Coronation Street viewers do a double take as My Parents Are Aliens star looks unrecognisable as deputy headmistress Orla Crawshaw
Coronation Street fans were stunned when they twigged Weatherfield High’s new deputy headmistress is being played by an iconic children’s TV star.
Actress Carla Mendonca looked a far cry from her My Parents Are Aliens character Sophie Johnson as she appeared on viewers’ TV screens.
Playing Daniel Osbourne’s stern boss, Orla Crawshaw, Carla showed off her acting credentials as she transformed into the deputy head.
Blast from the past: Coronation Street fans were stunned when they twigged Weatherfield High’s new deputy headmistress is being played by an iconic children’s TV star
In scenes which unfolded on the soap on Tuesday night, Orla held a meeting after David Platt accused Daniel of assault, after the teacher took his son Max’s bag to search for a stolen wallet.
David pushed for Daniel to get the sack, and as tensions rose, the deputy headteacher firmly told them: ‘Boys will you calm down’.
Carla’s grey highlighter hair was long and had a fringe- a stark contrast to the fiery red locks she wore on the children’s show.
Taking to Twitter, viewers reminisced on Carla’s character Sophie, which she played on the CITV children’s sitcom from 2001 to 2006.
Iconic! Actress Carla Mendonca looked a far cry from her My Parents Are Aliens character Sophie Johnson as she appeared on viewers TV screens (pictured 2001)
Unrecognisable: Playing Daniel Osbourne’s stern boss, Orla Crawshaw, Carla showed off her acting credentials as she transformed into the deputy head
One wrote: ‘Still makes me laugh that Sophie from My Parents Are Aliens is in Corrie’.
While another fan chimed: ‘Haha I recognised her face straight away but couldn’t place her! It’s the hair, it threw me off.’
‘Sophie from My Parents Are Aliens is a cow in Corrie!,’ a third viewer typed.
A fourth added: ‘I can’t watch that school headmistress on Corrie without thinking of My Parents Are Aliens’
‘Did I just see the mum from My Parents Are Aliens in Corrie,’ wrote another.
Nostalgic: Taking to Twitter, viewers reminisced on Carla’s character Sophie, which she played on the CITV children’s sitcom from 2001 to 2006
Meanwhile Bill Roache and Michael Le Vell have reportedly landed ‘big-money’ deals to keep them on the ITV soap.
Veteran actor Bill, 89, has played Ken Barlow since the very first episode in 1960, while Michael, 57, has portrayed Kevin Webster since 1983.
And in news that will no doubt delight soap fans, the stars are said to have signed a new contract to keep them in Weatherfield for at least another year, with a source stating: ‘The show wouldn’t be the same without them.’
Here to stay: Meanwhile Bill Roache (pictured) and Michael Le Vell have reportedly landed ‘big-money’ deals to keep them on the ITV soap
An insider told The Sun: ‘They’re both hugely popular with fans so bosses were keen to sign them up for another year on the soap.
‘The fact they’ve both taken the big-money deal is a huge relief to everyone – the show wouldn’t be the same without them.’
The publication suggests that show bosses are keen to keep the soap legends on the show following the news that Brooke Vincent had quit after 17 years of playing Michael’s on-screen daughter Sophie Webster.
MailOnline have contacted Coronation Street representatives for comment.
Staying put: Michael, 57, has portrayed Kevin Webster since 1983