Coronation Street stars turned out in force to support their former castmate Mollie Gallagher as she made her stage debut in Salford, weeks after her final scenes aired on the ITV soap.
Gallagher, who played Nina Lucas for almost seven years, bowed out of the show at the end of August. She first appeared on screen in November 2019 as the niece of Roy Cropper, taken in by her uncle after her father Richard Lucas died.
Emotional exit and new stage role
In her final scenes, filmed six and a half years into her Weatherfield stint, Nina said an emotional farewell to Roy and her friends after deciding to move to Whitby for a dream job at an art gallery.
The exit was written into the programme after Gallagher decided to leave Corrie to make her stage debut as Clarice Starling in the UK and Ireland tour of The Silence of the Lambs.
Castmates show support at The Lowry
This week, the soap star is back in Salford, bringing the iconic character to The Lowry stage, a stone's throw from the famous Corrie set. Sharing a photo on Instagram earlier this week, she wrote: "Hi Salford. She is home and ready for the stage."
On Tuesday evening (October 6), David Neilson, who plays Roy Cropper, Jane Danson, who plays Leanne Battersby, and Samia Longchambon, who stars as Maria Windass, headed to the Salford theatre to watch Gallagher in her new role.
Five-star reviews from co-stars
Following the play, Longchambon took to Instagram and said: "Take a bow @mollie.gallagher_ you were amazing!!" She added her own five-star review: "Go see @the_lowry #silenceofthelambs. The whole cast are incredible."
Tony Maudsley, who plays George Shuttleworth, also showed his support, posting a photo of Gallagher as Clarice and telling followers: "The Corrie cast were out in force tonight to cheer on our girl @mollie.gallagher_ who's storming it as Clarice Starling in SILENCE OF THE LAMBS!! Made us all so proud! At The Lowry Manchester till Saturday, then coming to a town near you! GO SEE!" Gallagher responded: "Ohhh Tony, thank you so so much, it really meant a lot. So good to see you and I'll [see] you soon."
Former on-screen partner Tanisha Gorey, who plays Asha Alahan, shared: "The BEST ever ever ever. So unbelievably proud of our @mollie.gallagher_" Gallagher replied: "Gosh, love you so much T."
