Tip Toe star Denise Welch has hit out at the acting industry for their lack of respect for soaps. The actress and Loose Women panelist plays Diane in Russell T Davies' acclaimed Channel 4 drama alongside Alan Cumming and David Morrissey.
Speaking at the The Rainbow Honours event in London yesterday (13 June), Welch said: "The industry shouldn’t have ever not respected soaps.
"When you are in a soap, you are doing the equivalent of two movies a week with no rehearsal. And some actors do it while pulling off the amazing performances that they do."
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Welch would know more than most about the demands of soap acting, having had roles in Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, Holy City, Doctors, Waterloo Road, Casualty, EastEnders and, most recently, Emmerdale, playing Heidi for three episodes in 2024.
The Geordie actress continued: "A film actor would take a fortnight to do two of the scenes they do on soaps. I’ve always had the utmost respect for soap actors.
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"The soap awards are brilliant. But you should have 'best soap actor'. It should just be ''best actor'."
Reflecting on her four years on Corrie playing Natalie Barnes, Welch continued: "Four years on Corrie was enough for me. But I also totally respect my friends who have made a lifelong career. That’s hard. You don’t get to choose to do that… it’s up to the producers.
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"Some of them have had the most wonderful careers. Bill Roache went into Corrie two years after I was born and I’m 68 now! He’s still doing it. It’s unbelievable."
Welch went on to say that, when it comes to soaps and the effect they can have on your career, it's all about "timing," and the role you played.
"Luckily I’d had somewhat of a career before Corrie. I was in my late 30s," she added.
Tip Toe is available now on Channel 4.
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