Coronation Street bosses snap up former EastEnders actress Janet Dibley for Christmas nativity

Coronation Street bosses have signed up former EastEnders favourite Janet Dibley for the festive season.

Weatherfield’s head honchos have apparently snapped up Dibley, who played Lorna Cartwright in EastEnders, to play the head of Bessie Street Primary School.

As headmistress, Dibley’s character Melinda will make her debut at Christmas, working closely with Brian Packham – played by Peter Gunn – on the school’s nativity.

Dibley is currently slated for seven episodes, but could stick around into the New Year.

It is unknown what Melinda will be getting up to on screen, but it should mean more scenes for Brian who recently got back into teaching and even had the special responsibility of running the half term club.

Dibley, 59, first appeared in EastEnders back in 1997 when her character Lorna met Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden, at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

Their friendship turned into a passionate affair behind Phil’s then-wife Kathy’s back and the end of their romance saw a devastated Lorna try to take her own life.

Lorna then returned 18 years later when Phil went to another AA meeting, but this time she was in charge of the session.

Coronation Street airs on ITV, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm