Julie Hesmondhalgh is to star in a new drama about modern homosexual life.
The 44-year-old actress has been cast alongside Freddie Fox and Vincent Franklin in Channel 4's upcoming eight-part series 'Cucumber' - which was first announced last year and is set in Manchester.
The programme will offer a glimpse into the "passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life" and Julie will portray Cleo, the sister of Vincent's character Henry.
Other cast members include Cyril Nri, Fisayo Akinade, Con O'Neill, James Murray and Ceallach Spellman.
'Cucumber' - which is due to air in 2015 - is the new show from screenwriter Russell T Davies who was the creator of 1999 series 'Queer As Folk', which followed the lives of three homosexual men who lived in Manchester's gay village.
Davies was also responsible for bringing 'Doctor Who' back to television in 2005 after a 16-year absence from screens.
Channel 4 is also filming a companion series entitled 'Banana' which will air on E4 and feature the same characters.
'Cucumber' will be Julie's first TV role since she left 'Coronation Street' in January 2014 after playing transsexual factory worker Hayley Cropper for 15 years.
Her moving final scenes which showed Hayley take her own life after deciding she could no longer live with her terminal pancreatic cancer, passing away in the arms of her husband Roy Cropper (David Neilson), were watched by over 10 million viewers.

Emma Stone insists Gwen Stacy is Spider-Man's "equal".
The 25-year-old star plays Peter Parker's love interest in 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' and believes her alter-ego is a "modern day" woman who can take control of her own future.
Talking to screenrant.com, she said: "They were pretty clear that that's what they wanted to--the kind of Gwen that they wanted. At my first audition, that she was going to be his equal and that she was going to be a modern woman.
"But I think especially in the second movie that point is really driven home because she is so willfully putting herself into these situations even though he wants to protect her and keep his distance from her. And she's also, you know her ambitions are strong and she's going off to school and she's carving out her own path with or without Peter."
Asked about whether the 'Wait here and let me protect you!' thing works, Stone replied: "It doesn't really fly with her. Especially when she gets webbed to a car, she's super p***ed."
Stone was delighted to be cast as Stacy for the original 2012 movie since it's an untold story and she was thrilled to reprise her role for the sequel.
She added: "A lot of people didn't know the Gwen Stacy story. I didn't know it before I auditioned to play her, so it was pretty cool being back in it."

Christopher Mintz-Plasse thinks Zac Efron's fans will be surprised by his performance in 'Bad Neighbours'.
The 24-year-old actor stars alongside the 'High School Musical' heartthrob in the upcoming comedy and has confessed he thinks Efron's fans will be surprised to see how well he suits the genre.
Quizzed on how his co-star Seth Rogen and producer Evan Goldberg pushed the boundaries in the film, Mintz-Plasse told Collider: "I think the biggest thing that they did in this, or the biggest stretch or biggest person, was Zac because this is the craziest thing he's ever done.
"Him swearing, making d**k jokes and having sex with girls on screen is the craziest thing he's ever done, and I think people are going to see it and at first they're going to be like, 'Oh, hey, it's Zac', and then I think they're going to realise how hilarious he is and how talented he is."
Mintz-Plasse - who is best known for playing McLovin' in 2007 hit comedy 'Superbad' - admitted that having seen the film, he can't imagine anyone else doing a better job than Efron.
He added: "He's great in this movie. No one else could have done it."

Kiefer Sutherland is dating Sofia Karstens.
The '24: Live Another Day' actor is said to have been spending a lot of time with the 37-year-old actress, including a recent trip to New York, and they are "really happy" with one another.
A source told People: "They are really happy together."
Kiefer was previously married to Camelia Kath - with who he has daughter Sarah and stepdaughter Michelle - and Elizabeth Kelly Winn, while Sofia married Jason London in 2011, but they filed for legal separation in February this year.
Kiefer recently reprised his role as former counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer in '24' spin-off '24: Live Another Day' - which sees his character a fugitive living in the UK - and recently admitted filming left him "bruised and battered".
He said: "I was definitely bruised and battered this time around. Once, I went to open a metal door while being shot at and didn't realise it was a prop. I pulled the door handle off completely and fragments shattered in my face.
"Then a bullet cartridge firing multiple rounds freakishly hit a metal beam and bounced three inches from my face. I had blood pouring out. But, listen, I'd do anything for this character."
And though the actor is much older than when the show first started in 2001, he insists he is in better shape than ever.
He said: "I am older. There's no way around that. But I had the luxury of training for four or five months coming into this, and when we started, I was in the best shape of my life. That helped me bounce back faster."

Drew Barrymore was "really nervous" during her first pregnancy.
The 'Whip It!' actress - who has daughters Olive, 19 months, and two-week-old Frankie with husband Will Kopelman - admits she had a string of concerns when expecting her first child, but did her best not to "bother" other people with her worries.
She told E! News: "The first time I was really nervous the whole time. I definitely chose my battles. I don't like to bother people.
"If it was something important or I was really worried, of course, I would call the doctor. But I was not that patient. I would just panic quietly inside."
The 39-year-old beauty is keen for her children to grow up with a strong work ethic.
She said: "I would really like to raise kids to do summer jobs and intern, and understand that if you are supposed to be somewhere at 3 o'clock, you need to be there at 3 o'clock."
Drew - who is a co-founder of successful production company Flower Films - also admitted to some dislikes about her body but accepts she can't have everything she wants, so is comfortable with her flaws.
Speaking to the new issue of Redbook magazine, she said: "I would love to have long, thin arms. I really would but I don't. I can run a company, so maybe I am just going to have fatter arms and run a company wearing sleeves? That is my balance; nobody gets to have it all.
"I would take wearing sleeves and running a company. Not that running a company is the key to happiness, but while I may not be tall and thin, I am capable."

Tori Spelling's mother admits it was "scary" seeing her "thin" daughter hospitalised.
The 40-year-old reality star - whose marriage problems to Dean McDermott are being documented in 'True Tori' - spent six days in a medical facility last month for undisclosed reasons and Candy Spelling admits some of her daughter's problems were due to dehydration and not eating.
Candy, 68, told 'Entertainment Tonight': "It's very difficult. when you see a child sick, when you see her in the hospital, with tubes in her arms, that's scary for any parent to see.
"She was totally dehydrated. She wasn't eating. She's very thin. It's just that Tori doesn't eat if she's stressed."
Candy helped feed Tori - who has four children, Liam, seven, Stella, five, Hattie, two, and Finn, 20 months, with Dean - while she was in hospital and she was glad to assist her.
She added: "I was feeding her pudding one night, and she's going, 'Oh mommy, I'm so glad that you're here.
"I love when she calls me mommy, because it's always a good thing."
Despite their marriage woes, Dean - who admitted cheating on Tori last year and also endured a stint in rehab - reportedly spent 10 hours a day with his wife while she was in hospital.

Miley Cyrus has refused to perform on 'The Voice' because of Christina Aguilera.
The 'Wrecking Ball' hitmaker reportedly has an intense dislike of the show's coach - who, like Miley, shot to fame as a young Disney star - and even though the 'Fighter' singer is currently on a two-season break from the competition, she won't sing on the show.
A source told RadarOnline.com: "Miley is no friend or supporter of Christina, despite the fact they have a lot in common, including long associations with Disney and using some of same people through the years on their respective business teams.
"Even if Christina has temporarily stepped aside, The Voice is still Christina's show and Miley doesn't want to lift a finger to help that woman."
Show bosses are said to be upset as they are desperate for the former 'Hannah Montana' star to sing on the season finale.
The source said: "Last month 'Voice' bosses made Miley another offer to have her perform on the finale show and Miley said no - and was very clear about her reasons!"
According to the insider, 21-year-old Miley was annoyed with Christina for a tweet she posted about the chaps she wore at a concert in February, believing what was seen by many as praise to be a subtle reminder the 'Dirrty' star had worn the revealing garment first.
Christina wrote alongside a picture of Miley in costume: "Cheers from one dirrty girl to the next @MileyCyrus...wear em' loud & proud, girl-yes! (sic)"
The source said: "Miley couldn't believe Xtina would Tweet about her wearing chaps on stage, reminding everyone that she did it first. It was such a fake compliment and undermined Miley in the process."

Sarah Jessica Parker was all smiles as she left an after-party following the 2014 Met Gala in New York. The 'Sex And The City' star channeled old Hollywood glamour in a black and gold satin gown.

Victoria Beckham was stunning in a white strapless gown as she held hands with her husband David at the 2014 Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Anna Kendrick kept her look simple at the 2014 Met Gala in a monochrome strapless gown. The 'Twilight' star looked picture perfect as she posed for a photo at the event in New York City.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley showcased her supermodel figure in a gladiator-inspired gown as she stepped out at the 2014 Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Emma Roberts stole the show in a little black dress as she arrived at the 'Palo Alto' premiere at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles, California.