Coronation Street spoilers: Former EastEnders star cast for Christmas storyline

By Deputy Chief EditorOctober 31, 2018

152 2 minutes read

BBC TELEVISION BBC PICTURE PUBLICITY ROOM 401, EBX BLOCK, TELEVISION CENTRE, WOOD LANE, LONDON, W12 7RJ. TEL:0181 576 7863 FAX:0181 749 1945. For further information please call Victoria Brooks on 0181 225 8398 EASTENDERS Picture shows: Lorna (Janet Dibley) (C) BBC TELEVISION THIS PHOTOGRAPH MAY BE REPRODUCED IN A NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE FOR PUBLICITY PURPOSES ONLY IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF THE PROGRAMME ON BBC TELEVISION. IT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED AT ANY OTHER TIME FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE WITHOUT A LICENCE FROM THE BBC PHOTOGRAPHIC LIBRARY.Y. — (Picture: BBC)

Former EastEnders star Janet Dibley is joining Coronation Street in time for Christmas.

The soap actress, who played Phil Mitchells former lover Lorna Cartwright in the 90s, is swapping Walford for Weatherfield for seven episodes over the festive period.

Janet will play Melinda, the head teacher of Bessie Street Primary for an initial stint of seven eps although there is scope for her to be hanging around the cobbles for a bit longer.

Shell be popping up in the soaps school nativity, which is set to throw up some comedy scenes.

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Speaking about Christmas, new boss Iain MacLeod recently told Metro.co.uk: Well, the seeds of the stories for Christmas are planted in the big episodes in October, without giving too much away.

I wanted it to be a Christmassy Christmas, obviously theres a history in soap of trying to go and do the Angie and Den Christmas where its all acrimony and divorce papers and vitriol. Thats not really my preference, when you sit down as you try and digest your stuffing balls and sprouts, you need it to be warm and light-hearted in places and you need it to reek of Christmas.

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Janet made her EastEnders debut in 1997 as alcoholic Lorna, who met Phil at his AA meetings and began an affair with him, despite the Walford hard-man being married to Kathy Beale at the time.

BBC TELEVISION, PICTURE PUBLICITY, Room 401, EBX Block, Television Centre, Wood Lane, LONDON W12 7RJ For further information, please contact: VICTORIA BROOKS ON 0181 225 8398 JJ 09/11/98 roll 10 neg. no. 15a THIS PICTURE IS STRICTLY EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 1998 EASTENDERS Lorna (Janet Dibley) arrives at the refuge again. Drunk and upset, she shocks Sarah (Daniela Denby-Ashe) with her self-loathing. Despite Alex's (Richard Driscoll) warnings, Sarah is determined to help Lorna and desides to take things into her own hands. Picture shows: (Left to right) Sarah Hills (Daniela Denby-Ashe) and Lorna (Janet Dibley) Transmission: BBC ONE Tuesday February 17, 1998 Photographer: John Jefford (C) BBC THIS PHOTOGRAPH MAY BE REPRODUCED IN A NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE FOR PUBLICITY PURPOSES ONLY IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF THE PROGRAMME ON BBC TELEVISION. IT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED AT ANY OTHER TIME FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE WITHOUT A LICENCE FROM THE BBC PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY.BRARY. — (Picture: BBC)

Janet made her EastEnders debut in 1997 as alcoholic Lorna, who met Phil at his AA meetings and began an affair with him, despite the Walford hard-man being married to Kathy Beale at the time.

After Phil broke up the affair, Lorna attempted to reignite their fling only for him to turn her down, and she tried to take her own life.

Fortunately, Phil stopped her, and she later admitted herself into a detox programme.

Janet Dibley and Steve McFadden in Eastenders, 2016 (Picture: BBC)

Janet popped back up two years ago in 2016 as a chair of the AA meetings Phil attended, and she vowed to help him after hed helped her back in the 90s.

MORE: Emmerdale spoilers: Robert and Charity wage war on Rebecca and Ross in double exit storyline

MORE: 10 Coronation Street spoilers: Carlas huge shock, Kate and Ranas baby announcement and Nicks secret

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