Thursday’s episode of Loose Women commemorated Coronation Street by bringing back an all-star cast of soap opera actors from the past, including frequent panelist Denise Welch.
On Thursday, August 15, Loose Women aired a Coronation Street special. Presenter Kaye Adams was joined on the panel by Denise Welch, actress Sally Dynevor, and star Sue Cleaver of Eileen Grimshaw.
The topic of discussion quickly shifted to the Corrie cast members reminiscing about their first day on the ITV soap opera, with Denise disclosing a meeting she had with Rita Fairclough’s actress Barbara Knox.
“I remember being terrified when I had to do a scene with Rita, Barbara Knox, because Barbara is wonderful but she is like Dame Barbara, quite intimidating,” recalled Denise, 66, who portrayed Natalie Barnes in Weatherfield.
“To be honest, that was the most horrifying thing I’ve ever read. After reading the script, I had to call Rita Fairclough a cow. She was really sweet to me, but it was strange because I had watched Coronation Street on television for years—since I was six years old, in fact—and I really enjoyed it.”
She went on, “But I did tell the producer that when the younger ones come in, their lives will change in just one month because they will be on television. You have to get some sort of starter pack.”
“I didn’t feel some of them were looked after enough so we started to have somebody guide them around and show them, explain certain terms that were used and everything.”
From 1997 to 2000, Denise played Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street. Her persona was the brash mother of MVB Motors co-owner Tony Horrocks (Lee Warburton), and she later became the Rovers Return’s landlady.
Denise talked about her bond with Sally throughout her time on the show, saying that they have been “best friends” ever since they both appeared on Corrie.
“We have been best friends for 25 years since Sally came back,” Denise said, to which Sue responded jokingly, “What am I chopped liver?”
The panelists burst out laughing as Denise continued, “You came in a bit later and then became my other best friend.”
- Coronation Street fans point storyline ‘abandoned by writers’ for iconic character
- Kylie Platt in Coronation Street: her troubled past and killer secret
- Coronation Street: Billy needs to leave the show, fans demand
- Coronation Street: Kit is Betsy’s ‘biological dad’ and wants to frame Lisa Swain for custody, new fan theory predicts
- Coronation Street: Lauren absence from Joel whodunnit line-up baffles fans
