TV legend ‘upset’ after criticism of Coronation Street role

Michelle Collins on the red carpet of the TV Choice Awards
Michelle Collins played Stella Price on Coronation Street from 2011 to 2014 (Picture: Getty Images)

Michelle Collins has admitted she was upset by the criticism she received for her role in Coronation Street

The actress might be best known for playing Cindy Beale in EastEnders, but before returning to the BBC soap in 2023, she appeared as Rovers Return landlady Stella Price in Corrie from 2011 to 2014.

Stella was introduced along with her boyfriend Karl Munro (John Michie) and her daughter Eva (Catherine Tyldesley), before her mum Gloria (Sue Johnston) came along the following year. 

While Michelle was a high-profile casting for the show, having shot to fame after originally playing EastEnders’ Cindy from 1988 to 1998, she came in for some flack over her accent. 

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video

Up Next

Speaking to Lisa Snowdon and Andy Goldstein on the We’re Not Getting Any Younger podcast, Michelle discussed how the criticism felt. 

Michelle said: ‘I was the landlady of the Rovers and I think people were like “firstly, we can’t have a Londoner running the Rovers’, so they made me northern”.

‘Which I think people were like “that’s odd, that’s strange, Michelle Collins is from London and now she’s got a northern accent and wasn’t she Cindy in EastEnders”.

Michelle Collins as Stella Price in the Rovers in Coronation Street
Michelle was ‘upset; by criticism of Stella’s accent (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

‘They kind of couldn’t really get their head around it and I went to a dialect coach and everything, but yeah, people were very critical in the beginning, which kind of upset me a bit, but do you know what? It just takes time.’

During her time in Weatherfield, Stella was revealed to be the biological mother of Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson), having had a relationship with her dad Les Battersby (Bruce Jones).

Cindy Beale looks angry as she walks through the market in EastEnders
Michelle now plays Cindy Beale in EastEnders (Picture: BBC)

She also memorably had an relationship with Jason Grimsahw (Ryan Thomas), before her ex Karl set fire to the Rovers, killing Sunita Alahan (Shobna Gulati). 

Stella was last seen leaving the cobbles for New York in 2014. 

Stella and Eva Price stood outside the Rovers in Coronation Street
Stella’s daughter Eva Price is on her way back to Weatherfield (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

While Michelle is now a full-time cast member on EastEnders again, it was recently revealed that her former on-screen daughter Catherine Tyldesley will be returning to Coronation Street as Eva

While Catherine is yet to speak out on reprising her role, Corrie fans reckon they have already worked out her return storyline.

We’re Not Getting Any Younger is available on podcast platforms. Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 or stream first from 7am on ITVX.

If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.

Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.

About admin