Coronation Street Drops Actress for Age Falsification

Coronation Street fires an actress who lied about her age. Katie Redford, 25 tricked ITV into believing that her actual age was 19; so that she was cast for a 14 year old character, Bethany.

ITV announced Redford was joining the soap last week, playing the role of Bethany Platt, granddaughter to Gail McIntyre.  A press release, issued on Friday, described the actress as 19. But fans on showbiz site Digital Spy found evidence, including a CV, suggesting she was actually 25. 

 

 Katie Redford, 25, (left) was cast in Coronation Street as the 14-year-old daughter of Sarah Platt, played by Tina O'Brien, who left the show in 2007 (pictured) and will be returning in spring 

The actress has now been fired and ITV is re-casting the role of 'tearaway teenager' Bethany who will be arriving unannounced in Weatherfield from her home in Milan in the spring.

The character of Bethany was last seen in 2007 when she moved to Italy with her mum who had landed a job working for Gail’s half brother Stephen Reid in Milan. She was previously played by three child actors - Mia Cookson and Amy and Emily Walton.

It is understood that producers have another actress in mind for the role, and there will not be a new audition process.

Speaking to BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, Redford's agent said it "wasn't [Katie's] idea to audition as a 19-year-old.

"People in the industry do it regularly and she sort of went along with what we said," Joanne McLintock said.

"I'm feeling really stressed and so sorry for Katie. It's her first real job and she's a star in the making."

Katie, who trained at the National Youth Theatre, had not filmed any scenes before the decision was taken to drop her from the show.