Coronation Street role for Stephanie Beacham

Stephanie Beacham has joined the cast of ITV soap Coronation Street.

The actress will play Martha, a potential new love interest for Ken Barlow [William Roache]. Martha is introduced to Ken via his mother-in-law Blanche Hunt [Maggie Jones].

Beacham begins filming at the Granada Studios in Manchester next week and will first appear in late January. The role is expected to span at least three months.

Beacham is no stranger to the world of soap having starred in the 1980s American soap The Colby’s, a spin-off from Dynasty. Beacham starred in both seasons of The Colby’s, playing Sable Colby, before the series was axed due to low ratings. Beacham then crossed over to parent show Dynasty for its last season reprising her role of Sable.

More recently the actress appeared in four seasons of Bad Girls, the ITV1 prison drama series. In the series she played Phyllida Oswyn and was paired up with Amanda Barrie who had played Alma Baldwin in Coronation Street for many years.