Shelley King: ‘I don’t do the Christmas cooking – I pour wine!’
Best-known as CoronationStreet’s long-suffering Yasmeen Metcalfe, currently in jail awaiting trial for attacking her abusive husband, Geoff, actress Shelley King, 65, talks about her festive plans, her role in the show’s 60th anniversary celebrations and her passion for fast cars and comics!
What are you hoping for in your Christmas stocking?
I would like a Mercedes-Benz 300SL 1956. As it’s about £3m I’d have to sell my wife, Trilby, in order to get it! I’m a huge petrolhead. I have a rare Porsche 993 and a 1969 Mercedes Pagoda and also a rare Renaultsport Clio 182 Trophy, of which there are only 24 left in the world.
Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?
No, because for the past few years our main Christmas presents have been treating each other to fantastic holidays, which we can’t do this year. So Trilby might get me a car-related gadget and I’ll probably get her perfume. But I’m actually scared of getting her things because she’s so fussy that I end up having to go back to change them!
How will you be celebrating Christmas Day?
For the past few years we’ve gone to India as Trilby has family there and I was born there. This year we’d planned to go to Trilby’s uncle and aunt in London and cook Christmas dinner – her uncle has Alzheimer’s, so he’s not very well – but who knows what is going to happen with the restrictions.
What do you get up to away from work?
I like watching all the superhero movies, which I have to watch without Trilby because she can’t abide them! I used to have a huge Marvel comic collection. They were all numbered, but my mum gave them to the rag and bone man! I also love watching the Grand Prix – nobody can speak to me during qualifications or the race. I have the humour and some of the mentality of a 14-year-old boy!
How does it feel to be a big part of Coronation Street’s 60th anniversary storyline?
It’s a huge honour. I’ve been in the show for six years and to be awarded the responsibility of being a part of the 60th is a privilege. The whole storyline of coercive control and Yasmeen’s abuse at the hands of her husband, Geoff, has been so well-written and wellresearched. Several women have shared their stories with us and what you see on Coronation Street pales into insignificance compared to the terror and horror of what often happens in real life.
What occurs in the anniversary episodes?
It’s Yasmeen’s trial and she’s in for a tough time, because she did stab Geoff in the neck with a bottle. Yet we did have a laugh in between scenes, because some of them were so gruelling.
GAME ON
Scrabble is my favourite Christmas game. I’m a fanatic and I’ll play with my best friend until the early hours. We’re both fiercely dedicated and competitive. Trilby plays too, but she doesn’t like to win, because she says I get angry if I lose!
KITCHEN SINK DRAMA Yasmeen is looking quite frail on-screen – have you lost weight in real life?
I’ve been the same weight for years. But as Trilby pointed out, I’ve got very scrawny arms. She said to me: ‘just show ’em your arms and that’ll do the trick!’ So in the prison scenes where Yasmeen’s weightloss is mentioned, I said to the director: ‘shoot me from behind and get the costume department to put me in something with short sleeves. That’ll do it!’
How did you feel about turning 65 earlier this year?
It’s been such a weird time. I couldn’t have a party, so Trilby and I went out for dinner. The pandemic does make you think of your vulnerability. I have to be careful because I’m 65 and seasonally asthmatic. As you get older your immune system gets weaker and your bones
I’m not a cook, but
Trilby is excellent.
She’s vegan.
I don’t mind a bit of vegan now and again, but at Christmas I do insist on having the old bird and all the trimmings. What do I do instead of cooking? I pour wine! I’m also very good at clearing up.
GOGGLEBOX
The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Specials and The Two Ronnies are my favourites. Eric Morecambe had extraordinary comic timing. I also adore It’s A Wonderful Life, White Christmas and Singin’ in the Rain. are different. You just don’t heal in the same way.
How do you stay in shape?
I’m an active person. I love walking and try to walk for at least an hour every day. In my 40s and 50s I’d go to the gym four times a week and do calisthenics exercises and weights – I used to have the best arms in Equity! They’re baggy now, but what can you do?!
Do you have any regrets?
I could have gone into musicals and I chose television. I got down to the last two for The King and I with Yul Brynner, but my father said he thought there was a much shorter shelf life being in musicals and TV was better, so I went into the BBC series Angels instead.
Have you managed a holiday this year?
I love Greece and we managed to get there. Corrie were very good. I had some time off and they swapped scenes round, in case I had to do a 14-day quarantine when I got back. We’ve been going to the Peloponnese for the past 10 years. We’ve become friends with restauranteurs and some people who live there and they welcome us. We love it – in fact we’ve booked for next year, but it’s all in the lap of the gods.
What’s left on your bucket list?
I’d like to make a musical and live somewhere with a garage so I could go out and tinker with my cars!
ITV will celebrate Coronation Street’s
60th anniversary on the week of 7 December.