Denise Welch

Jacqueline Denise Welch (born 22 May 1958) is an English actress, television personality, writer and broadcaster. Her roles include Natalie Barnes in ''Coronation Street'' (1997–2000), Steph Haydock in '' Waterloo Road'' (2006–2010), and Trish Minniver in ''Hollyoaks'' (2021–2022). Welch also appears as a regular panellist on the ITV chat show ''Loose Women'' (2005–2013, 2018–present).

Welch's other acting roles include the television dramas ''Spender'' (1991–1993), ''Soldier Soldier'' (1993–1995), and '' Down to Earth'' (2004–2005). In 2011, she was a contestant on the sixth series of ''Dancing on Ice'', where she was partnered with professional skater Matt Evers. In 2012, Welch won the ninth series of ''Celebrity Big Brother''.

Early life

Jacqueline Denise Welch was born in Tynemouth, North Tyneside on 22 May 1958. She has a younger sister, Debbie. Welch attended Bygate School in Whitley Bay, and La Sagesse School in Newcastle upon Tyne, before moving to Ebchester, County Durham at the age of 13, where she attended Blackfyne Grammar School in Consett and passed five GCE exams. She developed a penchant for acting at the age of 14 after being cast in a school production of '' Finian's Rainbow''. At the age of 17, she contemplated going to a teacher training college in Crewe; however, her father and her drama teacher suggested she apply for the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London. Welch was successful in her application, and graduated in 1979, gaining her Equity Card while teaching dance at the Watford Palace Theatre.

Career

Acting

Welch became an actress straight after leaving school, aged 12. She performed on stage in London in ''Yakkety-Yak'' with the McGann brothers at the Astoria Theatre in 1983, and later joined the Live Theatre Company, Newcastle, where she featured in many productions, including ''There's a Girl in My Soup'', and an Alan Ayckbourn quartet of plays, including ''Bedroom Farce''. She also played the role of Sandy in the musical '' Grease'' at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester, in 1984.

Her first television appearance was in the Tyne Tees Television production '' Barriers'' in 1981. A few years later, she appeared in ITV's hit drama ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet'' (1986), following this with roles in the children's television show ''Byker Grove'' (1990–1991), ''A Kind of Living'' (1988), the Catherine Cookson adaptation ''The Glass Virgin'' (1995), and appearing opposite Jimmy Nail in BBC's ''Spender'' (1991–1993).

In 1993, Welch became a household name when she was cast as Marsha Stubbs in ITV's drama series ''Soldier Soldier''. Owing to her success in the series, she released a double-A side single in 1995, coupling "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" (a cover of the Dusty Springfield hit) with " Cry Me a River" (a standard popularised by Julie London), which reached number 23 in the UK Singles Chart.

Welch gained even wider notability in 1997, when she was cast as Natalie Horrocks in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. Natalie was introduced as a divorcee who soon became the mistress of Kevin Webster (played by Michael Le Vell), the husband of Sally Webster. Kevin and Sally were one of the show's longest-running couples, and had two children. Originally portrayed as a femme fatale, Natalie rose to respectability by becoming landlady of the soap's famous public house, The Rovers Return. In 2000, the ''Coronation Street'' producers wanted Welch to perform a storyline involving Natalie having a miscarriage, but she refused, saying that the character had already lost her husband and son. However, Welch, who was expecting a baby the same year, decided to leave the serial. At the time, Welch commented, "I am looking forward to being a mum again and spending some time with my baby and am relishing the prospect of new challenges in my career." A spokesperson for Granada TV commented, "The character ataliewill be gone as she moves to somewhere new, we wish Denise well both for the birth of her baby and for her future career."

In 2002, Welch guest-starred in ITV's '' Where the Heart Is'', and the BBC
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