UNEXPECTED: Denise Welch STUNS Viewers With SHOCK Comeback To Her Legendary Soap Role After 15 Years Away

Denise Welch

Loose Women panellist Denise Welch has dusted off her acting boots as she announced her return to an iconic soap role after 15 years. The 67-year-old actress will be back as Head of French, Steph Haydock, on Waterloo Road but, this time, she will be brought in as a supply teacher.

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Denise said of her return: “I’m thrilled to see the return of Steph to Waterloo Road. 15 years older, but certainly not wiser. She’ll soon show that time has certainly not dulled her shine! Still unmarried but eternally hopeful, Steph is back as a supply teacher.

‌Janeece (Chelsee Healey) Steph (Denise Welch) and Maxine (Ellie Paskell) on Waterloo Road

“What she is supplying remains to be seen, but I am having a great time stepping back into the shoes of a character I love.

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“It’s also been great to reunite with some of my old castmates, like Jason Merrells.”

 

She added: “Steph and Jack go back a long way, but will they move forward?! You’ll have to wait and see.”

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Executive producer for Waterloo Road, Cameron Roach, said: “Steph Haydock is a Waterloo Road icon, so we knew we had to find the right story if we were to see her back in our world.

“We were thrilled that Denise enjoyed our pitch and that the fans will get to see Steph once more – her one-liners are just as sharp, her lipstick is fiercely drawn, and the staff room atmosphere is changed for good.

“Neil Guthrie has met his match. We can’t wait for the fans to see her episodes.”

‌Loose Women star Denise Welch's huge return to iconic soap role after 15 years

Denise appeared on the hit BBC series from 2006 to 2010 playing lingual expert Steph Haydock. The series was pulled off the air in 2015 after the conclusion of the 10th season of the show. But it was then revived in 2023.

The star previously spoke about her desire to return to her roots, telling OK!: “I’m on television because I’m gobby and opinionated, and I think people can forget what I really do, and what I’m really good at.

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“So I’m going to make a concerted effort to go back to what I do and know.”

As well as her regular Loose Women appearances, Denise has also had a number of high-profile roles on some of the country’s best loved soaps, including playing Rovers’ landlady Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street in more than 480 episodes between 1997 and 2000.