With a Coronation Street legend making her big return to the city in a new role this week, a host of the soap's stars past and present were also in attendance to cheer on Michelle Collins. Former Corrie landlady Michelle was in dazzling form as she took to the stage as Miss Scarlett in Cluedo just a stone's throw from the Corrie set.
And among those heading to The Lowry Theatre to support Michelle, who played Corrie's Stella Price, was her soap daughter Catherine Tyldesley, who played Eva Price. Catherine headed to the theatre with her pal Dr Jonquille Chantrey on Monday night to see Michelle in action in the hilarious new production, which is based around the classic board game and its characters.
Actress Catherine and her husband Tom Pitfield recently welcomed their second child, baby daughter Iris, on April 21. And Cath was in glam form for her night out at the theatre, wearing a beautiful yellow printed summer dress as she headed to watch the show.
Read more : Review: Cluedo at The Lowry Theatre
Catherine and Michelle became good friends after their starring roles as mum and daughter in Coronation Street, when they both arrived on the cobbles back in 2011. Stella moved into the famous boozer as landlady with her partner Karl Munro, played by John Michie, and daughter Eva and it wasn't long before there were fireworks among the family.
Michelle left the soap in 2014, while Cath was to continue on as Eva (with plenty more dramas along the way) before she left the soap in 2018. But they cemented their place as two of the most popular characters in the soap's history, and fans would love to see them return one day.
The MEN asked Michelle if she would ever return to Corrie ahead of her performance in Cluedo this week. She said: "We actors say 'never say never.' But it's not likely to happen in the foreseeable future. It was an interesting time and I'm proud to say I was landlady of the Rovers. Who knows? Never say never."
Also at the theatre was Corrie's newest including Rovers barmaid - actress Jodie Prenger who has just joined the soap, alongside Millie Gibson who plays Kelly Neelan, and former Corrie and Cold Feet star John Thomson.
Michelle plays another feisty role in Cluedo - as the very sultry Miss Scarlett who has much to hide - just like the other characters in the comedy thriller. It is based on the hit 1985 film CLUE and the classic Hasbro board game loved by generations.
The show has been touring for six months and this will be stage and screen star Michelle's first time performing at The Lowry theatre at Salford Quays. The show also stars former Midsomer Murders favourite, actor Daniel Casey, as Professor Plum on stage.
In real life smitten Michelle is getting ready to walk down the aisle with her partner of 10 years Mike Davidson, and she'll be busy planning their big day after Cluedo's run ends in a few weeks. The show is currently in Malvern before moving on to Salford and it ends at Truro Hall in Cornwall on July 23. And the mother-of-one will also be working on a film.
Last month Michelle revealed she'd picked her wedding dress after celebrating her 60th birthday. She spent the day trying on gowns in East London with her sister and niece and settled on her dream design.
Sharing a snap of herself trying on a backless white dress Michelle said she had an "amazing" day and felt "so special" but didn't give away which one she had chosen. Mike, 38, proposed to Michelle in Los Angeles back in March during a hike up Temescal Canyon.
Cath and Tom, also parents to seven-year-son Alfie, wrote at the time: "We are so happy to announce that our beautiful daughter has arrived. We are grateful beyond words and feel overjoyed that our family is complete."
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