A WEST End icon is returning to Coronation Street after a year away from the cobbles.
Next week Ruthie Henshall, 57, will reprise her role as cruise ship singer Estelle Harrington and immediately cause mischief.
Estelle part owns a performing arts business and offers pal Glenda Shuttleworth the chance to buy it off her – sparking a feud with Glenda’s brother George.
Ruthie, who also starred in I’m A Celebrity in 2020 when it was held at Gwrych Castle, relished her short stint on Corrie last year and made it clear that she’d love to return.
She told Digital Spy: “After the experience I’ve just had, yes I would [play Estelle again]. I loved doing something different every day – it’s great for a girl whose attention span is not great.
“In theatre I’ll rehearse a show for a month then I’m saying the same words eight shows a week. That is a kind of discipline – but in a soap it’s full-on if you’re in a developing storyline. The turnover is so fast.”
And the actress was keen for her character to be plunged into all manner of messy storylines.
She said: “I want her marriage to break down, for her to get a love interest and cause a bit of trouble.”
Ruthie is one of the most respected stage stars in the country having performed in Crazy for You, Les Miserables, Chicago, Oliver! and many more.
She won a Best Actress Olivier for her role in She Loves Me in 1995 and has been nominated for the prestigious gong another four times.
That she rates Corrie among her favourite experiences, shows just how highly she values the soap.
She said of playing Estelle: “This is one of the most enjoyable guest roles of my career.
“Everyone is so welcoming and I can’t believe after years of the street being in my life that I finally get to tread the cobbles.
“Getting to act with Jodie [Prenger] was a joy and every member of the cast was welcoming and kind.”
Estelle made a memorable arrival in Weatherfield, clashing with undertaker George Shuttleworth over the price of a funeral for her mother-in-law.
She eventually relented over the £4,000 sum after learning George was the brother of her former cruise ship friend Glenda.
The old pals then got down to business with Estelle keen to bring Glenda onboard her Little Big Shotz performing arts franchise.
Ruthie’s arrival will freshen up the show which has seen a number of names announce they are leaving this year such as Harriet Bibby, Peter Ash, Alex Bain to name but a few.
Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.
The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s granfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.
Paul Foreman will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.
After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite, portrayed by Peter Ash, was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.
Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.
Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.
Though she struggled making a decision with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.
Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.
The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.
Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.
Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.
It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.
Show stalwart Eileen Grimshaw is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour.
She’s had to leave the Street immediately after son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.
