Katie McGlynn has shared an important message with fans as she marked the anniversary of her Coronation Street character's death.
The Rochdale actress played Sinead Tinker - later Osbourne - in the ITV soap until 2019, when the character passed away after battling cervical cancer.
Katie, 28, won high praise for her portrayal, scooping the National Television Award for best serial drama performance in 2020 and became a patron for Mummy's Star, a charity that s dedicated to women and their families diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy or within 12 months of giving birth.
She is currently appearing in Hollyoaks as Diane's mysterious friend Becky and swapped Chester for the ballroom, starring in Strictly Come Dancing 2021.
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But Katie still remembers her character and the vital awareness she and the soap raised.
"Two years today we said goodbye to Sinead Tinker," she wrote on Instagram alongside pictures of herself in the role of the kind-hearted character.
"Please ladies, this is my yearly reminder from Sinead to you, GO FOR YOUR SMEARS!
"I'm still so humbled by the whole experience and to this day receive messages from women dealing with cervical cancer who say the storyline helped them, or it pushed them to have their smears, or just women looking for advice on what to do and to share their stories with me…
"It might feel uncomfortable, daunting and even scary - but having met and spoken to dozens of women going through it, I can safely say I’d take a smear test every day of my life if it meant not facing the alternative!"
Katie added: "I miss my @coronationstreet family loads and am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to work on such a vital storyline with an amazing cast and crew."
The post quickly racked up comments from women who had either been putting off their smears or who had themselves been diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Others also couldn't believe where the time had gone.
"Corrie has never been quite the same without you champ!" one fan said.
Another commented: "Has it been two years - wow that gone quick!! Great advice Katie."
"It was an amazing storyline and all the actor's involved portrayed it with empathy and real compassion! Sinead was a great character!" a third praised.
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