Denise Welch explains why she exited Coronation Street
Denise Welch quit Coronation Street because she didn't want the characterisation of her man-eating Rovers Return landlady Natalie Barnes to be altered.
Denise Welch left Coronation Street because she did not want her character Natalie Barnes to change.
The 67-year-old actress appeared on the cobbles as the man-eating Rovers Return landlady from 1997 to 2000, and Welch has explained she exited the ITV soap because she did not like that the characterisation of Natalie was beginning to be tinkered with.
Speaking at a recent press conference, she said: “I played this real scheming b****, but in order for you to stay, sometimes they have to soften the character.
“It got to the point where they'd softened Natalie to the point that she was Emily Bishop. I said, 'I can't do this anymore. Who is she?', so then they had to sort of crank it up again, and get the line right.”
Denise is to reprise her Waterloo Road role as supply teacher Steph Haydock in the new series later this month, and the Loose Women panelist explained she agreed to return to the BBC show on the condition that her character had not been changed.
She said: “There wouldn't have been a point in playing her if she became sort of dull, dowdy and boring.
“I've never, ever gone back to a role in my whole career. Some people come into different shows, they go away for a few years, they come back. I've never done it.”
Denise insisted the Waterloo Road writers have “got the line right”, and she is “loving it”.
The actress portrayed Steph from 2006 to 2010, and will be seen again for the first time in 15 years when the new series of Waterloo Road airs on January 6.
In a statement, Denise said: “I'm thrilled to see the return of Steph to Waterloo Road. 15 years older, but certainly not wiser.
“She’ll soon show that time has certainly not dulled her shine! Still unmarried but eternally hopeful, Steph is back as a supply teacher.
“What she is supplying remains to be seen, but I am having a great time stepping back into the shoes of a character I love.”
Denise is delighted to be reuniting with her former Waterloo Road co-star Jason Merrells, who plays Jack Rimmer in the programme.
She added: “It’s also been great to reunite with some of my old castmates, like Jason Merrells. Steph and Jack go back a long way, but will they move forward?! You'll have to wait and see.”
