Casualty’s Jane Hazlegrove returning to Coronation Street as Gemma Winter’s mum 34 years after first appearance on soap

CORONATION Street has revealed that Gemma Winter’s mum Bernie will soon be arriving on the cobbles – and played by Casualty’s Jane Hazlegrove.

The Manchester actress is already filming on set in Manchester and will appear onscreen in July – but actually appeared on the soap 34 years ago as a different character, Sue Clayton.

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Jane originally played cheeky teenager Sue, the youngest sister of a family who moved to the street between January and August 1985 – but the family failed to make an impact on the street and were quickly written out.

This time around, she’ll play Bernie, described by soap bosses as “an old raver who still sees herself as a free spirit”, adding: “Bernie doesn’t like to hold down a job or any responsibilities”.

Viewers first heard about unreliable Bernie this week after she failed to pick Gemma up as she was fleeing the street.

And with daughter Gemma pregnant with Chesney’s baby – or babies – she’s going to need her mum to turn over a new leaf.

Sadly, it doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen: the soap says that Bernie will “ruffle feathers” when she finally arrives.

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“Bernie does love her kids, the problem is she has never been good at the ordinary things, and after years of being a party animal and a part-time parent she has let them down more times than they can count.”

And while Gemma is initially pleased to have her mum there, twin brother Paul isn’t so sure and is suspicious she’s turned up.

Jane, who is famous for playing Dixie in Casualty, saying: “I’m thrilled to be joining Coronation Street. It’s where I started my apprenticeship as a very young actor. I can’t wait to get stuck in”.

A Coronation Street spokesperson said: “Like mother, like daughter. We are very pleased that the fantastic Jane Hazlegrove has agreed to join the cast as the irrepressible and impossible Gemma’s even more irrepressible and impossible mother. Fur will fly!”

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