There’s plenty of excitement in store for Coronation Street fans, because a whole roster of soap legends are stepping onto the cobbles in coming months.
From explosive parental bombshells to steamy affair storylines, the newcomers are set to shake up Weatherfield and make a lasting impression on the residents.
The storylines will be led by a number of familiar faces that fans may recognise from other soaps including Hollyoaks, Brookside and The Archers – as well as past Corrie actors.
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Here, Daily Star takes a closer look at the soap stars joining Coronation Street in 2023.
Ben Hull
(Image: PA)
Ben Hull became one of the first soap stars to join Coronation Street in March 2023.
He stepped onto the cobbles as buyer Owen Longford and became a love interest for Jenny Connor – but soon had serial killer Stephen Reid in his way after Stephen killed Jenny’s former flame Leo Thompkins.
However it was not Ben’s first time in Weatherfield, as the actor previously played Mark Lacey – a business associate of Steve and Vicky McDonald – in a 1995 episode of the soap.
Another of his famous soap roles as as Lewis Richardson in Hollyoaks, who was the protective big brother of Mandy Richardson between 1995 to 2001 – when the character sadly took his own life during an episode of Hollyoaks: Later.
(Image: Mersey Television)
Ben’s other soap stints include playing Dr Gary Parr in Brookside, along with Syd Watts in Brookside: Double Take.
From there he joined Casualty as Dale Charters and played Adam Green in former Channel 5 soap Family Affairs, along with starring in The Royal, Doctors and Holby City.
His soap career brought romance too, as Ben married his former Family Affairs co-star Anna Acton.
Ben is such a familiar face that fans went wild when they spotted him in Coronation Street, with many flocking to social media to comment on his appearance.
“This actor playing Owen the businessman – has he been in #Corrie before?,” asked one viewer.
Others penned: “He was in Holby City,” while a third asked: “Wasn’t it Hollyoaks?”
Claire Sweeney
(Image: C4)
An icon of stage and screen, Claire Sweeney rose to fame as Lindsey Corkill on beloved soap Brookside between 1991 to 2003.
From there she appeared in Holby City, Benidorm, Doctors and Scarborough – along with more recently providing the “Alternative Scouse Commentary” for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool.
Just 20 years since Brookside ended though, Claire is taking on another huge soap role as she prepares to play Tyrone Dobb’s mother Cassie in Coronation Street.
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Tyrone believed that Jackie Dobbs (played by Margi Clark) was his real mum, but later discovered that Cassie was his biological parent.
Cassie had to give Tyrone up following a drug addiction and she is now set to come face to face with her son on the cobbles in June 2023.
Speaking about joining the soap, Cassie actress Claire Sweeney said: “Even though I’ve been lucky enough to have enjoyed an amazingly varied career for nearly 40 years, being cast in Coronation Street is, to me, better than being cast in a Hollywood movie!”
She added: “I’ve watched it all my life and can’t quite believe that I’ll now be stepping onto those famous cobbles myself.
“I was really nervous when I got the scripts to audition as this show means so much to me and my family and this is Corrie gold. I was beyond thrilled and very grateful when I got the call that Iain MacLeod is trusting me to play Tyrone’s mum and work alongside one of my heroes, Dame Maureen Lipman.
“Cassie is a character who is definitely going to make an impact. I just hope the audience will enjoy watching her as much as I’m going to be enjoying playing her!”
Stephanie Davis
(Image: The Headshot Box Paul Woodcock (The Headshot Box Paul Woodcock (Photographer) – [None])
Stephanie Davis is joining the cast in July 2023 as newcomer Courtney Vance – the glamorous wife of Darren, a business associate of Dev Alahan.
Many fans will recognise her from her role as Sinead O’Connor in Hollyoaks, where she played the character between 2010 to 2019.
She also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, along with appearing on Holby City, Doctors and Parents of the Band too.
Stephanie showed off her impressive musical theatre skills on reality TV programme Over The Rainbow too – a talent show to find an actress to play Dorothy Gale in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production.
(Image: Stephanie Davis Instagram)
The actress made it all the way through to the seventh episode of the series, but departed the programme following a sing-off against My Parents Are Aliens star Stephanie Fearon.
Stephanie’s upcoming Coronation Street storyline will see her character Courtney begin an affair with Dev’s son Aadi Alahan – with the pair soon caught up in a web of lies as they continue their romance behind Dev and Darren’s backs.
The scenes are set to air on Coronation Street in July 2023, with Stephanie gushing about joining the ITV soap.
“I am absolutely delighted to be joining the cast of Coronation Street, playing the part of Courtney Vance,” said Stephanie.
“Growing up I have always watched and loved the show, so to be part of the biggest TV soap in Britain, which is in the hearts and homes of so many people, is an honour.”
Ryan Early
Another soap legend stepping onto the cobbles for the steamy affair storyline this July 2023 will be Ryan Early.
Ryan currently plays Helen Archer’s love interest Lee Bryce in BBC radio drama The Archers – and has appeared in a number of TV series including Knightfall, Grantchester, Almost Never, The Crown and Casualty.
Speaking about joining Coronation Street, Ryan described the role as “an honour.”
“I am so thrilled to be playing Darren Vance on Coronation Street and joining the most iconic soap,” he said.
“I grew up watching the show with my grandmother so to walk on the cobbles is such an honour.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
