Reagan Pettman, who was in a relationship with Ellie for five years, split with her last March.

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The breakup was the start of an incredibly tough time for Ellie, who found out the following month that she would be axed from Coronation Street.

Reagan, who met Ellie on an acting course at The Manchester College when they were just 16, has spoken of his regret.

He kissed a woman in a bar in November 2022, but waited four months before confessing to Ellie.

“I tried to forget about it but couldn’t. I was going to tell her but it was just finding the time and it passed and passed,” he told The Sun on Sunday.

“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.

“I think it hurt her more because that was when she left Corrie as well so it was all at once for her.”

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.”

Reagan, who is also 22, said he knew that it was wrong as soon as he kissed the other woman.

He said that he was “really drunk” and “instantly regretted it”.

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

However, it looks like it might be too late as Ellie has been linked to fellow Strictly star Bobby Brazier.

It’s been said that the pair were trying to keep their romance under wraps after going on secret dates.

Although insiders say that Ellie is ‘gutted’ that people have found out about the two of them.

A source said: “Ellie is usually really happy go lucky but she’s not been herself recently.

“She’s even stopped chatting to fans who have been desperate to see her, which really isn’t like her.

“Ellis is super private and doesn’t really like people talking about her love life. She’s just keeping her head down and concentrating on the tour for now.”

On Tuesday night, pro dancer Nikita Kuzmin posted a photo of them having dinner backstage, with Bobby’s arm draped around the back of Ellie’s chair.

The couple first flirted at the live tour’s opening night bash in Birmingham, partying until almost 3am — and going back on stage hours later.

This week they were spotted leaving their hotel together but swiftly separated when they noticed they were being snapped, with an insider saying she had a face like thunder.

Ellie, who played Faye in Corrie, was rumoured to have grown close to dance partner Vito Coppola while on the BBC1 show. But they were never romantically involved.

Ellie’s rep has been asked for comment.

Reagan said: “If she’s happy with Bobby, then I am happy for her. But I really miss her.”

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