THE OH! ZONE
Actress Harriet Bibby, 23, who plays Summer Spellman, on her love of sitcoms, being starstruck at work and her celebrity dentist ambition
Then suddenly I clocked the wires from the roof and my heart sank. It was really not my finest moment.
Barney: I really didn’t like the skeleton on the bobsleigh in Scandinavia. I thought it would be much tamer. I didn’t think it would be scary, but it really was. It was violent, going down the ice at that speed on a metal sleigh.
What do you think is the secret off the show’s success?
Barney: I think it makes for great telly seeing Dad being pushed so far out of his comfort zone. Seeing his genuine reaction to something and to be saying,
“No, no, I’m not doing it,” but then having to conquer his own self-doubt and having a go at it. Bradley: I think it’s something you can watch with all the family, from grandparents to kids, which is lovely. We’ve had amazing feedback from people who have reconnected with members of their family after watching the show and it’s inspired them to go on their own road trip together. How brilliant is that?
The brand new series of Bradley & Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad is on Mondays, 8pm, on ITV and ITV Hub
Hi, Harriet. What’s your favourite TV show of all time? I’m a huge Friends fan. I am that person who watches it on repeat.
What other shows have you been tuning into?
I love all sitcoms, so I also like
Modern Family. It’s hilarious. I also enjoy watching grittier dramas like Channel 4’s
Help with Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham.
Who’s in charge of the remote in your house?
I live with my older sister, Nancy, and our housemate – my sister is 100% in charge. She has her spot on her chair and we wouldn’t even go there!
What’s been the best part of your Coronation Street
experience so far?
My best memory is the first time I went to sit in the green room when I was waiting to go on set. Loads of people started walking through – huge
Corrie legends like Kate Ford. I thought, “That is Tracy Barlow and we’re on the same show.” It was a big pinch-me moment.
Out of all the people you work with on the show, who are you closest to?
My closest friends are Dan [Brocklebank, who plays Billy Mayhew] and Gareth [Pierce, who plays Todd Grimshaw], who I work with a lot. But I’m also really good friends with Jane [Hazlegrove, who plays Bernie]. She’s really funny.
Was acting always on the cards for you, or did you have a plan B?
When I was in primary school I wanted to be a dentist. My mum said I’d have to look in people’s mouths and they might not have nice teeth, so I decided I wanted to be a dentist to the stars! But that went out of the window too. Other than that it’s always been acting.