Corrie: Spoiler Alert!

Eastenders star will replace Liz behind the bar of The Rovers...

09:26 15 April 2011

Former Eastenders star Michelle Collins and Taggart actor John Michie are set to join the cast of Coronation Street, as new Rovers couple, Stella and Karl.

This news comes following previous landlady Liz's departure from the Street on 14 April.

Stella is brought into the Rovers by Steve McDonald, after a series of arguments with wife Becky leave the pub's future in doubt.

He employs Stella as his new bar manager, but gets more than he bargained for when she moves in her partner Karl and daughter Eva, who is yet to be cast.

However, the new addition has a dark secret and it won't be long before the truth gets out about the Street's new resident.

The soap's executive producer, Kieran Roberts, said:

"I'm thrilled to be welcoming John and Michelle to the cast of Coronation Street.

"Michelle's acting credentials are first class with more than a decade leading some brilliant and memorable drama series.

"I am certain she is going to be fantastic as the warm, funny, steely, flawed and larger-than-life northern matriarch Stella."

Michelle is best-known for her role as Cindy Beale in Eastenders and John has played DI Robbie Ross in Taggart since 1998.

The pair will be making their first appearance on our screens in June.