Coronation Street fans were left speechless after it was reported Kel Allen was 28 years old - but the actress has since put the records straight.
Kel's portrayal of Kelly Neelan's flawed and tragic mum Laura won viewers' hearts, especially after she sacrificed herself to ensure her daughter's future.
Laura falsely confessed to husband Rick's murder so that Gary Windass - who had actually killed the loan shark - would be able to look after Kelly.
Devastatingly, Laura died in hospital before Kelly was able to say one last goodbye to her.
However, some fans have been left shocked after some online sources reported that Kel was only in her 20s - surprising considering her on-screen daughter is 16 years old.
It was claimed online that she was born in 1992, meaning that she would be either 28 or 29 years old.
Taking to social media, fans expressed their surprise at her age, with one writing: "If she is 28 then she's young to be playing the mother of a teenage daughter!”
While another commented: "I’ve only recently found out that Kel Allen who plays Laura is only 28 years old. I thought that she was much older than that."
Kel later cleared up the confusion and revealed that her name had been mixed up with paralympian Kelly Allen's - and that she wasn't 28.
She said: "Some fun facts about moi…
“I’m not 28, throw on another decade! I’m proud to be rocking it for the nana crew! FYI... I’m not a nana, just close to middle age. It’s a northern expression of speech.
“Let’s do the math, Laura would have given birth to Kelly at the age of 11.
“I wasn’t born in London, proud of my northern roots! I was born in Sept, not in May.
“I never lost an arm in a canoeing accident… touch wood! I’m not an Olympian… if only!
“The moral of the story… don’t believe everything you read! Happy Sunday to you.”
