Jean Alexander’s family got in touch with Jennie McAlpine to congratulate her when her daughter Hilda was born.
The ‘Coronation Street’ star has kids Albert and Hilda, who fans have speculated could be named after cobbles legends Albert Tatlock (Jack Howarth) and Hilda Ogden (Jean), and while Jennie admitted the names were both chosen because they are family monikers, Jean’s niece got in touch with Jennie.
The Fiz Stape actress said: "’Coronation Street’ is very special to me. They are both family names, so that was the reason.
"But what was lovely, the fabulous Jean Alexander, who played Hilda Ogden, her niece got in touch with me when [my daughter] Hilda was born to let me know that her birthday month is the same as Jean’s birthday month.
"And it was the month she sadly died in. It was really nice, I loved that."
‘Corrie’ is to return to six episodes per week from Monday (14.09.20), after the soap’s weekly output was reduced amid the coronavirus pandemic, but Jennie isn’t sure how the cast and crew have managed it.
Speaking on ‘Lorraine’, she added: "I don’t quite know how we’ve managed that, but this Monday coming it’ll be six episodes a week.
"People need their ‘Corrie’."
Kym Marsh – who played Michelle Connor on the soap – previously admitted she thought Hilda was a "cute name" after Jennie revealed her daughter’s moniker.
She said: "I’m not sure if she named her after iconic ‘Corrie’ character Hilda Ogden or not, but it’s a cute name."