Michelle Keegan and Cheryl Cole
Michelle Keegan has said Cheryl Cole is a "normal Northern girl" following working together on a Coronation Street sketch.
The actress, who plays Tina McIntyre in the soap, worked with the 'Call My Name' hitmaker on a Text Santa charity sketch when the brunette singer played her on-screen friend who visited the show's Rover's Return pub, and Michelle was delighted to find out Cheryl is really "down to earth".
Michelle gushed: "Cheryl was so lovely. Straight away I hit it off with her.
"She was so down to earth. She's just a normal Northern girl.
"She made everyone feel very comfortable straight away."
Michelle, whose character in the soap is being killed off this year, said making the decision to leave the show wasn't easy but she's looking forward to filming dramatic scenes as she prepares to close this chapter of her career.
She said: "Obviously it's a bit daunting because 'Corrie' is all I've known since I got into acting, but I'm really excited because it's going to be a massive, explosive ending.
"It's not been an easy decision to make and it's taken a long time for me to say 100 per cent, 'I'm definitely going,' but I've got my head around it now and I know that I made the right decision."
The 26-year-old actress, who is engaged to former 'The Only Way Is Essex' star Mark Wright, plans to spend more time with family before looking at her next career move.
She added to HELLO! magazine: "I'm excited for it now to say goodbye not only to Corrie but to Tina."
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