Michelle Collins(PA)

Former EastEnders actress Michelle Collins is taking on one of the biggest jobs in soapland - as the new landlady at the Rovers Return in Coronation Street.

Michelle, who played Albert Square's Cindy Beale, will appear in the ITV1 show as the pub's new boss, Stella, in June.

Viewers will see Stella brought in to help owner Steve McDonald after a series of bust-ups with his wife, Becky, leave the business in trouble.

But he gets more than he bargained for when she promptly moves her family in and the truth comes out about a dark secret from her past.

Michelle Collins said: "I am honoured to be joining the cast of Coronation Street. The show has been part of my life since I was a child so to become a part of it is extremely exciting." The show's executive producer, Kieran Roberts, said he was "thrilled" to welcome her to the show.