Stephanie Beacham joins Corrie

Eighties actress Stephanie Beacham has joined the cast of Coronation Street, it has been confirmed.

The 61-year-old Colbys actress, who appeared as Sable Colby in the US show, auditioned for the ITV soap last week and has now been cast in the role of Martha, an eccentric potential new love interest for Weatherfield veteran Ken Barlow (William Roache).

Ken bumps into Martha by the canal while walking Blanche's (Maggie Jones) dog Eccles. He soon learns that Martha is a theatre actress who travels from performance to performance via the UK waterways on her barge.

Beacham has played Bad Girl Phyllida Oswyn for three years in the ITV prison drama, before going on to star in last year's series of Strictly Come Dancing.

She begins filming with the Manchester-based soap next week and will first appear on screen at the end of January. She will remain with the show for at least three to four months.