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Katherine Kelly has revealed that she would love to swap Coronation Street for Neighbours.
The 31-year-old actress, who plays Becky McDonald in the British soap, said that she wants to "transfer" to the Australian show because she doesn't like the "cold" weather in England.
Kelly told The Daily Star: "I'd love to put in for a transfer, but the [producers are] not having any of it."
Upon returning from a holiday in the Whitsundays in January, the star wrote on her Twitter page: "Hand warmers, foot warmers and three layers of thermals - I'm not good with the cold!"
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Coronations Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh and her husband, Shameless writer Ian Kershaw, are launching a creative writing competition in memory of Sophie Lancaster, the young woman who was attacked and killed in a park in 2007 because she was dressed as a goth.
The theme is Difference and the competition is open to state secondary schools in Greater Manchester, East Lancs and Blackburn With Darwen in two age categories: 11 to 13 and 14 to 16-years-old.
Julie, who plays transexual Hayley Cropper in Corrie, said: "Part of my work on Coronation Street has always been sort of championing those issues around us all being the same under the skin, despite whatever we've been in through in our lives or are going through and so that's really important to me."
She revealed that she and her husband had been talking about setting up a competition to give something back to young people in their community when they met Sylvia Lancaster, Sophie's mother, who has set up the Sophie Lancaster Foundation in her daughter's memory, which is backing the competition.
There will be £100 for the winner in each category and £1,000 for each winning school, plus a star-studded reading of the short-listed entries at the Contact Theatre in Manchester in October.
Coronation Street's Rosie Webster, played by Helen Flanagan, became a goth in the soap a few years ago.
Julie revealed: "Sylvia, was really taken by how much Helen looked like Sophie when she was being a goth in the Street and specifically asked me to ask Helen if she'll be one of the readers on the night of the competition finale. It really struck a chord with her."
The competition launches on March 15 and the judges will include stars and writers of Shameless and Coronation Street, plus This Is England's Vicky McClure and poets Simon Armitage and Mike Garry.
PA
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Emmerdale's Mark Charnock has confessed that he has not picked up any skills in the kitchen - despite years spent playing chef Marlon Dingle.
The soap star may appear to be a culinary professional in the show, but he revealed to TV Times he's had his share of kitchen nightmares.
Mark said: "I've had several on set as Marlon - Once I had to crack an egg with one hand and it took at least 15 takes; it was ridiculous."
But the actor claims he can sometimes cook up a storm just as impressive as his chef character, with a little help.
He revealed: "I'm good at following recipes - one of my signature dishes is Delia Smith's garlicky fish soup, which is just fantastic.
"I made it for Zoe Henry and Jeff Hordley, who play Rhona and Cain, and it seemed to go down well."
PA
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Jack P Shepherd is the father of a child conceived after a one night stand, a DNA test has proved.
The actor, who plays David Platt in Coronation Street, reportedly slept with promotions girl Sammy Milewski last year after meeting her in a club.
She became pregnant and Shepherd requested a DNA test when 7lb 3oz Greyson was born in January. The People reports that he wants nothing to do with his new son.
The positive result is said to have been a "massive comfort" to Milewski, who hopes that the soap star will contribute to the boy's upbringing.
A friend said: "Sammy agreed to the DNA test at Jack's insistence but she has always known for certain who the father is."
He already has a daughter with childhood sweetheart Lauren Shippey, 2-year-old Nyla.
DS
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Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has reportedly taken up palmistry as a new hobby.
The Mirror reports that Gulati - Sunita Alahan in the ITV soap - tried out her new skill on Lip Service actress Heather Peace.
"She predicted Heather would have to choose a mainstream TV role or one in a new show – and the next week she got offered parts in Corrie and lesbian drama Lip Service," a source told the paper.
"She also said Heather would travel the country 'on a stage' and then she was offered a UK tour."
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The mother of Jack P Shepherd's baby has revealed that he is refusing to acknowledge his son despite a DNA test proving that he is the father.
Sammy Milewski gave birth to Greyson two months ago following a one-night stand with the Coronation Street star last April, but he is yet to provide any financial support for his child.
She told The People: "I honestly thought that once Jack had proof that Greyson was his son he would do the decent thing. I really hoped he would accept responsibility. But obviously not. We got the results more than a week ago and he still hasn't been in touch. You'd think he would phone or even send a text.
"But instead, on the day that the results came through, I saw on Twitter that he was showing off a fancy new car. That was a real smack in the face. That car cost thousands and yet I've not had a single penny from him. It's not about the money but he hasn't even bought him a baby grow.
"The way he is behaving is pathetic and stupid. I wish we could just be friends for Greyson's sake. I didn't plan this. I certainly never thought I would end up as a single mother. I always dreamed of being married and settled before I had a baby. I wanted any child of mine to have a father I loved."
Milewski added that she is still hoping to reach a compromise via solicitors rather than involving the Child Support Agency.
Shepherd already has a daughter with childhood sweetheart Lauren Shippey.
DS
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TV's most famous butcher - Coronation Street's Fred Elliott - is to have his own range of fresh meat after a groundbreaking licensing deal was struck between ITV and meat supplier Aurora Food Marketing.
The character, killed off by a heart attack before his wedding in 2006, will front Elliott's Prime Cuts, an 11-strong range of traditional fresh pork, chicken and beef lines.
Packs will show a picture of Elliott and the Rovers Return, and feature Elliott sayings such as "By 'eck, that's cheap" and "Aahh Saaay".
They would fill a gap in the market for branded meat, said Steve Allen, managing director of Aurora Food Marketing, which has secured the licence to use the Corrie brand from ITV Studios. "We wanted a compelling, memorable, likeable character to front the range."
The sausages Elliott's Prime Porkers will go into Nisa-Today's stores from 25 March and Aurora has contacted all the major multiples in the hope of further listings.
With 85% meat content and an rsp of £2 for 454g, the sausages will be positioned as a cheaper alternative to other premium-tier sausages such as Debbie & Andrew's and The Black Farmer, sold in 400g packs and retailing at about £2.60.
Two of the pork products the T-bone chop and rump steak had deliberately been given the names of cuts more usually associated with beef, said Allen. "We're using beef terminology for pork because basically it adds value."
The new range will be the first Corrie food range. Coronation Street beer is sold on draught through JW Lees pub estate and Punch Taverns.
ITV was considering rolling the brand into chilled and frozen ready meals and possibly pies, added Denise Penn, senior licencing manager at ITV Studios.
The other cuts in the meat range are Drycure best back bacon, loin joint with crackling, lean diced beef, lean steak mince, sirloin steak, steak quarter pounders, chicken breast joint, chicken leg, and skin-on chicken breast fillet
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ITV are looking for Coronation Street fans for a new primetime comedy panel show - see details below.
Is there something that you and your partner simply can’t agree on? Is your love for Corrie not up their Street? Why not let our celebrity panel decide which one of you is right? No issue is too small or ridiculous for us!
Email us now at [email protected] for an application form or give us a call on our hotline on 0333 577 7772 (Don’t forget to leave your full name and number) Please note all 03 numbers are charged at the same rate as 01 or 02 numbers. All pay as you go mobiles will be charged at the local rate. Please also note we will use your data for the purposes of selection for the show, but we can not guarantee that you will be contacted
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Coronation Street star Chris Gascoyne has revealed that he has had issues with alcohol in the past.
The actor, who plays alcoholic Peter Barlow in the ITV1 soap, insisted that he was never addicted to drinking but often used it to deal with problems in his life.
"I can definitely relate to my character," he told the News of the World. "I'm not saying that I was ever an alcoholic but I've overcome problems with drink. I think there are low times in everybody's life, mostly the time when we're overcoming problems.
"There have been lots of low points in my life and that's where you learn and get your strength to get through it and come back to the good place. But anybody who drinks to excess should know it will cause you problems."
Gascoyne was banned from driving for a year and fined £500 in 2008 after being caught drink driving in Llandudno, Wales.
He added: "I think the storyline was a bit of a dig. I suppose it was their way of giving me a little bit of a slap on the wrists for what happened."
The soap star recently confessed that he would like to see Peter and wife Leanne (Jane Danson) settle down for good.
"Because I've just had a huge storyline, they have given me and Jane a break," he said. "So maybe next time it will be babies. I think a girl would be great, it would bring out a different side of him."
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Aw yeah can you just imagine Simon as a big brother. :D
