Coronation Street: Sarah Harding revealed as summer guest star

Ex-Girls Aloud member, Sarah Harding has been announced as the newest face to starring in UK soap opera Coronation Street.

The ITV soap took to Twitter to announce its new cast member to fans of the show and despite many people thinking the news was an April Fools' trick, ITV later confirmed that she would indeed be walking the cobbles for four episodes, sometime this summer.

Details surrounding her exact storyline are still unknown but Corrie producer Stuart Blackburn revealed that "the viewers are in for a treat as her character will be right at the heart of a massive new story for the Barlows". She will supposedly enter the show as a "feisty character" who will act as a direct rival of long-offending troublemaker, Tracey Barlow.

Despite it being established that in the meantime this is just a guest role, the possibility for her character's return has not been ruled out says ITV. With Danny Dyer in Eastenders leading the way for famous faces joining soap-operas for long stints, will Harding be the next one to make the transition into daily serials?

It appears that if the 33-year-old had her way, she would. The singer is thrilled at landing the guest appearance stating: "I am extremely excited to be joining Coronation Street. As a fan of the show it is a huge honour for me to join the cast. I can't wait to get started!"

Originally, Harding rose to fame on Popstars: The Rivals, in 2002 and has since dabbled into acting during her time off from being a music artist when Girls Aloud went into their three year hiatus. She honed her acting skills in both the first St. Trinian's movie and its sequel, BBC satire film Freefall and independent movie, Bad Day.

Harding isn't the first Popstars celebrity to feature on the street. Kym Marsh, who plays barmaid Michelle Connor (and has done for nearly a decade) also came from the same talent show back in the early 2000s but started her soap career a lot earlier, in 2006.

Harding will start filming for Coronation Street in May.