Fiz and I have melded into one, says Corrie’s Jennie McAlpine
As she steps back on to the cobbles, Jennie McAlpine tells us why Fiz is her alter ego
Jennie McAlpine is returning to Coronation
Street after 10 months’ maternity leave following the birth of her daughter, Hilda. The popular actress, 35, has spent the past 18 years playing feisty Fiz Stape. Jennie, who lives in Manchester with her husband, restaurant owner Chris Farr, baby Hilda and their son, Albert, four (notice a Corrie theme?!) tells us why her home and screen life are starting to blur into one…
How did you feel about coming back to work?
I was so nervous. When I got my scripts, I thought, ‘Oh, my God!’ I remember saying to Alan Halsall [screen partner Tyrone Dobbs], ‘I’m really scared. How do I know if I’ll be able to remember these lines?’ I never really lost my baby brain from having Albert! But it’s like riding a bike, so now it’s as if I’ve never been away, except this time around I have a lot more on my mind. It was such a shock, having two children. Somebody said to me, one is like one and two is like 20, and that is true. It’s absolute chaos!
Have you named your children after the Corrie characters Albert Tatlock and Hilda Ogden?
All the lovely, classic names have been in Coronation Street, haven’t they?! I’m in love with Hilda Ogden and I’ve got a picture of her on my dressing room wall. The niece of Jean Alexander [who played Hilda] contacted me after my Hilda was born, to say she was touched, because Hilda was born in the same month as Jean. It is a family name, as was Albert, but I definitely don’t mind the nod to Coronation Street.
What’s your favourite way to unwind?
I like a bit of meditation. I’ve tried the Calm app, but I’m quite good at just… sitting. I did it loads in I’m A Celebrity…, in 2017, which nobody saw because somebody sitting doing nothing is not very interesting to watch on TV!
Do you and Chris find time for date nights?
We had one last night, if you call being on the sofa with a pizza and a box set a date. That’s literally as glamorous as it gets. Maybe I need to make more of an effort!
Did you keep in touch with any of the cast while you were away?
We have a Corrie WhatsApp group and they very kindly let me stay in that while I was off, so I could keep abreast of what was going on. And Alan [aka Tyrone] was one of the first people to visit Hilda and cuddle her when she was really teeny. Quite a few of the cast came to meet her.
How did you prepare yourself to get back
into the character of Fiz?
Over the years, we’ve kind of merged into one! Jennie is definitely like Fiz nowadays – a young harassed mother with two kids, trying to round them up. I’m already in the part, so I was straight back into it!
Was it hard not having your dad, Tom, around for Hilda’s birth [Jennie’s dad died in 2017]?
Dad was a big part of my life. He was very much around when Albert was little. But we talk about him all the time and keep his memory alive. Hopefully, Albert will be able to remind Hilda of all the Grandad stories.
Tell us about Fiz’s return!
Well, it’s slightly unannounced, and she finds it all kicking off. Tyrone, his gran, Evelyn, and Brian Packham are trying to stage a protest at school, because Fiz’s daughter, Hope, hasn’t got a place to start back in September. Fiz is quite cross with Tyrone. He had one job, and it was to sort out a school place. He didn’t, and now Fiz totally wishes she’d stayed in Birmingham.
We hear that Fiz hires a tutor who is going to cause a lot of trouble…
I won’t divulge too much, but we’re going to see feisty Fiz!
What’s next for you?
CBeebies have a programme called The Baby Club, and they’ve started a podcast to run alongside it. It’s me and other mums and dads talking about parenting. The idea is that it’s the kind of chat you have after playgroup – sleep deprivation, nappies, etc…
Are you as fiery as Fiz?
I can get cross, but I don’t react in the way Fiz does. I’m more a complaining, letterwriting type of person.
For more, see itv.com/ coronationstreet and on Twitter: @itvcorrie