Exclusive: 'Footballers' Wives' actress joins 'Hollyoaks'

Former Footballers' Wives actress Phina Oruche has joined the cast of Hollyoaks.

The 37-year-old - who played WAG Liberty Baker in the fifth and final series of the ITV football drama - will portray the mother of the soap's new four-member mixed race family.

Oruche's screen husband and their two children will arrive in the fictional Chester suburb towards the middle of the year and, according to producer Paul Marquess, are expected to "bring glitz, glamour and great stories" to the programme.

A show source told DS: "Paul has a clear ambition for Hollyoaks - to make it as it's ever been. He really rated Phina during her time on Footballers' Wives, so knew she was right for the job of heading up the new clan."

Earlier this month, Marquess - who created Footballers' Wives - axed 11 characters from the show and replaced three leading members of the serial's creative team.

In February, ex-Emmerdale star Sheree Murphy joined as Anita Roy's long-lost mother Eva. Further, Marquess has since lured Alex Carter back for an initial six months as Lee Hunter.

Oruche - who finished eighth during the sixth run of ITV1 jungle reality show I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! - is due to begin filming at the soap's home in Liverpool within the next few weeks.

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