Kym Marsh cast in Coronation Street musical

Coronation Street star Kym Marsh has joined the cast of Street Of Dreams, the musical based on the soap, which is due to premiere in Manchester next month.

According to the Sunday Mirror Kym - who plays Michelle Connor - will take on the role of legendary character Elsie Tanner, who was originally played by actress Pat Phoenix.

And she will join a cast which includes Corrie legends Julie Goodyear (Bet Lynch), Kevin Kennedy (Curly Watts) and William Roache, aka Ken Barlow.

"It's a big ask, especially as her fiance is in LA at the moment, but Kym is looking forward to getting back to her first love, which was always singing, and has decided she will put in the extra hours," a source told the paper.

"Elsie is one of the main characters so it was vital to get someone strong."

Elsie Tanner was one of the show's original characters, appearing from 1960-1973 and then again from 1976-1984. Pat Phoenix, who died in 1986, was recently played by Jessie Wallace in the BBC Four drama The Road To Coronation Street.