Beverley Callard has revealed she’s had her hopes of appearing on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ dashed, as ‘Coronation Street’ bosses have forbidden the cast from taking part.
The soap actress - who has played Liz McDonald in ‘Corrie’ on and off for the past 27 years - admitted she’d be keen to appear on the BBC dance show during a chat with a fan on Twitter.
During Saturday’s (22 October) live show, she revealed she was a huge ‘Strictly’ fan, but when a fan asked why she’d never taken part in it, she responded: “I’d love to. We’re not allowed.”
However, despite ‘Corrie’ bosses’ ban on the cast appearing on one of ITV’s rival’s biggest shows, plenty of its former stars have appeared on ‘Strictly’ over the years, with Tina O’Brien, Georgia May Foote and Natalie Gumede all making it to the final in their respective years.
An ITV spokesperson has said: “It’s a no-brainer for us. Why would we allow cast members time off to go to film a show for a rival channel?”
Meanwhile, several ‘EastEnders’ stars have also been able to juggle starring in the soap and training for ‘Strictly’, including Tameka Empson, Jake Wood and Kellie Bright in the past three years alone.
The current series of ‘Strictly’ has currently got the nation talking, with Ed Balls sailing through the most recent live show, despite a nail-biting moment when he almost dropped his partner, Katya Jones.
Last weekend’s show was also one contestant down, with Laura Whitmore having to pull out at the eleventh hour when she sustained an ankle injury during training.
She’s expected to be returning this weekend though, when the remaining couples’ performances will have a Halloween theme.