Coronation Street ex-star Katie McGlynn has gushed she’s ‘thrilled beyond belief’ to be nominated for a Must See Moment at the 2020 British Academy Television Awards.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline the actress, 26, said she feels even more honoured as the only soap star recognised in the category, which is the only award voted for by the general public.
Katie received the nod for heartbreaking final scenes as cancer-stricken Sinead Tinker, which earned universal praise from viewers when aired back in October.
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EXCLUSIVE: Coronation Street ex-star Katie McGlynn has gushed she’s ‘thrilled beyond belief’ to be nominated for a Must See Moment at the 2020 British Academy Television Awards
Speaking about the honour Katie said: ‘It feels absolutely amazing, I’m thrilled beyond belief I couldn’t believe it when they gave me the phone call, because I kind of thought that the aftermath would be done after the NTAs especially because of the pandemic and everything…
‘So I was just pretty shell shocked when they rang me about it, I’m so happy, I’m so please, because everyone worked so hard it was a team effort, and it’s paid off that we’ve been nominated so everyone’s just really happy.’
The star added that she understands the honour of being nominated even more as Corrie is the only soap recognised in the category.
Moving: The actress has been recognised for heartbreaking final scenes as cancer-stricken Sinead Tinker passed away, which earned unanimous praise from viewers
‘I think you’ve got to be pretty lucky as a soap to get in the categories and everything so to be the only soap in this category is just amazing, we’re all very proud of the story and proud of us all as a team so it does make it extra special,’ she said.
‘Even though it’s a shame we’re not going to get to go the actual ceremony, it’s still just incredible that we’re being nominated up against all these contenders ans everybody’s safety is most important with COVID-19 so it’s just brilliant, everybody’s so happy.’
Katie will go head-to-head with four other TV moments for fans’ votes, with the Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special, which saw Nessa propose to her on-off flame Smith, leading the pack.
Important: Looking back on her exit, Katie said she doesn’t regret leaving the soap, and she’s glad bosses gave her such a memorable exit (pictured as Sinead)
Line Of Duty’s shock killing of undercover police officer John Corbett, played by Stephen Graham, is up for the award, while the scene where Arya Stark kills the Night King in the final season of Game Of Thrones also got a nod.
Michael Griffiths’ post-Casa Amor recoupling on last summer’s edition of the ITV2 reality show Love Island has also been shortlisted, and is the only reality show to have been selected in the category.
Katie also told MailOnline that despite being unable to attend the ceremony, she and her former co-stars are still planning to get dressed up to watch the awards from home, ready to accept the prize via. Zoom if she wins.
Screen star: The star added that she understands the honour of being nominated even more as Corrie is the only soap recognised in the category
She told MailOnline: ‘We’ve all said that we’re gonna get all dolled up, but we was joking around saying it’ll only be our top halves and just our trackie bottoms on the bottom, but then if we won and jumped up and everybody’s gonna see!’
Viewers across the nation were moved to tears when Sinead passed away from cervical cancer, leaving behind her baby son Bertie and devastated husband Daniel (played by Rob Mallard).
After seven years on the soap, Katie said her final scenes are the ones she’s most proud of, adding: ‘I think as well it ties into it just the character, she grew so much over the years into such a beautiful person inside and out, and for it to end as it did I’m just super proud to be part of that big storyline and it’s just an absolute honour.’
Looking back on her exit, Katie said she doesn’t regret leaving the soap, and she’s glad bosses gave her such a memorable exit, though admitted it was a ‘bizarre and eerie’ experience filming her final scenes.
The star had previously admitted she had to ‘grieve’ for her character after leaving the soap, and took time to adjust to the prospect of never playing Sinead again.
Moving: The star had previously admitted she had to ‘grieve’ for her character after leaving the soap, and took time to adjust to the prospect of never playing Sinead again
She said: ‘I was super proud of that because you can’t always say… I wouldn’t have wanted to have left in a taxi!
‘It was just such a weird feeling it felt so real, as soon as you step on set you had that eerie feeling as if someone was actually dying, but because we’re so close knit in between crying we tried to make each other laugh which we did quite well really.
‘I guess it’s only of them things when you’re doing something so sombre you need to make light of it, otherwise you go a bit crackers filming a storyline like that.
‘There was a lot of laughs and a lot of tears it was so bizarre, it’s definitely an experience I’ll never forget.’
The British Academy Television Awards will take place on 31 July.
Living room ready: She added that despite being unable to attend the ceremony, she and her former co-stars are still planning to get dressed up (pictured in January at the NTAs)