Jane Hazlegrove is joining the Coronation Street cast as Gemma Winter’s mum Bernie.
A baby won’t be the only new arrival in Gemma’s life this year as she welcomes mum Bernie to the cobbles.
Played by Manchester actress Jane Hazlegrove, Bernie Winter, pun intended, will burst onto the street in July.
ITV teased: “Bernie is Gemma and Paul’s estranged mother, an old raver who still sees herself as a free spirit.
“She is not one to be tied down to a man, a job or any responsibilities, especially when it means hard work for her!
“Having let Gemma down this week, when she fails to pick her up as Gemma plans to leave the street, she then turns up further down the line in Gemma’s pregnancy and is soon ruffling feathers.
“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.
“While Gemma is pleased to have her mum around, Paul is more suspicious of her motives, but Bernie is back to support Gemma through her pregnancy and prove she can be a good mum for once.”
Well known for her role as paramedic Dixie in Casualty, Jane Hazlegrove previously appeared on Corrie 34 years ago as a different character, Sue Clayton.
She said of her new role as the colourful Bernie: “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 added: “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!”
Coronation Streets airs six episodes a week on ITV.
Episodes are typically Monday at 7.30pm and 8.30pm, Wednesday at 7.30pm and 8.30pm, and Friday at 7.30pm and 8.30pm.
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