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The British soap opera Coronation Street premiered in 1960 and has been a fan favorite since then. The show revolves around the characters of a town called Weatherfield in Greater Manchester.
The show has introduced many characters from working-class backgrounds living in the stone-laid terraced street in the town.
Over the years, several big celebrities have appeared on the show for guest-starring roles. Big Hollywood names like Ian McKellen and British Royals such as King Charles III have wandered around the cobbled street.
In this article, we have listed 15 such guest stars from Coronation Street that were loved by fans.
Disclaimer: The article is based on the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.
15) Noddy Holder
The English musician and lead vocalist of the rock band Slade, Noddy Holder, made a memorable appearance in Coronation Street.
He appeared in the live episode of Coronation Street’s 40th anniversary that was aired on December 8, 2000. Holder played the character of Duggie Ferguson’s friend Stan Potter.
His character produced a fake preservation order to help the residents of the street save the cobbles from being tarmacked.
14) Mel B
Spice Girls member Mel B, also known as Scary Spice, appeared in Coronation Street before becoming a global pop star.
She appeared in an uncredited role as Amy Nelson, a Bettabuy worker, which marked the character’s final appearance in 1993. The character was formerly played by Loise Duprey.
13) Sir Norman Wisdom
Veteran comedian Sir Norman Wisdom appeared in July 2004 as Ernie Crabbe in the soap opera.
Wisdom’s Ernie was a pensioner who was trying to get in shape for the inter-pub bowls challenge. As Jack Duckworth put up an ad to sell the exercise bike that Vera bought for him, Ernie quickly reached 9 Coronation Street to buy the bike.
12) Peter Kay
The popular comedian Peter Kay appeared in two roles in the daily soap Coronation Street.
He first appeared in November 1997 as a shoplifter who was also a delivery driver for Fred Elliot’s corner shop. He later appeared in January 2004 as Eric Gartside, who goes on a date with Sally Lindsey’s Shelley Unwin.
Kay co-wrote his latter appearance, in which he almost impresses Lindsey’s Shelley, but in the end, she declines his offer to go on a second date.
11) Holly and Phil
The This Morning hosts appeared as themselves in an episode of Coronation Street in June 2018.
The duo interviewed Craig Tinker, Rosie Webster, and Gemma Winter for their role in the drug bust case at Underworld. The episode was to mark Rosie Webster’s (Helen Flanagan) exit from the show.
10) Lorraine Kelly
Another famous television presenter, Lorraine Kelly, also appeared in Coronation Street for a cameo in May 2019. She played herself in the soap opera and stayed in the same holiday park as the Platts. In the show, she suffered from an injury when Gaile Rodwell accidentally hit her with an arrow.
Kelly is a huge Coronation Street fan and has also appeared in spin-off series of the show such as Just Rosie and A Christmas Corrie.
9) Sarah Harding
The former Girls Aloud member, the late Sarah Harding, appeared in the soap opera in 2015.
She played the role of Joni Preston, Robert Preston’s wife. Joni came to know about Robert’s attraction toward Tracy, which caused conflicts between them, and she divorced him.
Harding appeared in five episodes of Coronation Street in 2015.
8) Honor Blackman
The late English actress and Bond Girl, Honor Blackman, appeared in Coronation Street in September 2004.
She played the character Rita Sullivan’s old friend, Rula Romanoff, who reconnected with her. Norris Cole was infatuated by her after she compared him to Robert De Niro. However, he was disheartened when he found out she had a husband named Bernie.
Rita and Norris’s experience with their old friend ended with them being invited to Rula’s house for a swinger’s party, which left them shocked, and they had to leave.
7) James Fleet
The Four Weddings and a Funeral and Bridgerton actor James Fleet played the character of Robbie, a convicted murderer in Coronation Street.
He was sent to the cobbled street by Tony Gordon to keep an eye on Carla Conner and Roy Cropper. He appeared in seven episodes in 2010. His character was killed by Tony Gordon after not paying him for his work of kidnapping Carla and Roy’s wife.
6) Joan Collins
Veteran actress Joan Collins appeared as herself in the feature-length spin-off of the soap opera called Coronation Street: Viva Las Vegas!
She appears at the end of the drama as Jack spills his drink all over Vera. She walks by the couple, comforting Vera that the spill would wash out.
5) Sir Cliff Richard
The rock and roll icon, Sir Cliff Richards, appeared as an extra in Coronation Street.
In 1997, Richards was an extra in an episode where he appeared as a drinker in the iconic Cobble Street pub, the Rovers Return. He even clicked pictures with several cast members on the set.
4) Joanna Lumley
Popular Hollywood actress Joanna Lumley appeared in Coronation Street in 1973.
She played the character of Ken Barlow’s girlfriend, Elaine Perkins. Ken was smitten by Elaine as they discussed the art world. However, he began to grow jealous of Elaine’s other male friends and eventually confessed his feelings to her. Elaine didn’t feel the same about him and left him, ending their friendship on a bitter note.
3) Status Quo
Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt of the British rock band Status Quo also appeared in a cameo role in Coronation Street.
In 2005, Les Battersby ended up crashing the Status Quo van after seeing a member of the band. He was later punched by one of the band members, who then decided to play at Les’s wedding to avoid a lawsuit by him.
They even perform their song Rockin' All Over the World at the reception party, where Cilla and Les join them on the stage.
2) King Charles III
King Charles III had a brief cameo in Coronation Street in 2000.
He appeared in the live episode of the 40th anniversary of the soap opera, where he was seen in a news bulletin in which he met Weatherfield’s Councillor Audrey Roberts. The footage broadcast was actually pre-recorded when he visited the Granada studios where the show is filmed.
1) Sir Ian McKellen
The Lord of the Rings star, Sir Ian McKellen, appeared for ten episodes in Coronation Street in 2005.
He played the character of con artist Lionel Hipkis, who tried to scam money from the residents of the street by appearing as author Mel Hutchwright. However, he couldn’t get any money as Ken Barlow discovered that he was a scammer and had done scams like these in many book clubs.
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