Vicky Entwistle
Encyclopedia
Vicky Entwistle is an English actress who is most famous for playing the role of "loudmouth" factory worker Janice Battersby
in ITV1
's long-running soap opera Coronation Street
.
Entwistle grew up in Accrington; her father owned a newsagents shop in Clayton-le-Moors
. She attended the Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School in Oswaldtwistle
, and at the age of 16 she commuted to Blackpool
to study drama while working nights at a local supermarket. For a time, she worked as a "bluecoat" entertainer at Pontin's
in Devon before she was accepted on scholarship to attend Drama Centre London, from which she graduated in 1992.
Vicky returned to the stage as Hanna in Merlin before gaining the role of Amy in BBC's Our Tune. When not acting, Vicky lived off the dole but took part time jobs as a cleaner and helped out in her parents shop. Vicky then played Madonna freak Maxine Graham in Like A Virgin and was spotted by Granada Television casting director Judy Hayfield. She was offered the role of machinist Janice Lee in Coronation Street and made her debut on 6 January 1997. She also starred in an episode of The Bill in 1997. The following month, Vicky was told that she would become the mother of the street's new family The Battersby's and was introduced to fellow actors Bruce Jones, Jane Danson and Georgia Taylor. Soon Vicky found herself swamped by fans where ever she went and found it hard to accept. She once even locked herself inside a toilet in a restaurant because she was so stressed from fans approaching her. In 1998 Vicky had a catfight in a Manchester hotel off-screen with Tina Hobley
who played Samantha Failsworth in Coronation Street after Hobley made comments about her lipstick.
In January 2001, Entwistle was arrested after allegedly head-butting a fan of Coronation Street. The charges against her were dropped, and she considered leaving acting after the accusations led to her arrest; in an interview with the Daily Mail, she described the incident as an accident, involving a cuddle from an overeager fan and a height difference (Entwistle is 5' tall).
Vicky married Andrew Chapman on 7 December 2002 in Manchester Town Hall. Among the wedding guest's were Bruce Jones
, Georgia Taylor
, Jane Danson
, Denise Welch
, Angela Lonsdale
, Charles Dale
, Gaynor Faye
, Jacqueline Chadwick, Naomi Radcliffe
, Julie Hesmondhalgh
, Liz Dawn, Suranne Jones
, Sue Cleaver
, Jennie McAlpine
, Naomi Russell
& Tracy Shaw
.
In early 2005, programme bosses announced that Entwistle's character was to be dropped from the show at the end of the year. However, following the appointment of a new producer (Steve Frost
) at the end of 2005, it was revealed that Entwistle had been granted a "reprieve" and that her character would remain in the programme for the foreseeable future.
In 2010 Vicky's husband Andrew Chapman was arrested for punching a fan who asked her for an autograph. The alleged incident took place on 12 April at Salford Crescent station, Greater Manchester, on board a Manchester
to Clitheroe
train. Police arrested Chapman at the scene and he was later charged. On 24 November 2010 Chapman was convicted and fined for his actions.
It was confirmed on 2 August 2010 that Vicky Entwislte is to leave the show after thirteen years. Soap bosses said the actress "agonised" over her decision, but decided the show's 50th anniversary year was the right time to say goodbye.
Vicky said: "Corrie means so much to me and I could easily have continued to play Janice for the rest of my acting career. But I've been thinking of leaving for some time, and couldn't deny those feelings. I've a hankering to do other drama projects and so if I don't make this move now I never will."
miss the great friends I've made during my time in Coronation Street, but I know we'll stay in touch and I'm grateful to be part of the show's 50th anniversary as it's a huge landmark in British television."
Producer Phil Collinson said: "When she first appeared on screen in 1997, Janice Battersby caused a stir and has continued to do so ever since. Vicky created a strong and uncompromising battleaxe with a heart of gold lurking underneath – in the true tradition of great Coronation Street women. She'll be missed by us all and we wish her well."
Entwistle, originally having become known for being, in her words, "the fat ugly one from Corrie", lost over three stone (42 lbs.) and ended up keeping two-and-a-half stone (35 lbs.) off, transforming from a size 16 to a 6. She later released an exercise self-help DVD, Vicky's WOW! Weight Off Workout, in 2006.
Janice Battersby
Janice Bernadette Battersby is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Vicky Entwistle, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 6 January 1997....
in ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
's long-running soap opera Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
.
Entwistle grew up in Accrington; her father owned a newsagents shop in Clayton-le-Moors
Clayton-le-Moors
Clayton-le-Moors is a township in Hyndburn in Lancashire, England. The town is locally referred to as 'Clayton'. To the west lies Rishton, to the north Great Harwood, and two miles to the south, Accrington. Clayton-le-Moors is situated on the A680 road alongside the M65 motorway.-Description:It is...
. She attended the Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School in Oswaldtwistle
Oswaldtwistle
Oswaldtwistle is a town within the Hyndburn borough of Lancashire, England. It lies on the course of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, east-southeast of Blackburn and is contiguous to Accrington.-History:...
, and at the age of 16 she commuted to Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
to study drama while working nights at a local supermarket. For a time, she worked as a "bluecoat" entertainer at Pontin's
Pontin's
Pontins is a British holiday business which was originally founded in 1946 by Fred Pontin. It specialises in offering half-board and self-catering holidays with regular entertainment on offer. Accommodation is usually in the form of chalets. The company once grew to be a major operator of...
in Devon before she was accepted on scholarship to attend Drama Centre London, from which she graduated in 1992.
Vicky returned to the stage as Hanna in Merlin before gaining the role of Amy in BBC's Our Tune. When not acting, Vicky lived off the dole but took part time jobs as a cleaner and helped out in her parents shop. Vicky then played Madonna freak Maxine Graham in Like A Virgin and was spotted by Granada Television casting director Judy Hayfield. She was offered the role of machinist Janice Lee in Coronation Street and made her debut on 6 January 1997. She also starred in an episode of The Bill in 1997. The following month, Vicky was told that she would become the mother of the street's new family The Battersby's and was introduced to fellow actors Bruce Jones, Jane Danson and Georgia Taylor. Soon Vicky found herself swamped by fans where ever she went and found it hard to accept. She once even locked herself inside a toilet in a restaurant because she was so stressed from fans approaching her. In 1998 Vicky had a catfight in a Manchester hotel off-screen with Tina Hobley
Tina Hobley
Tina Hobley is an English actress.-Early life:Very shy as a child, Hobley was sent to speech and drama classes in an attempt to counter her introversion...
who played Samantha Failsworth in Coronation Street after Hobley made comments about her lipstick.
In January 2001, Entwistle was arrested after allegedly head-butting a fan of Coronation Street. The charges against her were dropped, and she considered leaving acting after the accusations led to her arrest; in an interview with the Daily Mail, she described the incident as an accident, involving a cuddle from an overeager fan and a height difference (Entwistle is 5' tall).
Vicky married Andrew Chapman on 7 December 2002 in Manchester Town Hall. Among the wedding guest's were Bruce Jones
Bruce Jones
Ian Roy Jones is an English actor, best known for his role as cab driver Les Battersby-Brown in Coronation Street. He left the role in 2007. His real name is Ian Roy Jones, but he took the name of his father for professional purposes.-Early life:Jones was born to Bruce and Irene Jones in...
, Georgia Taylor
Georgia Taylor
Georgia Taylor is an English actress, known for her role as Toyah Battersby in Coronation Street and currently for playing Ruth Winters on Casualty. She was born in Wigan, Greater Manchester....
, Jane Danson
Jane Danson
Jane Danson is an English actress, most famous for playing the role of Leanne Battersby in Coronation Street.-Acting:...
, Denise Welch
Denise Welch
Jacqueline Denise Healy is an English actress, dancer and television presenter.-Early life:Denise Welch was born in Ebchester, County Durham, to father Vin and mother Ann and has a younger sister Debbie...
, Angela Lonsdale
Angela Lonsdale
Angela Lonsdale , is an English actress.Born to a policeman father, Lonsdale's passion for acting was showcased in the Brewery Youth Theatre at the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal. Working behind the box office, Lonsdale's talent was nurtured by the then Arts Centre Director, Anne Pierson...
, Charles Dale
Charles Dale
Charles Dale is a Welsh actor who is well known for playing Dennis Stringer in Coronation Street, Gary "Chef" Alcock in The Lakes and Clive Eustace in The Eustace Bros.....
, Gaynor Faye
Gaynor Faye
Gaynor Faye is an English actress. She is famous for playing the role of Judy Mallett in the British soap opera Coronation Street from 1995 until 1999...
, Jacqueline Chadwick, Naomi Radcliffe
Naomi Radcliffe
Naomi Radcliffe is an English actress. She was born in Oldham, Lancashire to Albert Radcliffe—a Canon of Manchester Cathedral—and Petrina, a teacher. She was educated at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, having not been accepted on her first attempt.Her first professional stage...
, Julie Hesmondhalgh
Julie Hesmondhalgh
Julie Hesmondhalgh is an English actress.Hesmondhalgh was born in Accrington, Lancashire. As a teenager, she was moderately interested in acting, but wished to become a social worker. She applied to drama school to be with her friends, and studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art...
, Liz Dawn, Suranne Jones
Suranne Jones
Suranne Jones is an English actress. She first rose to prominence playing the role of Karen McDonald in ITV1's soap opera Coronation Street over a period of four years...
, Sue Cleaver
Sue Cleaver
Sue Cleaver is an English actress. She is best known for her regular role in Coronation Street.She studied at the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre and her first television appearance was a small part in an episode of A Touch of Frost...
, Jennie McAlpine
Jennie McAlpine
Jennie Elizabeth McAlpine is a British television actress and comedienne. She is best known for her role as Fiz Stape in the well known British soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:...
, Naomi Russell
Naomi Russell
Naomi Rebecca Russell is an Australian gymnast.Russell represented Australia in the 2006 Commonwealth Games...
& Tracy Shaw
Tracy Shaw
Tracy Shaw is a British actress and singer.She is best known for her role as hairdresser Maxine Peacock in British soap opera Coronation Street during the 1990s and early 2000s.-Career:...
.
In early 2005, programme bosses announced that Entwistle's character was to be dropped from the show at the end of the year. However, following the appointment of a new producer (Steve Frost
Steve Frost
Steven "Steve" November is a British television producer, he is currently employed by ITV as the continuing drama producer.-Career:...
) at the end of 2005, it was revealed that Entwistle had been granted a "reprieve" and that her character would remain in the programme for the foreseeable future.
In 2010 Vicky's husband Andrew Chapman was arrested for punching a fan who asked her for an autograph. The alleged incident took place on 12 April at Salford Crescent station, Greater Manchester, on board a Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
to Clitheroe
Clitheroe
Clitheroe is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Ribble Valley in Lancashire, England. It is 1½ miles from the Forest of Bowland and is often used as a base for tourists in the area. It has a population of 14,697...
train. Police arrested Chapman at the scene and he was later charged. On 24 November 2010 Chapman was convicted and fined for his actions.
It was confirmed on 2 August 2010 that Vicky Entwislte is to leave the show after thirteen years. Soap bosses said the actress "agonised" over her decision, but decided the show's 50th anniversary year was the right time to say goodbye.
Vicky said: "Corrie means so much to me and I could easily have continued to play Janice for the rest of my acting career. But I've been thinking of leaving for some time, and couldn't deny those feelings. I've a hankering to do other drama projects and so if I don't make this move now I never will."
miss the great friends I've made during my time in Coronation Street, but I know we'll stay in touch and I'm grateful to be part of the show's 50th anniversary as it's a huge landmark in British television."
Producer Phil Collinson said: "When she first appeared on screen in 1997, Janice Battersby caused a stir and has continued to do so ever since. Vicky created a strong and uncompromising battleaxe with a heart of gold lurking underneath – in the true tradition of great Coronation Street women. She'll be missed by us all and we wish her well."
Entwistle, originally having become known for being, in her words, "the fat ugly one from Corrie", lost over three stone (42 lbs.) and ended up keeping two-and-a-half stone (35 lbs.) off, transforming from a size 16 to a 6. She later released an exercise self-help DVD, Vicky's WOW! Weight Off Workout, in 2006.