Soap favourites star in a powerful video in a stand against domestic violence to mark International Women’s Day.
The moving film features Corrie's Catherine Tydlesley, Bhavna Limbachia, Melissa Johns and Shelley King who read extracts from Swinton author Lolo Stubbs' novel Dressed up as Love in support of Women's Aid, which works to end domestic abuse against women and children.
The film, shared on YouTube and Women's Aid social media channels, was co-produced by Lolo, the charity's Expect Respect Ambassador, and Bhavna who played the late Rana Habeeb in the ITV soap.
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In a harrowing Coronation Street storyline in 2018 Rana was forced into saying her relationship with Kate Connor was 'shameful' by her mum Saira in a shocking homophobic rant.
There was a race to stop Rana from being kidnapped by her parents to tear her away from her true love and to fly her to Pakistan.
When Bhavna was approached by former producer Kate Oates about the storyline she carried out extensive research and met with young Pakistani Muslim gay women who had been afraid to come out to their families.
And Shelley's character Yasmeen Nazir was at the centre of a heartbreaking coercive control storyline which saw her bullied and manipulated by her twisted husband Geoff Metcalfe.
Magician Geoff, played by Ian Bartholomew, locked her up in his magic box and tricked her into eating her favourite pet hen.
The vile charater met escorts behind his wife's back, infected her with chlamydia, then tried to pin the blame on her.
Things came to a terrifying head after he forced Yasmeen, played by Shelley King, to wear a racy dress he had bought for one of his escorts to meet their family in the Rovers Return.
Cornered by her abuser, a terrified Yasmeen lashed out and slashed his neck with a broken wine bottle and she stood trial for attempted murder before being found not guilty.
Former EastEnders stars Shobu Kapoor and Nina Wadia, Hollyoaks' Daisy-Wood Davis, Haisha Mistry, Natalie Anderson and Sophie Austin also read from the book, about a woman battling to break free from the shackles of an abusive relationship, along with Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, Hey Tracey! star Donna Preston, Bake Off 2016 winner Candice Brown, TV presenter Jenny Powell and Phoenix Brown, whose Spice Girl mum Mel B was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours for services to charitable causes and vulnerable women.
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