Brookside legend 'hasn't aged' as she joins Coronation Street 22 years after axe

Coronation Street fans were left gobsmacked after a Brookside legend made her debut on the ITV soap.

Theo (James Cartwright) made his first appearance earlier this year and swiftly sparked a romance with soap icon Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce).

However, it later emerged that Theo was wedded to Danielle (Natalie Anderson) and they had two children, Millie (Kaitlyn Earley) and Miles (Lewis William Magee).

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Adding to the drama, Theo confided in Todd about his closeted past, revealing he was forced into conversion therapy in his youth. The truth about Theo and Todd eventually surfaced and the pair have since set up home together.

However, their journey hasn't been without its hurdles, reports the Daily Star. In Monday's episode (September 1), Theo attended a mediation session with Danielle in an attempt to secure 50/50 custody of their children.

The former couple have clashed repeatedly since their break-up, with Danielle, who harbours homophobic views, insisting that Theo will not see their children.

During the mediation session, Theo was appalled when Danielle's new beau Noah Hedley (Richard Winsor), who previously subjected Theo to conversion therapy, also attended.

Meanwhile later, he spent the evening drinking, and when Todd returned with a kebab, Theo took it off him and stuffed it in his mouth before storming out, claiming to have split up with him. However, it was the mediator Deena who got plenty of people talking as fans instantly recognised the actress playing her.

On a Coronation Street fan page on Facebook, one viewer exclaimed: "Bev Dixon from Brookside is on Corrie tonight!" Another chimed in with: "I knew it was her!" A third added: "I can remember her from Brookside."

One surprised fan noted: "She's not changed that much from her Brookie days still recognisable." Another agreed, stating: "Agree! She doesn't seem to have aged that much!".

Sarah White, who portrayed Bev Dixon on the Channel 4 soap Brookside for a decade until its cancellation in 2003, has also had roles in Doctors and the critically-acclaimed film God's Own Country since leaving Brookside.

Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX