Ali on a role
TV GEM EM Ali as Corrie’s Emma
BY ‘eck... here’s six soap stars rolled into one as Corrie’s Ali Mardell does her best impression of some of the show’s most famous and feisty ladies.
Ali threw on a coat to do a fur impression of Elsie Tanner and slippered into Hilda Ogden mode with some cosy footwear, hair curlers and head scarf too.
A glittery dress and blonde wig and all of a sudden she was barmaid Bet Gilroy, high heels made her a Big Mac – TV’s Liz McDonald – and with a kick of the leg and some shiny trousers Ali became Leanne Battersby.
Finally, she put on the togs of her own character – dizzy crimper Emma Brooker – and the super six was complete.
Ali’s photoshoot was for a Corrie special marking 60 years since the first episode – live, on December 9, 1960.
Soap fans will recognise the garb worn by actresses Beverley Callard, Pat Phoenix, Julie Goodyear, Jean Alexander and Jane Danson.
And 26-year-old Ali enjoyed every minute of it. She said: “It’s such an honour to follow these amazing women on the cobbles.
They all had such great hairstyles ...even Hilda Ogden with her rollers!
FAVOURITE
“The looks were so different but what they have in common is they’re strong, feisty women who aren’t afraid to speak their mind.
“They are all strong independent women who fight for what they want and believe in. And they all had great hairstyles. Even Hilda with her rollers!”
“I did Leanne Battersby in the 90s, but the fashion wasn’t great then. I don’t think my Liz was the best but I gave it a good go. I could have worn higher heels and more leopard print!
“The older characters were my favourite ones to do. Elsie Tanner was a good one. I loved the fur coat, I could wear that now.
“I’d have had the Bet Lynch wig home! Hilda was my favourite.
“Obviously, Hilda was a bit before my time but I have seen a few episodes with clips of her.
“I think the classic lipstick scene has to be my favourite. Or whenever she sings.
“I loved the scarf. I’m not sure about the slippers though. So comfy but they didn’t look great.
“Hilda is just classic Corrie and has everything you need in a
character. She’s so down to earth and hardworking. She makes you laugh, makes you cry! I love her.”
Emma, who won Best Newcomer at the British Soap Awards last year, only recently discovered how brilliant Jean Alexander was as TV’s Hilda.
She said: “She was a force to be
reckoned with. In lockdown I’ve seen some of the old Corrie episodes. I have no idea what’s going on or who most people are but it’s so entertaining. Then you see Bill Roache come in and I’m like, ‘Aww Bill.’ He hasn’t changed – he’s exactly the same!”
So how does she feel about
impersonating current stars Jane Danson, 42, and her screen gran Beverley Callard, 63?
Ali chuckled: “Jane hasn’t seen it yet – I don’t know if she’ll be pleased with the look! I can’t wait for her to see it. I love Bev Callard. I grew up watching her and she’s such a laugh. A lovely lady.” Ali,
from Leeds, said working on a show she watched as a child was a dream come true. “Coronation Street was always on in our house,” she added.
“Even when we went on holiday my mum would tape it. She never misses an episode. As a kid, it was what I watched before bed. Growing up, I dreamed of being on Corrie. I’d audi
tioned a few times over a few years. The parts weren’t quite right. When Emma came up, I could really see myself as her. I did my screen test with Jack P. Shepherd (Corrie’s David Platt). When I got the call I was chuffed.”
She said nerves hit when she first went on set – as she feared she would mix up her co-stars’ names. “You know
them as their character names. I thought, ‘Please don’t call Sue Nicholls, Audrey’. I was there on Google trying to make sure I’d got everyone’s name.
“Helen Worth (Gail Platt) told me to take my time and that if I said something wrong, it didn’t matter.
“That was really lovely. She’s a Corrie icon and I was starstruck.” So
what’s next? Does Ali think her character Emma will be celebrated as an icon in another 60 years?
She added: “I love playing Emma. I’d not done much comedy so I was a bit worried about her silly ways but I’ve really enjoyed it. She has the best of both worlds now – sometimes she’s comedy, sometimes it’s tragedy. I am hoping there’s many more years for me and more to come from Emma.”
janine.yaqoob@mirror.co.uk The shoot was part of a Corrie Good News Anniversary special, at itv.com/ coronationstreet from Wednesday.
To vote for your favourite Corrie star in our 60th anniversary survey visit www.mirror.co.uk/corriesurvey