Gabrielle Glaister is poised to return to Coronation Street after two decades away, according to ITV. This time, the Brookside and Blackadder actress will portray Bernie Winter’s (Jane Hazlegrove) doppelganger. Corrie actress Jane Hazlegrove is said to have suggested casting her as a doppelganger, because she is often confused with Glaister on the street. According to Metro, Hazlegrove pitched the plot to writer Jonathan Harvey, who then expanded it. Fern, played by Gabrielle Glaister, will be known for her dark jokes and unusual fashion sense.
Brookside Legend Gabrielle Glaister’s First Coronation Street Scenes Revealed in Surprising Twin Story #corrie https://t.co/7drnjqaIxL pic.twitter.com/xDcOPF2Ryr
— Soap Land Glory (@SoapLandGlory) August 15, 2022
What role did Gabrielle Glaister previously play in Coronation Street?
Gabrielle Glaister was previously seen on Coronation Street from February 6 to November 10, 2000. She played Debs Brownlow, who left Natalie Horrocks’ (Denise Welch) boyfriend Vinny Sorrell (Ian Kelsey) after breaking up with Duggie Ferguson (John Bowe). . In the episode, Debs Brownlow played Natalie Horrocks’ esthetician sister. She stayed with her for nine months, working as a hairdresser in Audrey’s salon. Gabrielle Glaister was happy to join the ensemble and work with Denise Welch, aka her sister Natalie, when she landed the part of Debs at the time. She stated:
“I’m a huge Coronation Street fan and I’m excited to be working with Denise.” I just hope it doesn’t ruin my viewing experience because then I know what’s going to happen.”
This time, however, she won’t be reprising her role as Debs, instead playing a completely different character known as Fern. While discussing a future story that would have been ideal for Jane and Gabrielle, the former said it was the similarity in their appearance that prompted her to reintroduce Gabrielle Glaister to the ensemble. She said, according to Entertainment Daily:
“People often mistake Gabby and me for each other and say they saw one of us in something when it was the other… We’ve joked about it a lot, but I thought maybe it would be funny to have her on the program as Bernie’s hidden twin or doppelgänger.”
Gabrielle further expressed her joy by explaining how other artists in the field sometimes mistake her for Jane. She mentioned:
“For years and years Jane and I were mistaken for each other. Jane insisted on being in Brookside while I insisted on being in Casualty! Or people applauding me at a performance I didn’t have because Jane was fantastic.”
Learn more about Gabrielle Glaister’s return as an actress
Gabrielle can be seen in one of the photos in a vibrant tie-dye shirt with a pink jacket and in another photo a bright blue jacket with a gray t-shirt. According to The Daily Mail, Gabrielle was seen in one of the photos with a large black backpack wearing blue medical gloves!
Spoiler alert: In the new episode, Bernie is accused of stealing from Fern, after which the two entertain the audience with their excellent acting skills. Gabrielle also said she is “having a great time” working with her longtime colleague and friend Jane.
