CORONATION Street star Jodie Prenger has revealed that her character, Glenda Shuttleworth, is set to go to ‘war’ with a brand-new family on the cobbles.
Actress Jodie, 45, teased upcoming drama, saying the new arrivals won’t be making many friends on the Street – and Glenda has already taken issue with them.
Mick and Lou Michaelis (Farrel Hegarty and Joe Layton), described as “livewires” and “ruffians” who will cause chaos and trouble, arrive in town this month.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Jodie said: “We’ve filmed quite a few bits with them and all I’m going to say is they’re great.
“They’re a really good mix and they rile up a lot of people in the soap. There will be quite a few people they don’t get on with.”
When asked if her character Glenda will see eye-to-eye with the new family, Jodie said: “Well… I think Glenda likes to trust her gut a lot of the time and we’ll see. But Glenda doesn’t know if they’re a [bad egg] just yet. She bore a grudge.”
Speaking about her character after her heartbreak, she added: “There are bits coming up but I can’t say, I just want to shake her.
“I love that things go wrong for her because I relate to it in my own life. I love playing Glenda.
“I think the great thing about Glenda and the flip side that Corrie’s always done is tell a the good side to a dark story and I think Glenda has a lot of backstory that she’s never let out and when she does let her wall down she;s quite endearing.”
Discussing the number of co-stars being suddenly axed, including Corrie legend Helen Worth’s exit, Jodie said: “When you form friendships with someone that’s the sad part and when you realise that the kind of characters you’ve grown up knowing.
“I’m not going to lie, I really did get upset when Helen Worth left because she’s an icon to women across all soaps.”
Last summer, Jodie addressed the future of an iconic family in the show
It came weeks after soap legend Helen Worth announced she would be leaving her role as Gail Platt after an incredible 50 years.
Speaking at the Television and Radio Industries Club (TRIC) Awards, Jodie was asked about her tenured colleague’s imminent exit.
The actress and singer said she was “really, really gutted” upon hearing the news.
Revealing she and Helen had shared a table in the green room, Jodie added: “She’s lovely and grounded and everything you want a Corrie legend to be.
“It’s a massive, massive loss but she’s one of these iconic women that have paved the way for other women to come and surround her.
“She’ll be a great loss, but I hope we can carry the torch for her.”
Meanwhile, Jodie also addressed speculation that fellow Corrie star Sue Nicholls could follow Helen out of the soap.
Sue, 80, began playing Gail’s mother Audrey Roberts in 1979 and has therefore worked with Helen for almost five decades.
When asked about the theory, Jodie replied: “I think she’ll stay.
“I’d love everyone to have an experience – I know you can buy the Corrie Street tour, but I wish you could buy the Corrie Street green room.
“Just have a cup of tea with them, they’re lovely. Dead normal, dead grounded, no airs, no graces.
Coronation Street's 2024 shock exits
Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let's break down who's left the famous soap:
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 grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.
Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) 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 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 to decide 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 Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.
Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.
“It’s one of those places where you… I don’t know, I expected some divas, but it’s not.
“It’s just a lovely place to be.”
Earlier this month, Helen addressed her exit from the flagship ITV soap in a statement.
She said: “This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world.
“I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding.
“I have been truly blessed to have been given the most incredible scripts week in week out, and to have worked with fantastic actors, directors and a brilliant crew.
“The past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.”
- Coronation Street airs on ITV1 and is available on ITVX.
