Helen Flanagan supports Strictly winner and Corrie co-star Ellie Leach after cruel body-shaming
Coronation Street’s Helen Flanagan has shown love to her former soap co-star Ellie Leach, who was recently subjected to cruel trolling online.
In a recent Instagram video, the Faye Windass actress – who won the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing – addressed the ‘toxic’ comments she had been getting over her appearance.
She told her followers online: ‘As people in the public eye, we are exposed to a lot of people having opinions, whether that’s opinions on your personality or – a lot of the time – opinions on the way you look.
‘And makes me really sad, actually, because I’ve seen quite a few comments and a few messages that aren’t really very nice, and I just think that we should be kinder to each other, and we should be more positive rather than trying to pick out negatives or put people down.’
Following the trolling ordeal, OK! claims that Ellie, 22, has been supported by actress Helen, who is best known for playing Rosie Webster on the soap.
A source shared: ‘Helen has been through it all herself – and reached out to Ellie personally to support her. She’s been a tower of strength for Ellie – telling her to rise above it all, and that she will get through this.’
Ellie is set to make her theatre debut in the upcoming tour of Cluedo 2, replacing Helen.
The actress is stepping into Helen’s role of Miss Scarlett, after the star was ‘advised to withdraw for medical reasons’.
The statement regarding Helen’s withdrawal said: ‘Helen Flanagan has been advised to withdraw for medical reasons and the company of Cluedo 2 wish her well.’
Ellie commented on her new role and said: ‘After an incredible year I’m so excited to join the cast of Cluedo 2’.
Starring alongside Jason Durr, best known for his role as David Hide in Casualty, she added: ‘I am delighted to make my stage acting debut as Miss Scarlett and I can’t wait to work with Jason and the talented cast.’
This will be Ellie’s first acting role following her Strictly win and exit from Coronation Street. She portrayed Faye Windass for 12 years, with the character departing Weatherfield for a new life with her partner and their daughter Miley.
Cluedo 2, which is set in the 60s, begins at London’s Richmond Theatre on February 29, finishing at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham on July 27 after travelling across the UK.
