
Coronation Street viewers shocked by new character's ‘make-over' – as they only just realise she's been recast
As of this week, a soap legend's on-screen daughter now has a brand new face.
4
4
4
Grace Ashcroft-Gardner has taken over the role of David Platt's daughter, Lily.
The character was born to David and his late wife, Kylie, back in 2013.
However, the recasting was not immediately obvious to all viewers - as they shared their thoughts online.
One fan wrote: "Aww I actually liked the old Lily and thought she showed potential.
"Shame to lose her but hopefully the new one is good too."
Another added: "It wasn't immediately apparent, as she's very different from the pervious one, then someone called her Lily and it all made sense... Kind of."
A third chimed in: "It's a recast Lily. David's daughter."
While a fourth remarked: "They probably should have introduced her in the Platts' house by David calling her Lily as it was confusing seeing her out as could have been a random classmate who just happened to be called Lily and easy to miss."
Young actress Brooke Malonie had been playing the character since June 2016.
She was absent in recent weeks and new actress Grace took over beginning in Monday's episode.
Emotional Coronation Street stars reveal final EVER scene together has already aired
It comes ahead of a huge new storyline involving the show's pre-teen characters.
Lily and her cousin Sam (Jude Riordan) are set to be at the centre of a dramatic new plot.
It's not the first time that a Platt family member has been recast in recent months.
Last year, Carter-J Murphy took over as Lily's cousin Harry Platt, son of Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien).
Soap characters who've been recast
Soap operas are staple viewing for many people, but even some of the most famous characters have been played by different actors. Here are some examples from over the years.
Coronation Street
Tracy Barlow: Kate Ford took on the role of Corrie legend Tracy Barlow in 2002. Before Kate, three other actresses had played Tracy - most notably Dawn Acton from 1988 to 1999.
Nick Tilsley: Ben Price has been playing Gail's oldest child in 2009, but the former Footballers' Wives star is the third actor to take on the part.
Sarah Platt: Although Tina O'Brien debuted as Sarah Platt in 1999, she is the third actress who has played the iconic role of Sarah Platt.
David Platt: Completing the line-up of Gail's children, David was initially played by Thomas Ormson for a decade before Jack P. Shepherd took over.
Daniel Osbourne: For almost a decade, the role of Ken Barlow's son Daniel has been portrayed by actor Rob Mallard. Before Rob joined, two other actors had previously played Daniel.
Bethany Platt: Fans know Lucy Fallon as Bethany nowadays but before her, three other actresses had stepped into the character's shoes.
Kirk Sutherland: Before Andy Whyment took on the role of Kirk, he played by an uncredited actor in his very first appearance.
Todd Grimshaw: Gareth Pierce stepped into the role of Todd back in 2020, becoming the second performer to play this part.
Summer Spellman: Harriet Bibby became the second actress to play Summer, taking over the role from Matilda Freeman in 2020.
Ryan Connor: Ryan Prescott currently plays the long-running character, but Ben Thompson and Sol Heras had earlier portrayed the role.
EastEnders
Martin Fowler: Although Martin was the first baby born on-screen in EastEnders, he hasn't always been played by the same person. His current portrayer, James Bye, is the third actor to star as the character.
Peter Beale: Seven actors have portrayed Ian Beale's elder son, with the current actor, Thomas Law, in his second stint as the character.
Ben Mitchell: Ben has been played by a total of six actors - with Max Bowden bowing out of the role in March 2024.
Bobby Beale: Before Clay Milner Russell, Ian's younger son had been played by four other actors.
Freddie Slater: Bobby's best mate, Freddie Slater, had been previously played by twins Alex and Tom Kilby before Bobby Brazier took over in 2022.
Chelsea Fox: Former Coronation Street actress Zaraah Abrahams took over the role of Chelsea in 2020. The character had been first played by Tiana Benjamin from 2006 to 2010.
Lauren Branning: Jacqueline Jossa took on the role of Lauren in 2010, succeeding Madeline Duggan who'd played her from 2006 to 2010.
Johnny Carter: Johnny has been played by three actors since debuting in 2013 - most recently, Charlie Suff has taken on the role.
Speaking to press about the change-up, Jack P Shepherd said: "They've just recast the lad who plays Harry.
"Carter is very, very confident."
He succeeded twins Freddie and Isaac Rhodes, who'd played Harry since 2017.
4
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Naked Attraction host Anna Richardson sinks claws into 'deeply unethical' Love Island - insisting she 'refuses to watch it in on a point of principle'
Naked Attraction host Anna Richardson has sunk her claws into the 'deeply unethical' ITV2 show Love Island - and has insisted that she 'refuses to watch it in on a point of principle'. The twelfth series of the programme returned to our screens last month and viewers have enjoyed the drama that has come along with it. Love Island, currently hosted by Maya Jama, 30, has become a huge fan favourite since it hit our screens in 2015, and has managed to get 1.4m views across all their platforms for this year's launch. But another popular, but very different show is Naked Attraction - and host Anna thinks that people love the Channel 4 programe so much because it's 'funny' and there are plenty of different bodies on display. While she thinks that Love Island doesn't have as much diversity when it comes to the representation of bodies. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Anna said: 'You're seeing a range of bodies, it makes you feel comfortable about your own [Naked Attraction]. 'And I personally have never, ever watched Love Island, so I kind of refuse, on point of principle, because I think that Love Island is a deeply unethical show. 'So what you're doing is you're showing youth and beauty and rivalry as a betrayal, as some kind of standard that we should be held up to, whereas N aked Attraction does the exact opposite. 'So yeah, I think it's about, I think it's a gloriously bonkers show about acceptance.' She added: 'When you scratch beneath the surface of negative attraction, it's actually about acceptance. 'It is about the fact that nobody's body is perfect. This is about vulnerability. It's about acceptance. 'It's about seeing you for who you really are in all your human glory, and people actually saying, do you know what? 'Whether I've got a stoma, or I have a disability, I've got one leg, or I'm in a wheelchair, whatever happens to be, or I'm a trans person on my journey, all of us deserve to be loved and accepted for who we are.' The programme hit our screens in 2016 and went on to air 65 episodes across seven series. More and more shows are now focusing on sex, with the likes of people losing their virginity on Virgin Island, and couples opening up their relationships on Open House: The Great Sex Experiment. Anna thinks that Naked Attraction has paved the way for those kind of programmes to exist. 'Everybody had a breakdown when Naked Attraction was announced, she told us. 'And, you know, the press went absolutely crazy... "This is a new low for, you know, new low and moral standards on British television". 'And of course, we were trailblazers, so now we've paved the way to things being more open and talked about and accepting. 'I've watched both Open House and Virgin Island, and I think they're both incredible formats. 'In terms of Open House, what they're doing, very cleverly there is just merely reflecting the fact that polyamory is on the rise, people are sexually open and curious. 'And Virgin Island? I think that's an extraordinary idea, that there are sex therapists out there that ultimately are prepared to have sex with people who have psychological issues around their virginity. 'Again, what you're dealing with here is issues of being vulnerable and people being human. Yeah, so I think they're both fantastic formats.' Many are desperate to know if the show will ever make a return, and Anna is hoping that it does happen in the future. 'I am desperate for it to come back,' Anna told us. 'I want a male campaign that basically says "Bring back Naked Attraction." 'It is wildly popular. People absolutely love it. It is funny. 'It's about acceptance. And I think at the moment, in a world where we're all actually a bit p***ed off and we feel ground down in this country, you know, there's a huge amount of division and anger.' She added: 'So the fact is, the truth is, I have no idea whether it's coming back. 'I really hope so, because it's a fun show to do, and it does very well, but I have no idea about about the politics of whether it is or not, but let's keep our fingers crossed.' The telly star has helped people try and find a suitable partner by stripping down and baring all on Naked Attraction, but there appears to be a more popular way of meeting people these days - and it includes being in a hotter climate. Anna has joined forces with iD Mobile, who have recently found out that more Brits than ever are dating abroad. She told us: 'The [dating] landscape in the UK is becoming more diminished, and people are going abroad, and off the back of that, they are then offering inclusive Data Roaming to 50 different countries that people can find love worldwide, basically with ease, without landing a huge bill at the end of it. 'But the the survey results are very, very interesting, just just given the fact that we know that 45% of people say that their best romantic experience happened abroad. 'Most of us have had a holiday romance. 'We know that around a third of people use dating apps when they go abroad to hook up with locals, but also because they're saying that actually, they get a more authentic experience of the town or the city that they're in if they use a language app or dating app.' Anna Richardson has partnered with iD Mobile to explore the rise in overseas dating and highlight how roaming charges are preventing millions of Brits from making meaningful connections abroad. With inclusive Roaming in more destinations than any UK network, iD Mobile is helping holidaymakers stay connected for love, fun and everything in between. Visit for more information.


Daily Mail
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Helen Flanagan, 34, sports painful looking black eye after undergoing £400 cosmetic injections
Helen Flanagan sported a painful black eye after undergoing a £400 beauty treatment this week. The TV star, 34, went makeup free and gave the camera a thumbs up as she posed for a car selfie, while her son Charlie was napping in the background. Helen shared the snap to Instagram on Friday and wrote: 'Going around like this. Be worth it when I look 24. Charlie danger napping' Helen is understood to have acquired the bruising after having a round of £400 skin injections. The former Coronation Street actress confirmed she had undergone the procedure on social media, before the black eye was noticeable. Helen explained that the treatment, called Polynucleotides, aims to rejuvenate the skin and face with no added volume. She reminded fans that she turns 35 in August, and thanked her regular practitioner: 'I only go to @drnataliehowarth for my face as I trust her a million percent.' Just days earlier, Helen sent temperatures soaring in sexy lace sheer lingerie as she posed for a sizzling Instagram video. The mother-of-three showed off her jaw-dropping figure in a daring lace pink bra which she teamed with a matching thong and suspenders. Helen looked sensational as she showed off her boob job while modelling the racy lingerie, from her summer edit with Nikki Intimates, sitting on her bed. The TV personality later slipped into a coordinated sheer lace bodysuit which she paired with stockings and suspenders. The soap star wrote: 'Forever a lover girl. Shop my summer edit with @nikkiintimates for the prettiest pieces.' The photo shoot comes after Helen declared that she's 'back to normal herself' and 'living in the Starbucks drive-thru' after the return of her driving licence following a six month ban. Back in January, the ex Corrie actress t old the court her ex boyfriend Robbie Talbot was driving her £66,000 Audi Q7 when it was caught speeding twice. Helen explained that the treatment, called Polynucleotides, aims to rejuvenate the skin and face with no added volume She was subsequently barred from the roads for six months, despite claiming she was struggling financially and would not be able to afford taxis to get her children to school. After being snapped back behind the wheel of her pricey motor last week, a delighted Helen took to her Instagram Stories to update her followers. She gushed: 'I am so happy that I have got my driving licence back, I was nervous at first for like the first ten minutes I was like 'It's so weird to be driving again' but now I just absolutely love it'. 'Back to my normal. I feel like I am back to myself now i'm back to the Trafford Centre and back living at the Starbucks drive-thru and I just feel like myself'. In a chaotic social media post last month, Helen complained what a 'pain in the a***' it had been without a car and had been unable to run errands or go shopping for essentials due to living so remotely. Taking to her Instagram Stories she explained her ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) had caused her to mix up paperwork to reapply for her licence, meaning the process would now be delayed further. 'I literally can't tell you what a pain in the a*** not having [my driving licence] because I live in the middle of nowhere, and of course I haven't been driving'. 'It's just been so b****y annoying, for example we are out of loo roll now and I can't pop out to the shops to get loo roll so my friend has to bring me loo roll'. In court Helen said her isolated moorland home meant it was a 10-minute drive even to go to the shops to buy bread and milk, and that she would 'really struggle without a car' in the remote location. The actress, who lives near Bolton, Greater Manchester, said she earned £70,000 last year – but said her income varies and that she could not afford a £10 taxi to take her son to nursery. Prosecutor Stephen Kirk told how Helen, who already had six penalty points for speeding, failed to declare who had been driving the car when it was caught speeding at locations on Merseyside in June last year, doing 42mph in a 30mph limit and 51mph in a 40mph limit. Magistrates gave her six more points for each offence - taking her total to 18 points, well above the 12-point threshold when magistrates normally impose a ban unless there is 'exceptional hardship'. Making her doomed plea to keep her licence, Helen said at the time: 'I am so sorry. I stupidly thought it was acceptable for my boyfriend to explain he was the one driving and it wasn't me.' Helen told the court how she is a 'full-time' mother to children Matilda, nine, Delilah, six, and Charlie, three, using the car to take them to nursery, school and activities. She said: 'My job really is being a mum at home. Their dad works away. It's really difficult at the moment now for me to be earning money. I earn money on social media but it kind of varies what I earn.' She added: 'I think there might be a perception maybe that I would easily be able to afford a driver but that's quite far from the case. 'I've got enough money in my account to pay off my tax and my VAT and basically that's about it.' Asked by solicitor, Patrick Boyers, how she takes her son Charlie to his nursery without a car, she said: 'The other way to get Charlie to nursery is by Uber (taxi). That would be really expensive. I'm really struggling at the moment, financially.' Asked by the clerk how much it cost, she said: 'I did get an Uber from my house to the nursery this morning. It cost £10 that time.' She also claimed her son 'doesn't do so well in a taxi' and that he's 'much better strapped into a car where he's safe'.


Daily Mail
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The change in royal protocol Sophie is 'relieved' about since becoming a Duchess
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, is known for her down-to-earth nature and was reportedly viewed by the Queen as The Firm's safest pair of hands. Patron of more than 70 charities and organisations, including Childline and the London College of Fashion, she undertakes over 200 engagements each year, including visits to schools, hospitals and military bases. For this reason, it was an incredibly poignant moment when the former Countess of Wessex became a Duchess in 2023 to mark Prince Edward 's 59th birthday. This was in keeping with his parents' wishes and in recognition of Edward's commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award youth scheme. Sophie said in a recent interview that the change in title 'felt like quite a big moment' because of its connection to the late queen. But according to friends of Sophie, she was also 'relieved' that her move up the royal ranks means she no longer needs to curtsey to Meghan Markle. The relationship between the two women has been tenuous since the beginning. A friend of the couple said: 'Sophie is relieved. She no longer has to curtsey to someone in the family who has not only left Royal duties but has spent the past three years criticising the institution that Sophie works so hard to support.' When Meghan entered the Royal Family fresh from her role in Suits, the late Queen enlisted Sophie to teach her the ropes. When Meghan entered the Royal Family fresh from her role in Suits, the late Queen enlisted Sophie to teach her the ropes But according to royal author Gyles Brandreth, Meghan 'wasn't interested' in receiving advice from her new mentor. This led Sophie to make a cutting remark when asked about ' stepping in' for Meghan and Harry after they stepped down as senior royals. According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, Sophie said: 'What did people think we were doing beforehand?' This wasn't the only time Sophie addressed Harry and Meghan's exit from the family. Following the Sussexes' explosive tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, Sophie and Edward made a cheeky remark. When asked about the much-discussed interview by The Telegraph, the Prince simply said, 'Oprah, who?' while Sophie added with a laugh, 'What interview?' Speaking about Harry and Meghan's exit from the Firm, Sophie added: 'I just hope they will be happy.' More pointedly, she then stated that the royals do all they can to try to assist new members to adjust, adding: 'We all try to help any new members of the family'. Speaking about Harry and Meghan's exit from the Firm, Sophie added: 'I just hope they will be happy'. Sophie and Meghan are pictured at Ascot in 2018 Sophie and Meghan travelled together in a car down The Mall ahead of the Queen's State Funeral in September 2022. After travelling together, Sophie was described as a 'savvy peacemaker' who may be tasked with 'soothing tensions between the Sussexes and the rest of the Firm.' According to royal expert Camilla Tominey, writing in the Telegraph, the job of making sure the 'Sussexes are made to feel part of the sombre proceedings' appeared to have fallen to Sophie. The royal expert cited reports of previous times the former Countess is believed to have 'stepped in to soothe tensions,' including after the funeral of Philip, when she is said to have sought out Harry and spoken with him for some 30 minutes. And a former aide of Sophie told the Telegraph that she 'is made for the role of mediator.' They said: 'That's why she's the Queen's favourite daughter-in-law - she's down to earth and just gets on with it.' Speaking during her visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina last week, Sophie said in an interview with The Mirror: 'First of all it was quite large shoes to fill because not as many of the population alive today will remember but the Queen was Duchess of Edinburgh for the first few years when she and my father-in-law first married. 'For me, it was quite an emotional thing to sort of step into her shoes [as being Duchess of Edinburgh], it felt like quite a big moment.' The Duchess of Edinburgh visits Sarajevo's Old Town during her visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina She explained, however, that in practical terms her and her husband's role is to support the King as it was to support the Queen. In her interview, Sophie also opened up on what it is like being seen as the Royal Family's 'secret weapon'. She explained that she doesn't see herself as being in a 'front and centre' role, which allows her more time to pursue her own interests. Sophie said: 'I like to fly under the radar. It's all very well being a secret weapon but if no one knows, maybe it's too secret.' 'I suppose I should take it as a backhanded compliment,' she added. Royal expert Russell Myers previously claimed that Sophie 'undoubtedly benefited' from Harry and Meghan stepping back from royal life because it has 'raised her profile'. Speaking on True Royalty TV's The Royal Beat, he explained: 'Are the Instagram generation going to be as obsessed with Sophie and Edward Wessex as they are with the Sussexes? Obviously not. 'However, when you're dealing with them… Sophie's really across her subject matter. It's not just for show and she has really grown into that. With the Sussexes not here, the Wessexes will undoubtedly benefit.' Meanwhile he also pointed to how similar Meghan and Sophie's interests are, saying: 'The similarities between Sophie and Meghan are there to be seen. 'Sophie's working with girls' education, she's done a lot of stuff about violence against females in Africa.' Most recently royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline that Sophie's hard-hitting advocacy work could have allowed Meghan to flourish in the Royal Family. In recent years the King's sister-in-law, who is married to his brother, Prince Edward, has travelled to current and former war zones including Chad, the Congo, Kosovo, South Chad, Lebanon and Sierra Leone. She has devoted much of her latter working life as a royal to supporting the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and is passionate about championing gender equality. Fitzwilliams said: 'Meghan is struggling to be an influencer, Sophie has influence in ways that really matter, which Meghan could have been. 'Meghan has always boasted about how she promotes feminism. 'Yet contrast the occasional speech she makes in comfortable surroundings with the remarkable work of Sophie who actually visits areas of the world such as Sudan and Chad which have been devastated by war and attempts to comfort the women who are victims of rape and exploitation.' He added that Meghan's departure from frontline royal duties is a case of 'wasted potential', while Sophie has ' proved she's the Royal Family's champion of women's rights'. In the most recent YouGov opinion poll, 51 per cent of Brits said they felt positively about Sophie, compared to just 20 per cent for Meghan. Just 12 per cent of people had a negative view of Sophie compared to 65 for Meghan. Sophie is currently ranked as the sixth most popular royal, compared to Meghan who falters in 19th place. In 2019 Meghan was the sixth most popular royal and Sophie was in 11th place. stepped down as senior working royals.