Noughties singer who hasn't aged a day joins ITV Coronation Street cast

A pop star from the noughties, who hasn't aged a day, is set to cause a stir on Coronation Street as she becomes Steve McDonald's new love interest, 22 years after her hit.

Recently, Steve, played by Simon Gregson, was left devastated when his wife Tracy, portrayed by Kate Ford, left him for former footballer turned decorator Tommy Orpington, played by Matt Milburn.

Despite a brief reconciliation, Tracy chose to follow her lover to Spain after finding a note from him that Steve had originally tried to hide.

Steve has since ventured into online dating and will go on a date with one of his matches in upcoming scenes on the ITV soap.

The mystery woman named Aurora, who arrives at the Rovers Return, is played by Fame Academy star Pippa Fulton, the Mirror reports.

Pippa is best known for her stint on the talent series in 2002 where she starred alongside the likes of Lemar and David Sneddon before being eliminated in the fourth week.

Since Fame Academy, Pippa has starred in rival soap Emmerdale where she took on various guest roles from 2014 to 2017.

The TV star also appeared in the BAFTA-nominated Channel 4 series Hullraisers, which was co-written by Lucy Beaumont.

Now Pippa's Coronation Street character is headed to Weatherfield but all is not as it seems.

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In a surprising turn of events on the cobbles, it's not Steve McDonald who has caught Aurora's eye, but rather his pal Tim Metcalfe. Sally Metcalfe is left less than thrilled when she spots the pair sharing a laugh together.

Meanwhile, Steve seems poised to move on from his ex Tracy, whose departure from Weatherfield last month was marked by farewell drinks at The Rovers.

Tracy bid an emotional adieu to her nearest and dearest before leaving in her boyfriend's van, seemingly for good.

However, during a segment on This Morning last week, soap guru Sharon Marshall teased that Tracy's exit might not be as final as it seemed.

While discussing the latest love interest for Steve, Sharon sparked rumours about Tracy's potential return, commenting: "I'm wondering... I mean Tracy, that was a bit of a low-key exit for such a major character mid-week, you know? Is she going to be coming back? That's what I wonder, anyway! "

Coronation Street's Simon Gregson has revealed his hopes for a fresh storyline for his character Steve McDonald following Tracy Barlow's departure.

In an interview with Yahoo! News, the 49 year old actor expressed his desire to see Steve re-enter the dating scene after his recent split.

He said: "I think it would be great if we see Steve having to go down the route of speed dating, online dating", he proposed, although he admitted he'd prefer Steve to remain single "for a while."

He also suggested a possible mid-life crisis for Steve, involving weight loss, a makeover and gym visits.

He added: "It could be a lot of fun and also a great excuse for me to make some changes in real life!"

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