Kelli Hollis trades the dales for the cobbles (Picture: ITV)
Former Emmerdale star Kelli Hollis has given us a behind the scenes look at her time filming for Coronation Street.
Kelli, who played Ali Spencer on Emmerdale between 2011 and 2015, is returning to the soap world 11 years after leaving the village. Since then, she’s kept busy with roles on Ackley Bridge, Waterloo Road, and Doctors, proving her versatility across some of British TV’s most loved dramas. Now, she’s set to make a splash next week in Weatherfield with a brand-new, prison-based storyline.
Her character will be one of the inmates at the women’s prison where Debbie Webster is serving time. For those catching up on Corrie drama, Debbie landed behind bars after taking the fall for her secret son Carl, who was driving under the influence the night of the Corriedale multi-vehicle crash.
It’s a tough spot for Debbie, and Kelli’s ‘Queen Bee’ inmate is about to make her life even more complicated.
The actress has taken to TikTok this week to share a variety of clips of her filming on the Corrie set.
The first one is of Kelli in her new dressing room. She said to her followers ‘Why do I get all the glamourous jobs?! Actually looks a lot worse than it does on camera. So far I’ve bumped into about five people I know, which is always really nice, especially when you walk onto a new job. Especially when they work in make-up!’.
Kelli said that she was looking forward to catching up with Ben Driscoll star Aaron McCusker, who she worked with on Shameless.
She also called her old co-star Jane Hazlegrove ‘one of the funniest women you will ever meet’.
The actress shared an insight into her arrival at the studios as well, bringing a cuppa in for someone, and chatting to Tony Maudsley, who plays George Shuttleworth.
Of course, Kelli had to have a wander on the iconic cobbles, and couldn’t believe it when she spotted the Rovers Return for the first time!
Lou is back with a bang (Picture: ITV)
If you’ve been following Debbie’s storyline, you’ll know it’s already full of tension. She’s adjusting to life behind bars, managing her dementia, and recovering from a recent mini-stroke. Add Kelli Hollis’s authoritative inmate to the mix, and it’s clear that prison life in Weatherfield is anything but dull.
Fans can expect some classic soap tension: rivalries, alliances, and a little bit of scheming as Debbie tries to navigate the prison’s social hierarchy. Kelli’s character is being described as a ‘Queen Bee,’ which means she’s bound to cross paths and perhaps clash with Debbie more than once.
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Will they become frenemies, or is this the start of another Corrie disaster? Only time will tell.
Kelli’s joining Corrie 11 years after she left Emmerdale (Picture: PA)
For Kelli, this is a major return to soaps after a significant break from acting.
Her Ali Spencer days in Emmerdale left fans remembering her as a strong, feisty character who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Now, she’s bringing that same energy to Coronation Street, but in a completely different setting.
With the combination of Debbie’s struggles, Lou’s return, and Kelli’s formidable presence, this storyline is shaping up to be explosive.
First published February 6th 2026
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