Former EastEnders actress Janet Dibley is set to appear in Coronation Street as Weatherfield’s Bessie Street Primary head teacher, Melinda.
Janet played Phil Mitchell’s (Steve McFadden) former lover Lorna Cartwright in the BBC One soap in the late 90s.
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A source told the Daily Star newspaper: “This is a coup for producers. Janet was a big favourite on EastEnders. But now she’ll be spicing things up at Corrie.”
Janet will be seen on our screens over the festive period as Melinda, who works alongside Brian Packham (Peter Gunn) on a Nativity.
A Corrie spokeswoman revealed Janet will appear in seven episodes, but she is said to be keen for a lengthier stint on the soap.
This comes after the former Doctors star made her ‘EastEnders’ debut in 1997 as alcoholic Lorna, who met Phil at his AA meetings and began an affair with him, despite the Walford hard-man being married to Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) at the time.
After Phil broke up the affair, Lorna attempted to reignite their fling only for him to turn her down, and she tried to take her own life.
Fortunately, Phil stopped her, and she later admitted herself into a detox programme.
Janet returned to the soap for a brief spell in 2016 when Phil met her at an alcoholic support group which she was leading.
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Despite initially departing the group upon seeing her, he eventually returned when she vowed to help him just as he helped her in the 90s.
As well as soaps, Janet has appeared in a number of Kay Mellor’s TV dramas, such as ‘Band of Gold’, ‘The Chase’, and popular Noughties series ‘Fat Friends’ alongside James Corden, Lisa Riley and Ruth Jones.
New Corrie boss Iain MacLeod recently revealed his plans for a “Christmassy Christmas” with heartbreaking scenes and one shock ending.
Could Melinda be involved in the big festive storylines?
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