{"id":17173,"date":"2022-06-20T12:37:11","date_gmt":"2022-06-20T10:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1665191"},"modified":"2022-06-20T12:53:15","modified_gmt":"2022-06-20T10:53:15","slug":"jodie-prenger-joins-coronation-street-as-new-rovers-barmaid","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/jodie-prenger-joins-coronation-street-as-new-rovers-barmaid\/","title":{"rendered":"Jodie Prenger joins Coronation Street as new Rovers barmaid"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Laura Denby\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 20 June 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Singer and actress Jodie Prenger is joining the cast of Coronation Street<\/a> as Glenda Shuttleworth, sister of Weatherfield\u2019s resident undertaker George (Tony Maudsley).<\/p>\n

Fresh from a stint performing on cruise ships, the character will soon find a job behind the bar at the Rovers Return. Her arrival will be welcome news for George, who has been struggling with a blast from the past in former school bully Frank Bardsley<\/a> (Simon O\u2019Brien).<\/p>\n

Prenger\u2019s casting in the ITV soap has been a lifelong dream for the the star. Viewers will remember that she first found fame in the BBC talent show I\u2019d Do Anything in 2008, which she went on to win before playing Nancy in the West End musical Oliver.<\/p>\n

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The star plays Glenda, sister of George Shuttleworth in Coronation Street (ITV)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>The actress later played Shirley Valentine in the UK theatre tour, and took on the lead role of Kelly in Kay Mellor\u2019s Fat Friends the musical. Prenger also starred as Helen in A Taste of Honey at the National Theatre, with her performance inspired by early episodes of Coronation Street.

She will be drawing on her own experiences of working as a cruise ship entertainer to play Glenda. Speaking about her new role, Prenger says: \u201cI know I sound like a soppy sod, but it\u2019s been on my bucket list to be in Coronation Street since I was little. It\u2019s an honour, it truly is a very special moment in my life.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be part of something my family and I have loved for so long. And what a character, oh I have to say, total dream part. I can\u2019t wait for you all to meet fun and sassy Glenda, George Shuttleworth\u2019s sister. I love Tony Maudsley already, what a fella! Your first day on the cobbles is one of the most nerve-wracking experiences you\u2019ll go though and everyone was just so gloriously lovely, kind and welcoming.\u00a0 It was, and is, everything I expected, and more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Corrie\u2019s Producer Iain MacLeod adds: \u201cGlenda sails in fresh from the cruise ships with a whiff of the exotic, quickly making best friends and enemies in equal measure. The character is loads of fun and has echoes of classic Coronation Street females of old.<\/p>\n

\u201cJodie is a fabulous talent and we are all very excited to have her aboard. She has felt very Corrie since the moment she stepped onto set and I think the viewers will love her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prenger has begun filming this week and will be seen on-screen as Glenda in early August.<\/p>\n

Read more:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n