Coronation Street fans never forget a face - so there's no surprise they were quick to recognise the psychic Debbie Webster hired for a special night at the Bistro. She took the advice of Ronnie Bailey to host some themed nights at the restaurant in order to attract customers, aware she is suffering money troubles.
The ITV soap's Bistro owner was left panicked earlier this month when Ed Bailey was electrocuted and ended up in hospital after suffering a shock while doing work at one of her hotels. A furious Aggie threatened legal action, while Debbie attempted to soften the blow. But needing to get a pay-out to Ed before things get any worse, she starts coming up with ideas and Ed's brother Ronnie suggests she should try themed nights at the Bistro.
As she started advertising, Leanne Battersby wasn't impressed and believed a 'Psychic Night' had the potential to scam innocent people out of their hard-earned money. But Debbie went along with her plans anyway and Madama Sienna arrived, much to Debbie's surprise as she appeared to look nothing like she did on the poster.
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The 'psychic, healer, warrior', introduced herself and started chatting to her spirit guide before ordering a drink. But Debbie instructed her to hand over her credit card so she could 'set up a tab' for her. Meanwhile, Sienna plucked a piece of paper from up her sleeve before turning to Leanne and her sister Toyah Habeeb.
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She was soon mentioning the name of her recently deceased husband much to Leanne's dismay. "Oh come on, are you for real?" she fumed. Sienna said: "Imran says it's not your fault," to moans from Leanne. "Does he now?" she hit back. "Where did you get that. The Gazette or online?"
The night continued on with Sienna getting tipsy at the bar leaving Debbie planning a more serious, and fraudulent, way of getting her hands on the cash she needs. Meanwhile, Corrie fans were commenting about the soap's new psychic on social media as they realised she was a familiar face.
@spartacus2906 tweeted: "Is this psychic from Phoenix Nights??? #Corrie." @llggeorgia echoed: "Is that psychic Holy Mary from Phoenix Nights? #Corrie." @GeorgiaBowring shared: "#Corrie I made a reference in my last tweet the psychic off Phoenix Nights, and it’s just dawned on me, this lady is off Phoenix Nights! I look at her and I’m sure she was in the programme!"
@CaroleAnn1982 said: "Hello @BarbaraNice unlike a psychic I didn't see that coming @itvcorrie #corrie." @DazHaleWM added: "Fab to see Janice Connolly aka @BarbaraNice in #Corrie last night. That’s the 3rd character she has now played on The Street. The first hat-trick of the new season!!!"
They would be correct! Barbara Nice is the overenthusiastic housewife alter-ego of Birmingham-based performer Janice Connolly, who is actually from Stockport, who previously appeared in Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights as Holy Mary. In April 2019, she auditioned in the character of Barbara Nice on Britain's Got Talent. She made it to the live shows, however, she was later eliminated in the fifth semi-fina
It also isn't her first time in Coronation Street as she appeared twice before in the ITV soap as Dolly Gartside and Sheila Wheeler, a shop assistant at The Kabin when it was run by the street's busybody Norris Cole.
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