familiarity with the show's cast, alongside the addition of Willis and Widdicombe as "nice to see two new faces."

This new era follows a period of controversy for the BBC program, including allegations of misconduct and the departures of professional dancers. Despite these challenges and a reported dip in ratings for the revamped lineup, Leach remains optimistic about the show's enduring appeal.

"I think it’s a show that really brings families together," Leach said. "It’s one of the only shows and the only time when people sit as a full family because they can all enjoy it. Every member of each family knows someone who's taking part because they're so good at bringing such a wide variety of people to the line-up."

Leach will be closely following her friend Vito Coppola and his new celebrity partner, Lacey Turner. "Vito is my best friend – I’m very, very excited for him and Lacey. I was so happy when I saw that partnership," she shared. She also commented that "all of the partnerships look really strong this year."

Reflecting on her own experience, Leach advised current contestants to "cherish every single moment whilst you’re in it," acknowledging the show's intense, fun, exciting, and sometimes stressful nature.

Leach emphasized the profound impact Strictly had on her life, stating, "It changed my life, and so it will always be so special to me." She credits the show with boosting her confidence and encouraging her to pursue opportunities she might have previously declined, including her stage acting debut in the UK tour of Cluedo 2.

Recently, Leach reprised her role as Miss Scarlett to launch The Royal Mint's new collectable Cluedo 50p coin, a collaboration with Hasbro. She described the experience as a fun challenge, noting the detailed design of the coin and encouraging fans to participate in an online competition to win a gold coin.