West End star Ruthie Henshall to enter ‘Coronation Street’ with a bang

Ruthie Henshall is swapping the West End for TV as she’s appearing on ‘Coronation Street’ next week.

The 56-year-old actress – whose three-decade stage career has seen her star in some of the biggest musicals in history including ‘Cats’, ‘Miss Saigon’, ‘Oliver!’, ‘Chicago’, ‘Les Misérables’ and ‘Billy Elliot’ – will play Estelle on the ITV soap, an old friend of Glenda Shuttleworth, played by fellow stage star Jodie Prenger, 43.

Ruthie said: “This is one of the most enjoyable guest roles of my career.

“Everyone is so welcoming and I can’t believe, after years of the ‘Street’ being in my life, that I finally get to tread the cobbles.

“Getting to act with Jodie was a joy and every member of the cast was welcoming and kind.

“Estelle is delighted to find her old friend Glenda and share a show tune or two to remember times spent entertaining on board cruises.

“I am so excited and delighted to be on the Street where so many brilliant actors strut, and have strutted, their stuff.”

Estelle will enter ‘Corrie’ with a bang on April 3 as she has a run-in with Glenda’s brother, George Shuttleworth (played by Tony Maudsley) about the cost of her mum’s funeral.

The drama is forgotten when she bumps into Glenda, as the pair reminisce about working together on cruise ships, leading to Estelle to try and talk her old pal into buying into her Little Big Shotz theatre school franchise.

Drama won’t be far off though, as the offer sparks an upset when George offers to help his sister with financial backing for the project.