Former EastEnders favourite and The Two of Us star Janet Dibley joins Coronation Street

Nicholas Lyndhurst and Janet Dibley in The Two of Us
(Image credit: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Coronation Street has confirmed that former EastEnders star Janet Dibley - pictured here in comedy classic The Two of Us with Only Fools legend Nicholas Lyndhurst - has joined the soap and will be appearing at Christmas for a special storyline.

ITV has confirmed that much-loved actress Janet Dibley, who was a firm favourite on EastEnders when she was in the soap 20 years ago, will appear in Coronation Street for seven episodes over the festive period.

Janet, who starred with Nicholas Lyndhurst in The Two of Us early in her career, won the hearts of soap fans in 1997 with her role of Lorna Cartwright, an alcoholic who met Phil Mitchell at an AA meeting, before embarking on an affair that eventually ended Phil's marriage to then-wife Kathy.

Former EastEnders star Janet Dibley joins Coronation Street

Janet Dibley will be appearing in seven episode of Corrie over Christmas

But that wasn't the last time soap fans saw Janet on our screens. She returned to the role of Lorna back in March 2016 when Phil once again sought out his support group and the pair came face-to-face once again.

The actress is a huge scoop for Coronation Street, and with shows like Doctors, Broadchurch, Unforgotten and Fat Friends under her belt it's easy to see why Janet was chosen for the new role on the Weatherfield soap.

Janet Dibley in ITV's Fat Friends

Janet Dibley in ITV's Fat Friends

The 59-year-old actress will be playing Melinda, a primary school head teacher who will appear as part of a nativity storyline featuring cobbles favourite Brian Packham (Peter Gunn).

A source told the Daily Star: "This is a big coup for producers. Janet was a big favourite on EastEnders, but she'll now be spicing things up at Corrie."

New Coronation Street producer, Iain MacLeod, has made no secret of the fact he plans to make this Christmas on the cobbles more of a traditional one.

At a recent press day he told us: "I wanted it to be a Christmassy Christmas. There's a history in soap of trying to do the Angie and Den Christmas where it's all acrimony and divorce papers.

"That's not really my preference - when you're trying to digest your stuffing balls and sprouts, you need things to be warm and lighthearted in places and to reek of Christmas."

Coronation Street continues on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV.

Main picture ITV/REX/Shutterstock, Fat Friends: ITV/REX/Shutterstock, and Janet today pic: Piers Allardyce/REX/Shutterstock

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 


After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off


She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 


As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.