Awww doesn't she look cute as this picture - on the left - taken from 2000 (courtesy of a Helen Flanagan blog) shows. Helen, who celebrated her 10th Anniversary on the show on January 23rd as Rosie Webster has certainly transformed from the shy young girl to the saucy minx she is today.
"I've grown with her although I'm nothing like her. She's gone through so many changes, from being a little girl through her gothic phase and falling in love with Craig, to going off the rails."
Having taken over the role from Emma Collinge, Helen said her first day on the Corrie set was an emotional one. "Sally Whittaker, who plays my mum Sally Webster, was like a real mum to me while we were filming.
"She came up and gave me a really big hug. I feel so lucky to be in Coronation Street and to have been given the opportunity to grow up as part of such an amazing institution."
Last week, Helen Flanagan confessed in an interview that she had a crush on former co-star Richard Fleeshman who played her boyfriend Craig Harris. "He's so nice and so beautiful, and I had this huge, painful crush on him. I think all the girls did though because he is so, so charming and stuff."
Actress Sally Lindsay, who played pub barmaid Shelley Unwin, has ruled out a return to Corrie for now, saying that she has "lots of other things to do".
According to the Daily Record, she said: "I never say never but there's too much going on in other parts of my career to even contemplate it."
"Once you are in the Street, you can't do anything else, you can't dip in and out of it, so it would have to be a massive commitment."
"My heart was in it right until the end. I left before it wasn't. You can't really fake it with a character like Shelley."
Sally, who started off as a comedy actress, has appeared in several theatre productions since leaving the Street and has also just filmed a second series of BBC3 sketch show Scallwagga. She told the Daily Record:
"I love doing comedy telly because there's nothing like it. It's just so throw-away and mental whereas in theatre it's quite a deep and difficult process you have to go through to get the play right."
Coronation Street legend Liz Dawn congratulates Loose Women on their National TV Award, talks about the kindness of Corrie fans and says how she got into the soap. "Actually it were the money," she says honestly.
The evening ended on a high with Coronation Street winning the award for Best Serial Drama. It seemed the whole cast and crew invaded the stage to celebrate the last award of the night.
Cravat-wearing Craig Charles who plays cabbie Lloyd carried Peter Barlow's son Simon aloft as did presenter Dermot O'Leary. And what was it with the cravats? Simon Gregson, who plays Steve McDonald, also wore one. I think there must have been a bet in the cab office.
While Craig Gazey won best newcomer for his performance as Graeme Proctor, elsewhere it was a mixed night for Coronation Street. With three Coronation Street actors up for the Best Serial Drama Performance award (Katherine Kelly, Simon Gregson and Gray O'Brien) against one EastEnders actor, a Corrie victory looked almost inevitable.
But unfortunately for Corrie fans, EastEnders' Lacey Turner who plays Stacey Slater in the London-based soap scooped the award voted for by the British public. Elsewhere William Roache and Jack Shepherd (Ken Barlow and David Platt) reminded fans of why Corrie, which celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, is streets ahead of its competition - though William Roache did look particularly wooden delivering his lines.
We were greeted to a sneak preview of some of the forthcoming story lines including Joe's watery exit and Peter Barlow dramatic fall off the wagon.
Corrie's Craig Gazey has won the Best Newcomer Award in the National Television Awards. Up against mostly serious drama actors from Emmerdale and Eastenders, Craig won for his comedy performance as the unlucky in love Graeme Proctor.
Acknowledging the award he announced to casting directors that 'he could do serious' before dedicating the gong to the late great Maggie Jones who plaid Blanche Hunt. "She just got better and better." Certainly you couldn't doubt Craig's infectious enthusiasm as he commanded the stage with his larger than life personality. "Give me a jacket I feel like a rockstar," he said.
digg this |
del.icio.us this
| 
Stumble It!
