Coronation Street star Kym Marsh has praised the soap’s producer Kate Oates for her emphasis on strong female characters.

Marsh, who plays Michelle Connor on the cobbles, said that when she was growing up, the ITV serial drama was “all about the feisty women”.

She told Radio Times magazine: “So it’s great to see that strength returning.

Kym Marsh
Kym Marsh as Michelle Connor (ITV)

“Kate Oates is a very strong woman herself and I’m loving that she’s bringing all that back to the show.”

Tina O’Brien, who has starred in the soap as Sarah Platt on and off for nearly 20 years, said that Corrie is “incredible” at depicting well-rounded female characters, while other TV dramas sometimes fall short of representing women in such a way.

She said: “There are times when I’m in the make-up room and I’ll look up at all the monitors and see Jane (Danson) on one, Kym (Marsh) on the second, Lucy (Fallon) on the third – they’re all such good actresses.

“On some other TV dramas, women don’t always get the top roles, but Coronation Street isn’t shy of showing off its female characters.”

Kate Oates
Kate Oates (ITV)

Fallon, who plays Bethany Platt, said that Corrie’s storylines are helping the soap’s young female viewers because Oates – who has been the soap’s boss for one year – has “put the women on a pedestal”.

Fallon said of Oates: “Before she got here, a lot of female characters had left.

“Carla didn’t leave on a positive note, Kylie (Platt) had been killed, Tina (McIntyre) too. And Kate has chosen not to get rid of any strong women.

“Instead, she’s given them powerful stories, which is great. I know that a lot of young girls watch the show and we’re showing them what women can achieve.”
 
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