Kym Ryder

Coronation Street's newest barmaid Michelle Connor (Kym Ryder) has had a rough time of it lately. Her on-off, will-they won't-they romance with Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) takes a turn for the worst this week - when Michelle falls for another man!

Murphy's law plays havoc on Steve this Friday when everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. After arranging to meet Michelle at the Rock Rhythm Rascals gig, problem after problem falls at Steve's feet. When he turns up after the event, he's shocked to learn that Michelle's gone out with another guy, Sonny.

Corrie's Kym Ryder, 30, took time out of her hectic filming schedule to talk to DS about what it's like being on the show, her on-screen family, the future for her character and teases about her on-screen love life.

How did you feel when you were asked to return to Coronation Street?
"I was over the moon, it's not something I ever anticipated happening. When I got the audition to go for the first four episodes, I went in for the audition and didn't even think I would get it, because you don't think anything that great will happen to you - it was just fantastic."

What was your reaction when you were told you were getting an onscreen family?
"I was absolutely thrilled, honestly. I think I walked round all day with a permanent smile on my face. It's just so nice to have a family and it's nice to have somebody that has a bit of a history and be able to explore that side of the character as well - there's much more that can be done with her, I think, now, and obviously with all the other Connors as well, it's the same for them. It's nice because there's a history there."

Is there more to the family than meets the eye?
"Obviously, on screen, nobody's explored anything much about them; who they are - where they're from, their parents, past lives - nobody's explored that yet, so it'll be interesting to see exactly what happens. I think they are a family with a history, but we'll have to wait and see whether or not they're dark or just your average family."

What's it like working with your 'brothers' as part of the family?
"It's fantastic, they're both great guys. They're great actors, you know, and I like the on-screen fun we have. We're quite sarcastic together, it works, it really works - aesthetically, we all look quite similar, we do have a bit of a jolly. It's good fun."

Earlier this month, Michelle and Steve shared a kiss under the mistletoe - is Michelle really keen on him?
"Michelle's very keen on him, yes - she really is. She's got a real soft spot for Steve. She sees him as a strong candidate for being a long-term love interest. She sees something in Steve that she probably hasn't seen for a while. The father of her son died in a car accident five years previous. There's not been anyone since who's really matched up to him, and I think she sees potential in Steve.

"I think she wants to get to know him better and get closer to him, but there's always something that stands in the way. If it's not Liz interfering, it's Steve messing things up, misunderstandings and the two of them trying to play it cool. I think she's been very nervous and she is very nervous about getting into relationships. She doesn't want to be hurt, and she's got Ryan to think of. She's trying to take it slowly, but she really does feel for him!"

Almost there! Your final clueword can be found amongst Dek Hogan's thoughts on the Celebrity Big Brother crowd

Do you think Michelle could do better than Steve, though?
"[laughs] I think they're a perfect match. I think they're both very similar, they both want similar things, they've both got children and are from similar backgrounds. I think they'd be a perfect match, so it'd be nice to see them together."

They both go on a first date in the run up to the New Year. Does it go to plan?
"Let's put it this way - it doesn't exactly run smoothly, and it's not a great outcome, so you'll have to wait and see what happens there."

Are you allowed to say anything about what might happen for the pair in the New Year?
"Just that it's basically not going to run smoothly, and you know, the chance of them being together is not looking too fabulous at the moment. We'll just have to wait and see."

Michelle falls for a new guy called Sonny, doesn't she?
"Yes, I can just say that there's this guy that comes in. It looks like things might work out for those two, but you just never know."

Has it been an easy transition from singer to actress?
"It's been incredibly easy, actually - a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. But I think that's down to people giving me a fair crack at the whip, giving me the opportunity. I think people have been great in not pigeonholing me and saying 'if you're a singer, you can't be an actress', and being small-minded.

"That hasn't happened. Obviously before Corrie, I did a couple of other little stints, but I thought it was going to take me a lot longer to get to something like this. For it to be happening this quickly is just amazing. It has been really easy. People seem to have taken to the character well as well, people haven't slated me, so that's good."

Has acting always been a passion of yours?
"Yeah, ever since I was a kid. I did a lot of acting; I was in a musical when I was 10, so I've always been into it, but it was the music that seemed to emerge as the way forward. Partly because I was able to do pubs and clubs when I was 18, earn some money out of that, which is why that is the path I followed. After my solo career, I went into the West End and got a feel for acting again. I thought I'd really like to do it again, so got myself an agent..."

What's your preference, music or acting?
"I did a lot in the music world in a short space of time - with Hear'Say, we kind of wrote records and had big selling number one album, number one singles, we did a sell out UK tour, saw the world, did a lot of things.

"As a solo artist I had a number two single and a top ten album - and also I found it a little hard having kids, it's quite unpredictable, you never know where you're going to be from one day to the next, so this is much more stable for me, and much more predictable. I can work everything around, know what I'm doing, which is great."

Do you have any long-term acting ambitions?
"At the moment I'm just concentrating on Corrie. I'm loving every minute of it, so for as long as they want me, I'll be there. Other than that, you'll have to wait and see."

How did you feel about Corrie when you were younger?
"I watched it all the time - I still watch it. It's a bit weird seeing myself on it, but it's a show I've always followed from being a little girl. It was always on in our front room, my mum was always watching it. To be in it now is really hard, but fantastic at the same time."

As a keen viewer, was there anyone in particular you were looking forward to working with?
"Not really, they're all fantastic. Obviously the people that have been there for years like Barbara Knox and Eileen Derbyshire and people like that. When you're creating scenes with them, it's a bit of a pinch yourself moment. I've always loved Liz McDonald, she's a favourite of mine, so to be working closely with Bev Callard is just fantastic. She's now one of my best friends, so it's great."

Do you catch any other soaps at all?
"To be honest, when Jack [Ryder] was in EastEnders I used to watch it then, but I don't really watch it now. It's a rival soap!"

Are there any other non-soap TV shows you'd like to be in in the future?
"No, not really. I don't think so, no. Like I say, I'm just thinking of Corrie at the moment, you need to keep your eye on the game and where you are."

Thanks for chatting, Kym!