ITV Coronation Street fans 'never knew' stars were mum and son in real life

Many fans of the hit ITV show did not know the pair were related

Two stars of Coronation Street are mum and son in real life and many fans had no idea. Over the years, the ITV soap has seen several real-life family members tread the cobbles.

Cousins Brooke Vincent and Ellie Leach have made their names on the soap, while the late Rick Neelan was the real-life brother of footballer Tommy Orpington. And a mum and son both graced the popular street years apart.

Back in 1985, Sue Jenkins joined the cast of the ITV soap as Gloria Todd. She became a regular face on the show as a barmaid at the iconic Rovers Return, Liverpool Echo reports.

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In addition to her Corrie role, Sue portrayed Jackie Corkhill in Brookside for nine years between 1992 and 2001. She also had a stint in five episodes of Emmerdale in 2008 as Bonnie Drinkwater. And her son - Richard Fleeshman - made an appearance on Corrie as Craig Harris.

Richard joined the cast of Coronation Street back in 2002 with his TV family, the Harrises, who were hiding due to the witness protection programme. His character Craig had some significant moments including him turning into a goth and becomming Rosie Webster's love interest.

The drama escalated when Katy Harris, Craig's sister, murdered their father following a heated argument about her clandestine relationship with Martin Platt. Their mother, Angela Harris, attempted to protect Katy, but overwhelmed by guilt, diabetic Katy took her own life by eating sugar.

In the aftermath, Craig planned to flee to Berlin with Rosie but ultimately departed alone, saying goodbye to the cobbles for good in 2006.

One fan was stunned by the relationship. They said om X: "Wow, all this time watching and I never knew that I could see her son in that photo now."

Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency

Child poverty is soaring in Birmingham and without urgent change, will only get worse. Having worked with charities and community groups, BirminghamLive is campaigning for the following changes to start to turn the tide:

1. End the two-child benefit cap
2. Provide free school meals to every child in poverty
3. Create a city “aid bank” for baby and child essentials
4. Protect children’s and youth services
5. Create permanent, multi year Household Support Fund and give more Discretionary Housing grants
6. Set up child health and wellbeing hubs in our most deprived neighbourhoods
7. Appoint a Birmingham child poverty tsar
8. Provide free public travel for young people

You can see why in more detail here.

Read our full report Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency here.

What you can do to help.