By Jessica Sansome
Coronation Street star Georgia Taylor has joked about what wasn’t her character’s ‘finest hour’ on the cobbles in a ‘forgotten’ soap throwback. The actress is best known for playing Toyah Habeeb – nee Battersby – in the ITV soap. She first arrived on the cobbles at just 17 years old, back in 1997, along with Janice and Les Battersby and Les’s daughter Leanne. Their arrival on the famous street came after it was announced the ‘family from hell’ were to be introduced to the hit soap to stir up some trouble in Weatherfield. Toyah later left the Street in 2003 after finding out that her boyfriend John Arnley had cheated on her with her best friend Maria Sutherland, leading Georgia to take on a few other acting roles. Get all the latest Corrie gossip and spoilers in our newsletter here The soap star, from Wigan , joined the cast of Casualty as doctor Ruth Winters in 2007 and she was a series regular until 2011. She also made appearances in Where the Heart is, Law and Order: UK and Life on Mars. In 2005 she took to the stage at the Royal Court in London alongside Helen Baxendale for The Woman Before along with performing in Christmas is Miles Away at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester and Bush Theatre, London. But not many people will know that Georgia also bagged herself a few movie roles. According to the Daily Star Her film career has seen her working alongside Dominic Cooper in the 2006 movie History Boys and Jason Statham in 2008 for The Bank Job. Then, in September 2016 after a 13-year absence, Toyah’s comeback to the cobbles was announced and she made an explosive return at Christmas when it was revealed that she had left her husband of five years Toby Chapman for Peter Barlow, Leanne’s ex-husband. The rest, as they say, is history and Toyah has had a rollercoaster nine years back on the cobbles. But it appears Georgia thinks one thing from Toyah’s past can easily be forgotten. Taking to Instagram, she was sharing her own soap memories as part of a new ‘International Soap Week’ organised by the team behind Conversation Street, the long-running Coronation Street podcast. Kicking off on Monday (July 7), fans share their soap memories, with some soap stars, including Georgia, getting involved themselves. She took to Instagram with a picture of the Rovers Return sign when Toyah was landlady of the famous boozer. Alongside the post, she explained: “@conversationstreet here’s my post for #soapstartermonday #soapweek Who remembers when Toyah was (arguably the worst) landlady of The Rovers? Nope? Probably for the best. Not my finest hour.” She added: “Anyway I nabbed this sign because let’s be honest nobody else would want it. Join in and share your earliest soap memories/how you became a soap fan/pics of any cool merch or souvenirs you’ve collected. Use the above hashtags.” Corrie co-star Andy Whyment, who is famed for playing Kirk Sutherland in the ITV soap, was among those to respond to Georgia’s post, as he simply said: “Love that.” Her followers were also quick to comment, sharing their thoughts as well as memories. @simonereddington_ said: “Unpopular opinion but i actually loved Toyah’s landlady era with her, Peter, Leanne and Eva running the rovers.” @lilysscottt commented: “This is greatly iconic.” @swarlasmvlti admitted: “Thought this was you announcing you were going to be the Rovers landlady again for a second. I really need to start reading captions first hahah.” @tasha.field.levene posted: “Oh yeah, you were with alcoholic Peter Barlow running a boozer, and you were planning on buying Eva’s baby and passing her off as your own. That was a crazy time in Corrie, although arguably more normal than Corrie these days.” @hughesjg74 added: “I wouldn’t say the “worst”. Possibly the most “unexpected”? But not the worst. There was… You know… Thingy. Her! She was the worst. Fab bit of memorabilia, Georgia. And, to be fair, you’re one one of a very select group who has managed the Rovers. Be proud!”