Strictly winner Ellie Leach’s ex breaks silence on her romance with Bobby Brazier – and dating rumours with partner Vito

ELLIE Leach’s ex-boyfriend has broken his silence on her rumoured romance with Bobby Brazier.

Reagan Pettman split from Ellie in March last year after admitting that he cheated on her on a night out.

In a candid interview with The Sun on Sunday, Reagan, 22, has spoken of his regret and says that he “misses” the Strictly winner.

But it’s a little too late as Ellie appears to have had her head turned by her dancing co-star Bobby.

Ellie and Bobby have been enjoying secret dates during the live tour of the BBC One show.

They were also spotted holding hands on the Strictly tour coach and a source told us that they have “become the talk of the tour”.

The pair, who were both finalists in the last series, was said to be “spending all their free time together before and after performances”.

Reagan, who is aware of the rumours surrounding Ellie and Bobby said that he “knew what he did was wrong and instantly regretted it”.

“I want to rebuild the trust again and for her to be back in my life,” he said.

“But if she’s happy with Bobby, then I am happy for her. But I really miss her.”

He also mentioned her dance partner Vito Coppola, who she won the show with.

There was speculation that the two had chemistry, although the pair dismissed the suggestion.

“It was only a couple of months ago they were saying the same about Vito,” Reagan said.

“But if she is happy then that is all I would want.

“Whatever she does, as long as she is happy, then I can’t say  or do anything about that. I am not jealous or angry. I just hope she is happy.”

When asked how he would feel if Ellie and Bobby made their romance official, he said: “It wouldn’t be the nicest thing in the world but, at the same time, I would be happy that she feels like she has found herself again.”

Ellie and Reagan, both 22, dated for five years. They met on an acting course at The Manchester College and went on their first date in July 2017, aged 16.

The relationship blossomed as Ellie shone as Coronation Street’s Faye Windass.

Her character shocked the nation by falling pregnant when she was just 12 and later had a daughter.

But last March  —  soon after Corrie bosses axed her role — Ellie was heartbroken when Reagan confessed that he had cheated on her four months earlier.

“It sounds cliché but I was really drunk and it all happened at once,” he said.

Reagan kissed a girl in a club, but says he instantly regretted it and “can’t remember what she looked like”.

He had been on a bar crawl in hometown Preston in November 2022 and said: “I was chatting with the girl on the dancefloor then all of a sudden we kissed.

“I can’t remember what she looked like. I didn’t know who she was and I instantly just felt horrible. I couldn’t even remember what I thought or felt at that moment.

“My friends knew how I felt straightaway so they were like, ‘Let’s just go’. They knew they didn’t have to say anything to me because I already knew.”

Reagan waited until  March before confessing to Ellie in his kitchen.

He said: “I tried to forget about it but couldn’t. I was going to tell her but  it was just  finding the time and it just passed and passed.”

He said: “I came clean because it got to a point where Ellie deserved to know out of respect and it was not fair on me not telling her.

“I was thinking I could speak to her and we could work it out. I was prepared for what happened and then she decided that was it, the trust had gone.”

He added: “It was a mistake and I was naive. I had been with her for five years but as I went into adulthood and played rugby I started going out.

“I made the mistake of being influenced. I hurt her and I am not proud of it. I broke her heart.”