‘Coronation Street’ are to recast the role of Bethany Platt after deciding to axe actress Katie Redford from the role.
Katie had been chosen to portray the returning character but following the revelation she is 25 and not 19 bosses have fired her from the soap for being too old to play the teenager.
A spokesperson for the programme said: "’Coronation Street’ has taken the decision to recast the part of Bethany Platt."
Katie had only been announced as the new Bethany by ITV last week and had not shot any scenes on the cobbles yet.
After she was described as 19, many examples of proof of her real age were posted on the internet, with one online CV stating her date of birth as March 2, 1989. Katie’s Twitter username had previously been ‘katieredford89’ before being changed to her current handle ‘Katieredfordtlc’.
The search for a new Bethany will start straight away as the 14-year-old character and her mother Sarah-Louise Platt are due for a major storyline on their return in the spring.
It is believed that bosses already have another actress in mind for the part.
Before her departure in 2007, Bethany had been played by three different child actresses – Mia Cookson, Amy Walton and her sister Emily Walton.
Tina O’Brien is returning as Sarah-Louise after seven years away from Weatherfield and she cannot wait to rejoin her soap family.
She previously said: "I am delighted to be returning. Sarah has a lot of history and unfinished business on the street and I’m looking forward to finding out what she’s been up to and why she’s returned home."
Coronation Street bosses to recast role of Bethany Platt
