Lorraine Kelly will make a hilarious cameo appearance as herself on ‘Coronation Street’ next week.
The 59-year-old presenter will be a guest at the same holiday camp as the Platt family, and when Gail Rodwell (Helen Worth) learns her TV idol is within touching distance, she persuades her daughter, Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) and granddaughter Bethany (Lucy Fallon) to chase her in a pedalo in a bid to meet the star.
Lorraine’s cameo is sure to offer some light relief in a big dramatic week for the soap, which will be airing in a later 9pm timeslot and will see the truth uncovered about Audrey Roberts’ (Sue Nicholls) missing money when her grandson, David Platt, (Jack P. Shepherd) makes a confession and the identity of the Underworld roof saboteur unveiled. There will also be a special mental health episode focused around Carla Connor (Ali King).
The Scottish presenter’s appearance comes just a month after she was delighted to receive a name check in a scene in which Gemma Winter – played by Dolly-Rose Campbell – said she would love Lorraine to be her mum.
Speaking on her morning show ‘Lorraine’ afterwards, she said: "I was in myself watching it so there was nobody for me to go, ‘Oh my God,’ to.
"My phone just lit up like a Christmas tree.
"I absolutely loved that so much. It made my night, it made my week, it made my year."
In the scene, Gemma told Chesney Brown (Sam Aston) she wished Lorraine was her mother so she could hang around with celebrities all day.
She said: "I wish Lorraine were my mum.
"She’s dead pretty and we’d have celebs round all the time. I’ve always wanted to be Scottish."
Speaking to the TV, Gemma then said: "You tell ’em, Lorraine. She’s quite feisty really. We’re similar."
However, Lorraine isn’t quite as keen to be Gemma’s relative, admitting it "would be a handful" if she had to be responsible for the Weatherfield motormouth.
Speaking this morning, she said: "Can you imagine being Gemma’s mum? It would be a handful."
Lorraine has already made an appearance of sorts on ‘Corrie’ – she played a policewoman on a 2012 special, ‘A Christmas Corrie’, for ITV’s fundraising evening Text Santa.
Speaking on her show after filming the scene, she said: "It was quite nerve-wracking, but I absolutely loved it.
"It’s so exciting that I’m going to be in ‘Coronation Street’ – amazing."
In the scene, Lorraine’s police officer alter-ego had a tug-of-war with Tina McIntyre – played by Michelle Keegan – over a judge of eggnog.