The mother of all Xmas TV battles
Mum’s a Corrie star... daughter’s in racy drama on same day
WE traditionally use the festive season to get together with as many relatives as we can. But this year, some of us will see more of this family than our own. Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor and her daughter Phoebe will be dominating the viewing schedule on Christmas Day. While die-hard fans will be tuning into the eagerly awaited festive episode of the beloved soap at 7pm, lovers of period drama will be getting ready to binge-watch Netflix’s latest bigbudget offering, Bridgerton. Sally, 57, might be used to being part of Britain’s Christmas Day line-up, having played Sally Webster on the ITV show for 34 years, but it’s the first time she’ll be sharing the schedule with her 25-year-old daughter. In what looks set to be her big break, Phoebe plays central character Daphne Bridgerton in American producer Shonda Rhimes’s historical romance, set in Regency-era London. Narrated by Dame Julie Andrews, the series focuses on the love lives of a group of high society men and women. While it might sound like another Jane Austen- esque costume drama, Bridgerton involves a healthy dose of scandal, a sprinkling of racy scenes and a racially diverse cast.
‘It feels like there’s something for everyone,’ Phoebe told Elle magazine. ‘I watched it all with my family and they loved it, which is great because they have such different tastes
‘Everyone is reflected, from the characters to storylines, and it has a real Christmas feel. Even though it’s set in a different era, there are so many parallels with modern society like Daphne’s storyline about the pressure of trying to be perfect as a young girl.’
While Manchester- born Phoebe might already be recognisable to viewers thanks to a handful of other roles, this is her first leading part in a high-profile drama. She started acting aged 14, after catching the bug from her mother and her father, a scriptwriter for Emmerdale.
‘It’s so cringe to say it was in my blood, because I’m not sure if that’s the case, but it’s certainly been there as long as I can remember,’ she told The Times.
‘ The Coronation Street schedule is mad. When my mum is busy she is non-stop. When she’s not acting she’s learning lines, it’s a slog. She’s a hard worker.’