Growing up on one of the world’s biggest soaps can be tough, but Coronation Street’s Elle Mulvaney makes it look like child’s play.
The actress has had fans in stitches for 13 years as cheeky Amy – part of the infamous Barlow dynasty alongside telly greats like Bill Roache and Kate Ford.
And Elle, who first walked on the famous Cobbles when she was just eight, says staying on in Weatherfield is right up her Street – as she’s just signed a new contract.
Elle, 20, said: “I’ve been in it for 13 years now, which is just insane but I’m loving it. When it comes to a new contract you just think, ‘Yes!’ I signed a new one recently so I am here for at least another year.
“It’s been such a learning opportunity but also getting to work with your best mates every day… why wouldn’t I love it?”
Elle has been lucky enough to learn from some of the TV’s most-loved stars, like soap stalwart Bill, who plays her grandad Ken. Bill, 90, has played lothario Ken for 62 years, making him the longest-serving telly soap star in the world.
Elle said: “I always say, ‘If you love your job, why leave?’ Bill obviously loves it. He is Corrie’s biggest fan.
“I really look up to him and admire that he’s so down-to-earth. When we first met, Bill came up to my parents and he was, like, ‘Hi, I’m Bill’. And my dad was, like, ‘We know who you are!’ He’s just so nice.
“There’s no air of self-importance with Bill, despite how long he’s been on the show and how well known he is. It’s so lovely to see… he’s such an icon and I don’t know anybody who has got a bad word to say about him.
“He’s incredibly professional… the man is 90 and he never messes up!”
The next 12 months promises to be another drama-filled year for the Barlow family. Amy’s life looks like it could be in danger, as her boyfriend Jacob (Jack James Ryan) starts picking up drug orders for his dad Damon (Ciaran Griffiths).
But Ken’s love life will still be the talk of the street – much to Elle’s amusement.
The ageing romantic is currently embroiled in a love triangle with Wendy Crozier (Roberta Kerr) and Martha Fraser (Stephanie Beacham). “Ken gets all the saucy story-lines!” said Elle.
“It’s so interesting that all his old lovers have come back. I’m his granddaughter and seeing your grandad get with multiple women is a bit, like, ‘Woah!’ But it’s what everyone wants for their grandad… he’s having the time of his life and enjoying himself.”
And even King Charles has been impressed by Ken’s stamina. When Bill picked up an OBE for his services to entertainment in December, he told how the King playfully asked: “Not still working are you?”
Bill revealed: “I said, ‘Yes, just had two ex-girlfriends on the show’. He said, ‘Oh that must have been hard work!’” He continued: “I said, ‘May I wish you a long and joyful reign, sir?’ And he said, ‘Thank you, that will be a lot of work, too’.”
Just like Elle, Bill recently signed a fresh deal to stay on at the ITV soap – and he confessed he wants to make it to 100 as Ken. He said: “That’s my aim, to be 100 and still working on Coronation Street.”
Bury-born Elle is part of the new generation of Coronation Street’s talented young stars, revelling in hard-hitting storylines.
Life has never been dull for her character Amy, whose TV parents are Steve and Tracy McDonald (Simon Gregson and Kate Ford). But she is due to take centre stage in Corrie next month. Soap boss Iain MacLeod has told how the younger cast members will soon be involved in a shocking new storyline.
“It’s a huge story with them right at the heart of it – it’s very relatable and very teenage,” he teased. “I’m hoping it’s the kind of story that shocks a bit and provokes awkward conversations in front of the TV.”
Elle recently revealed that she has been enjoying some boozy nights out with her Corrie co-stars in Manchester – and even has a special name for their wild antics: “Getting Barlowed.”
She told how Jack James Ryan, 26, who plays her on-screen love Jacob, is the worst influence on a night out, saying he can stay up until 8am. In the soap, Elle’s character has just moved into a shared flat with Jacob and their best pals Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) and Aaron Sandford (James Craven).
She said: “Me, Harriet, Jack and James all just really get on… we’ve got a group chat together and talk all the time. We’re like a real-life foursome.”
She also told how she relishes her character’s comic timing in the soap – and her epic put-downs.
“I do love that they give Amy the one-liners… it’s brilliant,” she said. “She’s a Barlow through and through and that’s what you need. Sometimes her lines just break up the scenes, especially when you have a lot of tension.”
She also hinted that fireworks could fly between Amy and her friend Summer in the future. “Amy and Summer are polar opposites, which makes them such great friends because when they go head-to-head, Amy’s got the one-liners and Summer gets her back up,” she said.
“She’s not always this mopey girl… she does have a bit of backbone.”
