Coronation Street star Jodie Prenger has bagged herself a fresh role away from the cobbles after surprising fans with an unrecognisable appearance. The actress joined the ITV soap last year as Glenda Shuttleworth, the sister of undertaker George.
But before reaching the cobbles, Jodie was known for treading the boards. The West End star started out in cabaret performing in Blackpool before she shot to fame in 2008 with BBC's reality show I'd Do Anything. She won the competition and went on to play Nancy in Oliver in the West End and has since gone on to take on countless roles.
It has now been revealed by Hope Mill Theatre that for one-night only, Jodie will star in a concert production of Gypsy which will play the Opera House, Manchester on Sunday, February 25 2024.
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The concert will raise funds for Hope Mill Theatre’s ‘Hope for the Future’ fundraising campaign and will be directed by Joseph Houston and choreographed by William Whelton, the co-founders of Hope Mill. The full cast and creative team are to be announced in due course.
Jodie said of the gig: "I am beyond thrilled to be a part of the upcoming Gypsy concert! It's a dream role for anyone in the theatre world, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to bring this iconic character to life. I can remember to this day playing the overture as teenager. Tears welling in my eyes and goosebumps on my forearms.
"But what makes this concert even more special is that it is in support of Hope Mill Theatre. This fabulous theatre has been instrumental in nurturing and shaping future generations of theatregoers. They provide a platform for emerging talent and continuously push the boundaries of creativity. I can’t wait to step on that stage and be part of something so truly special."
It comes as Jodie was flooded with comments about her unrecognisable appearance on social media. The actress could be seen in a video as she transformed into Miss Hanigan for her appearance in Annie the Musical.
"When your arch nemesis is and 11-year-old girl and her friends," a message on the video read as Jodie mimed the words of the viral TikTok sound which say: "That girl is without a doubt the lowest, most awful creature that ever walked the planet!" and are taken from the film the musical is based upon.
The video then cuts to show the show's lead as Annie and her co-stars. She mimes: "Thank you, thank you very much!" before Natalie Cole track This Will Be starts to play. Captioning the video on Instagram, Jodie wrote: "Bet cha bottom dollar that I love ‘em really," with a winking face emoji.
