Sue Crawford

Frances Barber is making her Coronation Street debut as Celeste, an ebullient estranged aunt who arrives in Weatherfield planning a Dolly Parton-themed funeral after learning she has only six weeks to live. Barber says appearing on the soap fulfils a 40-year ambition and describes being starstruck by Barbara Knox. The actress also reflects on her distinguished theatre and screen career, pressures over weight during a period in Hollywood, serious accidents, and the support of longtime friend Ian McKellen. She will begin filming the next series of Bookish in Belgium after completing her Corrie role.

Mikey North discusses his 18-year role as Gary Windass in Coronation Street, his family life with wife Rachael and their children, and the injuries he has sustained while performing fight scenes. He describes Gary as a modern-day Robin Hood who is trying to save people, but the character faces possible prison after helping Sarah Platt cover up Theo Silverton's murder. North also reflects on the strain this has placed on Gary's marriage to Maria, his earlier acting and cricket careers, his successful effort to overcome a fear of driving, and his ambitions to appear on Celebrity MasterChef.

Lisa Riley reflects on receiving an MBE for her work in drama and charity, expressing emotional gratitude and attributing her success to the influence of her late mother. She celebrates her long career in television, her charitable contributions following her mother’s death, and her admiration for the royal family, from whom she will formally receive the honour. Riley discusses her ongoing roles, recent projects, personal life with partner Al Benković, commitment to sobriety, and upcoming Emmerdale storylines while expressing hopes to remain on the show for many years.

Actor Junade Khan reflects on his long path to landing a major role on Coronation Street after years working as a bus driver and struggling to advance his acting career. His children’s early success heightened his doubts before securing the part of Idris Nazir, a character set to reveal darker traits in upcoming storylines. Khan discusses past setbacks, including missed roles and injuries that ended his football ambitions, and expresses gratitude for finally achieving stability in a role he deeply values.

Claire Sweeney reflects on her emotional decision to leave Coronation Street after three years to take on her long‑desired role as Miss Hannigan in Annie the Musical. She describes the departure as heartbreaking but feels the opportunity could not be missed. Her exit storyline involves the disruptive arrival of Ross, the biological father of Tyrone Dobbs. Sweeney shares warm feelings for her Corrie colleagues, discusses her stage career, and looks forward to a nine‑month Annie tour with her son. She remains open to returning to the soap in the future.

Jonathan Howard reflects on years of rejection, unemployment and agent setbacks before joining Coronation Street as Carl Webster, crediting the struggles with giving him resilience, humility and appreciation for the role. After years working in Hollywood, he returned to the UK to focus on family, now caring full-time for his daughter while filming the soap. His character’s storylines continue to escalate, and he hopes to stay long enough to explore the arc involving Carl’s mother. Alongside his soap work, he has appeared in major films and a new gothic thriller, while maintaining fitness for demanding scenes.

Kathy Sledge reflects on her rise with Sister Sledge, the legal battles over the group’s name, and the family tensions that emerged during her solo career while preparing for a major performance at London’s Koko. She highlights the group’s musical legacy, her collaborations with Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, and her long-standing friendship with Michael Jackson. Now sharing rights to the Sister Sledge brand with her sister Kim, she is developing a film based on her upcoming autobiography and continues to focus on new creative opportunities while honouring her family’s history.

Rob Mallard discusses living with essential tremor, a progressive neurological condition he has struggled to hide while playing Daniel Osborne on Coronation Street. Increasing difficulty managing symptoms on set may eventually require the condition to be written into the character. Mallard explains past public speculation about substance misuse and the decision to disclose his diagnosis, noting the increased visibility and attention that followed. He describes upcoming dramatic storylines for Daniel, reflects on earlier roles and career challenges, and shares how rural life helps him manage fame. Coronation Street continues to support him as his condition evolves.

Laura Norton reflects on balancing work, family life and plans for a charity ball dedicated to raising awareness of Usher syndrome, the rare genetic condition affecting both her children. With wedding planning on hold, she and partner Mark Jordon focus their efforts on organising the Cure Usher Ball while engaging in Deaf Awareness Week through sign‑language videos. Norton discusses her children’s diagnoses, her acting journey, her long‑running Emmerdale role and the support she receives from Jordon, noting their hopes for a simple future celebration involving their family and friends.

Caroline Harker discusses drawing on past encounters with cruel individuals and observing powerful public figures to shape her portrayal of the manipulative and bullying Dr Caitlin Todd in Emmerdale. She describes her character’s tactics against Jacob Gallagher and Charity Dingle while reflecting on her extensive acting family background, personal career journey, and the challenges of taking on her first villainous role. Her comments highlight the character’s unpredictability and relentless drive for harm, contrasting with her own enjoyment of exploring such a dark persona.

Jennie McAlpine reflects on her 25-year journey playing Fiz Brown on Coronation Street, recalling her unexpected early return to the show and key storylines spanning dramatic plots, family developments and memorable filming moments. She hints at a forthcoming storyline involving a new disruptive character affecting Fiz, Tyrone and their family, while describing close relationships with long-term cast members and balancing life in Manchester with her family. The piece highlights iconic past scenes, from comedic mishaps to major emotional arcs, underscoring her strong attachment to the series.

Darryn Frost reflects on confronting terrorist Usman Khan during the 2019 London Bridge attack, describing the trauma, PTSD and life disruptions that followed despite being publicly hailed as a hero. He recounts using a narwhal tusk to help stop the attacker alongside others and the long-term emotional toll of the event. Frost’s participation in the BBC series Extraordinary Portraits leads to a sculpture by Nick Elphick that captures both his strength and the burden he carries. He has since co‑founded the rehabilitation charity Own Merit and aims to focus on post‑traumatic growth while honouring the victims Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones.

Michael Ball reflects on recovering from a severe hip injury and surgery while preparing for a UK tour supporting his new self-written album, Glow. He explains how chronic pain affected his performances during a Les Misérables tour in Australia and how surgery transformed his daily life. Ball discusses lifestyle changes, upcoming creative projects and his decision to end his long association with Les Misérables, calling it the right moment to step away. He also shares personal experiences, including the loss of his mother, his relationship with Cathy McGowan and the temporary pause in his partnership with Alfie Boe, as he continues his career with renewed focus.

Harriet Bibby suggests her Coronation Street character Summer Spellman could become a murder suspect amid mounting grief and suspicions surrounding Theo Silverton. She reflects on her role, career path and upcoming performance in the one‑woman play My Name Is Rachel Corrie. The interview highlights storylines involving loss, abuse and tensions within the show, alongside her personal experiences and theatre ambitions.

Graham Gouldman reflects on the enduring emotional impact of 10cc’s hit I’m Not in Love, recounting fans’ powerful reactions and the song’s unexpected influence on their lives. He discusses the band’s history, lineup changes, and collaborations, including work with Neil Sedaka. Now leading 10cc’s touring lineup, he balances his legacy with a solo career and upcoming performances, expressing both pride in the band’s achievements and regret over the original lineup’s split.

Actor Vinta Morgan recounts his unconventional path to landing the role of Ronnie Bailey on Coronation Street, including working in pandemic sanitisation and a series of personal and professional challenges. His life story spans chance encounters leading to marriage, early experiences with policing, struggles to afford drama school, and eventual support from notable actors. After roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company and minor TV appearances, Coronation Street became his major breakthrough. Current plotlines involve his character navigating family revelations and caring for Debbie Webster as her dementia worsens, while Morgan expresses gratitude for his career progress.

Sue Devaney reflects on early career pressure to undergo limb‑lengthening surgery, describing how she ultimately embraced her natural height and voice. Now central to a major Coronation Street storyline involving Debbie Webster’s imprisonment, dementia diagnosis and strained relationship with her son Carl, she discusses the character’s upcoming challenges. Off‑screen, she describes long‑standing cast friendships, past financial struggles, varied work to stay afloat, and reduced anxiety since joining the soap and marrying Jim O’Farrell. Devaney acknowledges that her character’s diagnosis limits her future on the show but says she now focuses on enjoying life and work.

Clare Grogan reflects on returning to perform Altered Images’ iconic hit Happy Birthday for its 45th anniversary tour, noting how her voice and identity still connect to her teenage self. She recounts the band’s early success, financial struggles, and eventual breakup, as well as her parallel acting career across television and film. The story highlights personal challenges, including miscarriages and the adoption of her daughter, and revisits her connections with notable figures from the 1980s music and entertainment scene. Grogan remains proud of her legacy and continues to embrace her influence through new performances and recent music releases.

Jill Halfpenny reflects on her expanding acting opportunities as she returns to ITV’s After The Flood while also starring in new thrillers on Paramount TV+ and Channel 5. She discusses being typecast early in her career, appreciating more complex roles now written for women, and navigating grief following the deaths of her partner and father from heart attacks. Her memoir on loss aims to offer candid guidance for others experiencing bereavement. Now living in the North East with her son and in a new relationship, she says acceptance has brought her to a more hopeful stage in life.

Michael Le Vell expresses relief over securing a new year-long Coronation Street contract while reflecting on future uncertainties and long-term hopes with the show. He rules out an on-screen reunion between Kevin and ex-wife Sally, though he remains open to reconciling with Abi. The upcoming Corriedale crossover special promises dramatic events involving a major crash affecting his character’s family. Le Vell discusses the pressures of filming, his long career on the soap, key past storylines and cast memories, and his life outside acting, including his passion for horses and family routines.

Pauline McLynn discusses her dramatic storyline on Coronation Street, where her character Maggie Driscoll is shown in flashback scenes during the accidental death of her husband Alan. She reflects on portraying a morally ambiguous figure and hints at more explosive Christmas episodes as Maggie causes conflict within her family. McLynn speaks about her acting career, personal life between Dublin and Manchester, her dislike of Christmas festivities, and her side work as a novelist and creator of hand‑knitted tea cosies. The storyline remains open to interpretation, though she believes Maggie did not commit murder.

Daniel Brocklebank reflects on leaving Coronation Street after 11 years, citing a desire for new challenges following major storylines, including the impactful motor neurone disease arc. He transitions immediately into rehearsals for Young Frankenstein the Musical, where he will play the lead during a five-week run in Liverpool. Brocklebank describes the exit as well‑timed, expresses gratitude for past opportunities, and shares optimism about future projects, including a horror film and a short film in Jersey. While he will miss colleagues, he views the departure as the start of a new professional chapter.

Denise Black recounts facing industry discrimination over her weight and disability during her early television career, explaining how criticism from agents and producers undermined her confidence. She describes the long-term impact of hiding her arm condition on screen and reflects on renewed self-assurance in her sixties. Black discusses evolving casting opportunities, experiences of sexism and MeToo-type situations, and shifts in representation, while highlighting recent roles in Waterloo Road and the TV adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals. She calls for broader acceptance of disability and age diversity in the entertainment industry.

Tony Maudsley reflects on his transition from Benidorm to Coronation Street, crediting the soap with helping him escape typecasting and giving him career stability. He discusses past roles alongside Hollywood stars, his parents’ indifference to his film work compared with their excitement for Corrie, and current storylines involving his character George Shuttleworth. Upcoming plot tensions include George’s involvement with new romantic interests and a strained friendship with Todd Grimshaw due to Todd’s controlling partner. Maudsley expresses contentment with his career and a desire to remain on Coronation Street long-term.

Tanisha Gorey reflects on balancing the emotional demands of her Coronation Street role with her personal life, crediting her boyfriend with helping her unwind after intense filming. She discusses her character Asha’s mental health struggles, including a suicide attempt triggered by workplace racism, and stresses the importance of portraying long‑term recovery realistically. Drawing on her own experiences with racism growing up in Oldham, she supports the show addressing these issues. Gorey also looks back on key past storylines and confirms she plans to remain on the series, feeling there is more for her character to explore.

Merrill Osmond recounts extreme dangers and chaotic fan encounters during The Osmonds’ peak fame, including death threats, forced armed protection, and warnings from the Symbionese Liberation Army. He reflects on struggles with mental health, traumatic childhood abuse, and the pressures of early stardom. As he promotes his autobiography, he confirms his permanent retirement from performing, noting his brothers’ health challenges and his desire to focus on family and a new stage of life.