She has just won her "dream" role in Coronation Street, and Jodie Prenger hasn't stopped beaming about it yet. The West End star was revealed as Corrie's newest Rovers barmaid earlier this month, and was spotted for the first time this week fresh from filming as she headed to watch Cluedo at The Lowry Theatre in Salford.
Jodie was joined by a host of her new Corrie co-stars as well as legends from the soap at the launch event on Monday night for Cluedo which stars EastEnders and Corrie icon Michelle Collins as Miss Scarlett. Michelle famously played Rovers landlady Stella Price, and now Jodie will be heading to a role in the most famous pub in the land as well.
Jodie will be playing Glenda Shuttleworth, the sister of Weatherfield undertaker George Shuttleworth, played by Tony Maudsley, who will take on a job as a barmaid at the Rovers in scenes being filmed right now. And she headed to The Lowry fresh from filming on the soap - which is based just across the water at ITV studios on Trafford Wharf.
Read more : Corrie mum and daughter reunited as Catherine Tyldesley cheers on Michelle Collins
And Jodie told the MEN she has been so excited about joining the soap that it still hasn't quite sunk in yet. She said: "I've been trying to contain my excitement, but every day when I walk out on the set I'm still a bit waahhh! Joining Corrie has always been a dream for me."
She was joined at The Lowry by her friend and former Coronation Street star Vicky Binns - who famously played Molly Dobbs who suffered a tragic demise in the Weatherfield tram crash of 2010. Also heading to watch Cluedo this week was former Corrie stars Catherine Tyldesley, another former Rovers barmaid of course, and John Thomson who played children's entertainer Jesse Chadwick in the soap.
Blackpool-born Jodie, 43, has now begun filming her first scenes on the soap, with the character of Glenda set to appear on screen from August 5. Following the big reveal earlier this month, Jodie took to Instagram with a picture of her and Tony outside Victoria Garden on the famous street and said: "Thrilled doesn’t scratch the surface.
"Had to say a massive thank you for all the lovely messages about Glenda today. Means the world." She then added: "And I tell ya what, they are the loveliest bunch at Coronation Street, they really are. Big hugs and love to all."
Tony, who is also famed for playing Kenneth in Benidorm, also shared his reaction, taking to Twitter and resharing Corrie's announcement. He added: "Can't wait for you all to meet our Glenda. You're gonna LOVE her!!" And fans have also been having their say on the casting.
Jodie first shot to fame on the BBC's I'd Do Anything talent show, where she won Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's search for a Nancy in his production of Oliver.
She has long spoken of her passion for all things Corrie, and back in 2012 even took on the iconic role of Corrie landlady Elsie Tanner in the Coronation Street Musical that played at Manchester's AO Arena. Speaking at the time of that role, Jodie revealed that her nan looked "just like Elsie Tanner" so the family had long loved the soap.
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