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The 8 stars you forgot were in Coronation Street before finding fame – from BAFTA nominee to a Dame

Published on May 04, 2025 at 10:00 AM

CORONATION Street has produced many famous faces since it first hit our screens back in 1960.

So who’s starred in the cast of and gone on to great things?

Here’s everything you need to know about which former stars have been catapulted to stardom and some of them will surprise you.

Visit our dedicatedfor all the latest spoilers, pictures and gossip from the cobbles.

Stephen Graham

Stephen Graham in Coronation Street.
Stephen had a run in with Jim McDonald when he appeared in the street

is a huge megastar and well known for his numerous TV shows and films.

Including‘s ,, and Venom.

But did you know he appeared on back in 1999 as Lee Sanky,one of mates?

Lee had run in with Jim for getting Steve involved in drug dealing and Graham’s younger brother Aston Kelly alsoappeared onCoronation Streetin2018asPC Saffer.

Joe Gilgun

Woman and boy in a supermarket.
Trouble maker Jamie with his mother Tricia Armstrong in Corrie

is well known for several roles, , and .

But he made his debut at the age of ten in Coronation Street as Jamie Armstrong – the son of Tricia Armstrong.

Cheeky and streetwise, Jamie wasn’t afraid to use dirty tricks to get some hands on some extra cash.

But everyone laughed whenwas attempting to turf the Armstrongs out oftheir house and Jamie throw a chamber pot full of water on his head.

Dame Joanna Lumley

Joanna Lumley as Elaine Perkins in Coronation Street.
Elaine was the one-time love ofKen Barlowduring his teaching days

is best known for her roles in , The New , Sapphire and Steel and

She also appeared recently in the series , but she strolled the famous cobbles as Elaine Perkins for three weeks in 1973.

Elaine Perkinswas the graduate daughter ofBessie Street SchoolheadmasterWilfred Perkinsand one-time love ofduring his teaching days.

But Ken liked Elaine more than she liked him and when he called her permissive with other men, she called him a stiff provincial twit.

Ralf Little

Ralf Little in Coronation Street.
Ralf Little Coronation Street

for his role asDI Neville Parker in , as well as The RoyleFamily and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.

But he also featured in several episodes of Coronation Streetin 1999 as Mark Stranks an assistant at retirement home run by the penny pinching Gerald Lickley.

Whenwent for an interview at the home, it was Mark who showed him round on Lickley’s instruction, having been told to impress him.

June Brown

Black and white photo of Violet Carson and June Brown in Coronation Street.
June played Mrs Parsons who was set against her son Tony pursuing a musical career

icon on theBBCsoap opera and for her roles in Dr Who, Minder and The Duchess of Duke Street to name a few.

But before her time in Albert Square, June had a stinton the cobbles as Mrs Parsons who paid a visit to Ena Sharples when Ena took an interest in her son Tony’s talent with the harmonium in August 1970.

Mrs Parsons didn’t want to encourage Tony musically and was prepared for an argument with Ena, but Ena only wanted to know why she was so against Tony pursuing a career in music.

After her chat with Ena, Mrs Parsons let Tony accept a scholarship at a music college. The following year, she and Ena went together to Tony’s first public concert at the college.

Anna Friel

Belinda Johnson.
Anna played Vicky McDonald’s best friend on the street

Anna is best known for her roles in Marcello. Deep Water, Monarch and Limitless amongst others.

But in 1991, showed up on the cobbles as Belinda Johnson, the best friend of Vicky McDonald, Steve’s first wife.

When Vicky’s parents were killed in a car crash in Whitby in 1991, the girls planned to have Vicky move into Belinda’s house until the idea was quashed by Belinda’s parents.

However, Belinda and Vicky remained friends and Vicky used Belinda as an Albi for courting .

Sir Ian McKellen

Mel Hutchwright portrait.
Sir Ian played a conman who tried to scam the street’s bookclub members

Award winning British Icon, is one of the biggest names to ever walk along the Street’s cobbles and yes he was famous before.

He has starred in several huge movies, including The Lord of the Rings, The X-Men franchise and The Da Vinci Code.

Sir Ian has also shone in major roles such as Macbeth, Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.

But back in 2005 he played con artist Mel Hutchwright and took advantage of anyone who would fall for his tricks.

From Emily and Norris to Roy and Audrey, Mel conned as many as he could in the street’s book club but Ken saved the day when he called him out on his tricks.

Michael Ball

Malcolm Nuttall playing tennis.
Michael played a tennis coach who got into a fight with Kevin Webster

, actor and musical star, best known for his roles in Les Miserables, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hairspray and Sweeney Todd.

But back in 1985, Michael played the role of coach Malcolm Nuttall in Coronation Street.

Malcolm was Michelle Robinson before she met and viewers were treated to a feisty altercation between the pair.

Watch the above video to see what happened on the tennis court.

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