Coronation Street star Jenny McAlpine has revealed that her three children have links to the ITV soap, which she joined as iconic character Fiz Brown back in 2001

Coronation Street star Jenny McAlpine has opened up about her 23 years on the ITV soap – and how her time as Fiz Brown made an impact when it came to naming her three children.

The 40 year old shares three kids with husband Chris Farr, who she began dating in 2005 before tying the knot 12 years later. The couple welcomed son Albert in 2014, Hilda in 2018 and Doris last year.

When appearing on Good Morning Britain to chat about her time on the ITV soap, Jenny was asked by host Kate Garraway whether she purposefully named her kids after Corrie characters. “Doris, Hilda and Albert – they feel like very Corrie names,” Kate said. “Was that conscious?”

Jenny responded: “I know, I can’t quite escape it, can I? I’m a massive Corrie fan and I’m a Manchester girl so every name we thought of I thought, ‘That has got to Corrie link so we’ve got to go with it,'”

However, she added that she didn’t set out to name her kids after Corrie legends. “We didn’t purposefully do it but I’m very happy that they’re connected,” she said.

Coronation Street fans will remember the iconic character of Albert Tatlock on the cobbles, who was played by Tony Warren from 1960 until the actor’s death aged 88 in 1984. Meanwhile, Rovers Return cleaner Hilda Ogden was also a big character in the early days of the soap, being played by Jean Alexander from 1964 until 1987.

As for the name Doris, Corrie fans will never forget original cast member Doris Speed, who played the role of Rovers Return landlady Annie Walker on the soap until 1983. She passed away 11 years later aged 95.

Jenny McAlpine joined Coronation Street back in 2001 as a 16 year old Fiz Brown, a troubled teenager fostered by Roy (David Neilson) and Hayler Cropper (Julie Hesmondhalgh). She went onto be involved in huge soap storylines, such as her marriage to murderer John Stape (Graeme Hawley), the premature birth of their daughter Hope and her relationship with Tyrone (Alan Halsall).

On being recognised by Corrie fans out in public, “I love Corrie and I’m happy to chat to people about Corrie, but in Manchester where I live, people are sick of seeing me. And hopefully where I live, I’m Albert and Hilda and Doris’ mum. That’s me,” she said.

She added: “And definitely for Albert, I am in no way impressive or famous. If I was in the starting 11 for England or Manchester United, it would be different but he’s not impressed with me at all.”

Good Morning Britain airs on weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.