Helen Lederer made her debut on Coronation Street tonight as a new love interest of Ken Barlow.
Tonight, fans watched on as Ken tried to encourage his former son in law Steve McDonald to get back out on the dating scene following his split from Tracy Barlow. However, as they sat down in a hotel bar for a drink, it ended up being Ken that got the attention off a lady called Elspeth, played by Helen Lederer, who was also in the bar.
Fans loved seeing Helen on the show and called for her to join the soap permanently. One wrote: “Welcome to Corrie @HelenLederer. I like her. Can #Corrie #CoronationStreet @itvcorrie keep her please,” whilst a second took to social media to share: “I’m already loving Helen Lederer (Elspeth) as Ken’s new love interest! #Corrie.”
Helen shared her excitement at being offered a role on the ITV soap – and hasn’t ruled out a permanent position on the show.
Asked how her role came about, she shared: “It came out of the blue but for me Coronation Street, of all the soaps, is the most substantial and ironic with such humour, it’s really a class act. So when you get the call for Coronation Street you drop everything.
“And to be offered a part playing a role opposite William Roache is even more exciting, I had met him once before when I sat next to him at an event and I thought what a lovely man he was and so personable. So for me to be offered this brief role was a joy.”
She was asked about a potential return to the Cobbles one day, and admitted she would be happy to appear again.
“The answer to that is ‘most definitely’. Ken had Steve to deal with but he was certainly interested in her. He definitely made sure he got her number, he initiated it. So who knows one day he might actually call her and I can come back to Weatherfield,” she said.
“Well I can see why Elspeth is interested in him, he is a real silver fox with very chiselled cheekbones! I was very conscious of all the history. There’s a certain pedigree and I’m very respectful of that. What really struck me was how dignified they were, and also having the grace to connect with a new person, they took time with me and I went away thinking what nice people.”
