Gaynor Faye

Born Gaynor Kay Mellor, the Leeds native changed her surname to Faye early on in her acting career on the advice of a school friend and soon won her big break in BBC comedy Sharp End. After a stint on Peak Practice she joined Coronation Street in 1995 as the new neighbour at number nine. She rapidly became one of the soap's most popular characters, but after four years stunned producers by announcing she wanted to move on. Since then she has appeared in the comedy film Fanny & Elvis and several hit dramas written by her talented mum, screenplay writer Kay Mellor, including Playing The Field, Fat Friends and ITV vet series The Chase. Gaynor, who has two children with her property agent partner Mark Pickering, has been keeping trim since her winning appearance on 2006's Dancing On Ice and brought out her own Fit Friends fitness DVD with skating partner Dan Whiston.