Coronation Street newcomer Jodie Prenger has revealed that her family has a hidden link to a cobbles icon.
Theatre star Jodie, who won BBC reality TV show I'd Do Anything, is joining the ITV soap as Glenda Shuttleworth – the brother of undertaker George – this August.
Speaking to exclusively to Daily Star and other press, Jodie revealed that long before she stepped onto the cobbles, her family had a connection to Elsie Tanner actress Pat Phoenix.
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She said: "My family all go back to Manchester in Mosside.
"They used to have a laundrette and a cafe shop/grocery store, and my nan's brother used to deliver Pat Phoenix's groceries.
"My nan, she worshipped Elsie Tanner."
Speaking about joining the soap, Jodie added: "When your family have loved something for so long, it genuinely is an honour to be part of an institution and a family.
"That's genuinely what it's about. It's a big, lovely family. It's very special to me."
Jodie also explained that her nan influenced her performance as Glenda, saying the character is: "A woman to be reckoned with."
"She's fun, she's sassy, she's a bundle of energy. She's a dream to play."
"I've based her on a lot of experience. I used to work on a cruise ship," said Jodie.
"There's a lot of my nan, the way she puts people in her place."
However ahead of making her Coronation Street debut in August, Jodie explained that she "scared" a lot of people during a shopping trip to IKEA, when she found out she had the role.
"I screamed, I cried. One woman nearly dropped a cactus, god love her!
"My mum came out and she started crying. I wanted to tell the world, but I knew I couldn't tell anyone.
"I scared a lot of people in IKEA that day."
Jodie will make her debut as Glenda in Coronation Street on August 5, 2022 – with the character sailing in from her job on a cruise ship and surprising her brother George in the process.
The actress revealed that Glenda will be "just looking out for her bro," and that as well as taking up a role behind the bar at the Rovers Return, there is also more fun in store.
"She instantly hits it off with Sean, and that first friendship that's formed. Sean is definitely a friend made in the beginning," said Jodie.
"There's a really fun friendship formed with Mary. It's like a tag team."
She added: "Everyone has made me feel so welcome. I'll never be able to say thank you enough for that."
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