Coronation Street casts new Bethany after original actress lied about age

Coronation Street's new actress Lucy Fallon with her on-screen family, Gail (grandmother) and David (uncle).

Aoife Kelly

Coronation Street bosses have found a new actress to play Bethany Platt after it emerged their original choice had lied about her age.

Lucy Fallon (19) has bagged the role of 14-year-old Bethany, daughter of Sarah-Louise (Tina O'Brien) and granddaughter of Gail (Helen Worth) and will arrive on the cobbles in late March.

Lucy was given the role after it emerged that the original actress, Katie Redford, had lied about her age, telling producers she was 19 as opposed to her real age of 25.

Her agent later defended the actress saying it is common practice and Katie "went along with what we said".

The character of Bethany was last seen on Corrie in 2007 when she left to live with her mother Sarah-Louise in Italy.

She will return from Milan following a bust-up with her mum and is expected to land on Gail's doorstep.

Sarah-Louise was just 13 when she had Bethany, a storyline which caused a sensation at the time.