Vicky Entwistle

Vicky Entwistle
Born
Victoria Entwistle

(1968-09-15) 15 September 1968 (age 56)
Accrington, Lancashire, England
OccupationActress
Years active1996–present
Known forRole of Janice Battersby in Coronation Street[1]
TelevisionCoronation Street (1997–2011)
Celebrity Big Brother (2013)
Ackley Bridge (2018)
Spouse
Steven Chapman
​
(m. 2008)​

Victoria Entwistle (born 15 September 1968) is an English actress. She is known for portraying the role of Janice Battersby in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.

Early life

Entwistle grew up in Accrington; her father owned a newsagent's in Clayton-le-Moors.[2] She attended Rhyddings High School in Oswaldtwistle, and at the age of sixteen, she commuted to Blackpool to study drama, whilst working nights at a local supermarket.[2] For some time, she worked as a Bluecoat entertainer at Pontin's in Devon before she won a scholarship to attend Drama Centre London, from which she graduated in 1991.[2]

Career

Entwistle returned to the stage as Hanna in Merlin before gaining the role of Amy in BBC's Our Tune. Entwistle then played Maxine Graham in Like A Virgin, and was spotted by Granada Television casting director Judy Hayfield. She was offered the role of machinist Janice Lee in Coronation Street and made her on-screen debut on 6 January 1997. She also starred in an episode of The Bill in 1997. The following month, Entwistle was told that she would be playing the mother of the Battersbys.

On 2 August 2010, Entwistle's departure after fourteen years on the show was confirmed. Soap bosses said the actress "agonised" over her decision, but decided the show's fiftieth anniversary year was the right time to say goodbye.[3]

Since leaving Coronation Street, Entwistle has worked on the stage. She starred as the Wicked Queen in Blackpool's 2011 production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and in 2012 toured in Funny Peculiar, an award-winning play by Mike Stott, with Suzanne Shaw, Craig Gazey, Dominic Cazenove and Gemma Bissix.[4]

From January to August 2013, she played the role of Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables on the West End.

On 22 August 2013, Vicky entered the Celebrity Big Brother house along with former on-screen husband, Bruce Jones to compete in the twelfth series. She was paid £150,000.[5]

From 13 December 2017 until 7 January 2018, Entwistle appeared in the Christmas pantomime Sleeping Beauty at the Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl, North Wales. She played the character Carrabosse which she has also played in Llandudno Pantomime in 2013.[6]

Personal life

In January 2001, Entwistle was arrested after allegedly head-butting a fan of Coronation Street.[7][8] The charges against her were dropped.[9]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1997–2011 Coronation Street Janice Battersby Series regular; 1557 episodes
1997 The Bill Sophie Edghill Episode: "A Policeman's Lot"
1999 Coronation Street: Through the Keyhole Janice Battersby Coronation Street spin-off
2013 Celebrity Big Brother Herself 26 episodes
Big Brother's Bit on the Side 17 episodes
2017 Father Brown Frances Whittaker Episode: "The Eagle and The Daw"
2018 Ackley Bridge Sandra Turner[10] Recurring role; 2 episodes
2019 Holby City Sandra Jackson Episode: "Sandra's Choice"

Stage

References

  1. ^ Padman, Tony (20 May 2017). "Where is she now: Coronation's Street actress Vicky Entwistle who played Janice Battersby". Express.co.uk.
  2. ^ a b c Vicky Entwistle biography. Corrie.net (6 January 1997). Retrieved on 26 August 2011.
  3. ^ "Battersby actress to quit Corrie". 2 August 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  4. ^ Craig Gazey, Dominic Cazenove, Wayne Anthony and Community Champions at bbc.co.uk, accessed 10 June 2012
  5. ^ "Celebrity Big Brother fees: the highest paid housemates ever! And the lowest…". Heat. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  6. ^ Duke, Simon (11 December 2016). "Vicky Entwistle's vampish villain is Sleeping Beauty's sinister star". ChronicleLive.
  7. ^ Street star arrested. BBC News (22 January 2001). Retrieved on 26 August 2011.
  8. ^ News, Manchester Evening (17 February 2007). "Corrie star's 'headbutt apology'". Manchester Evening News. {{cite news}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ "Whatever happened to Coronation Street's Vicky Entwistle?". CelebsNow. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  10. ^ Harp, Justin (5 June 2018). "Ackley Bridge fans shocked by 'Janice Battersby' cameo". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  11. ^ "The Importance of Being Earnest | What's On | Octagon Theatre Bolton". octagonbolton.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2019.