Glynis Barber joins Hollyoaks

Glynis Barber has joined 'Hollyoaks'.

The 66-year-old star - who is best known for portraying Harriet Makepeace in the police drama 'Dempsey and Makepeace' - has joined the Channel 4 soap as gangster Norma.

She said: "I’m really excited to be playing Norma as she’s an amazing character.

"Formidable, complex and taking on the men and leaving them quaking in their boots.

"The team and cast at 'Hollyoaks' have been incredibly welcoming and I can’t wait to get my teeth into the character."

Norma is out for blood after arriving in the Hollyoaks village driving a hearse and demanding to know who has stolen her money - with Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) and Sienna Blake (Anna Passey) among the suspects.

Glynis is also known for starring in 'EastEnders' as Glenda Mitchell - the mother of Roxy and Ronnie Mitchell (Rita Simons and Samantha Womack) - on and off from 2010 to 2017.

This comes as 'Rebel Cheer Squad' actor Ashling O’Shea has also joined the cast of 'Hollyoaks' as Nadira, the new love interest of Omar Malik (Shaq Qureshi).

Nadira runs a matchmaking site and she is set to form a quick connection with heartbreaker, Shaq, who is now on a quest to find a marital partner.

Ashling said: "Joining 'Hollyoaks' has been such a surreal experience. I’ve grown up watching the show, and their

hard-hitting storylines, so it’s a privilege as an actor to be able to be a part of that legacy.

"Everyone I’ve met so far have been so kind and supportive. At the moment, I’m spending the majority of my time annoying Omar! We clicked from the moment we met and I genuinely feel like I’ve known him for years which is such a bonus as Nadira really has known Shaq for years!

"Their relationship is one of my favourite parts about playing Nadira. She has a huge heart, a sarcastic mouth and a lot going on in her mind right now ... I can’t wait for people to get to know her."

Ashling's first episode on 'Hollyoaks' will stream first on All 4 on March 24th.

Viewers can catch a first glimpse of Nadira in Hollyoaks’ newest spring trailer, which is out now.