SOAP fans will be surprised to learn that a string of their favourite characters first started off as child stars on kids’ TV shows.
From EastEnders star Kellie Bright to Emmerdale’s Chris Bisson and Coronation Street’s Georgia May Foote – these soap stars landed their first role when they were just a youngster.
They appeared in some of the best-loved kids programmes – including Grange Hill to T-Bag and The Worst Witch.
All grown up now, fans will be surprised to learn that some of their soap regulars were just a kid when they shot to fame.
We take a look at some of the best success stories.
Kellie Bright (Linda Carter)
EastEnders star Kellie Bright, 45, first rocked up to Albert Square in 2013 playing feisty Linda Carter.
The Queen Vic landlady was happily married to Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) and brought her kids Nancy, Johnny and Lee to start a new life in Walford.
But this wasn’t the first time that Kellie had appeared in the East End soap, back in 1986 she played the role of as a bridesmaid for one episode.
Prior to this, she played Sally Simpkins on kids show T-Bag, a TV series about an eponymous witch-like character and her sister, T-Shirt. She was the only girl to destroy T-Bag for good.
The series ran from 1985 to 1992 on Children’s ITV.
Kellie also appeared on TV screens in a commercial for the board game Knock your Block Off.
She also starred in Children’s Royal Variety Performance in 1989 as part of a chorus of children singing I’d Like To Teach the World To Sing.
In 2002, she played Julie in Ali G Indahouse and she portrayed the role of Stefania in How (Not) to Make a Short Film a year later.
She then swapped Albert Square for some glitz and glamour taking part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2005 with professional partner Kevin Clifton.
She impressed the judges and viewers at home with her routines each week which landed her a place in the final, but narrowly missing out to The Wanted star Jay McGuinness.
It’s not been plain sailing for Linda, with a string of hardhitting storylines since her debut nine years ago.
Linda’s storylines include her heartache following being raped by Mick’s brother Dean Wicks, her secret battle with cervical cancer, coping with son Ollie’s (Harry Farr) diagnosis of autism, battling with alcoholism and splitting up with Mick after her affair with Max Branning.
Georgia May Foote
Actress Georgia May Foote is best known for playing Katy Armstrong on ITV’s Coronation Street.
She left Weatherfield in 2015 to join her mother in Portugal having grown tired of life on the cobbles.
But in 2017 Katy died in a car crash in Portugal, fortunately Katy and Chesney’s son Joseph survived the crash and he came to live with his dad.
A TV source said: “As Katy, Georgia was really popular with Corrie fans and had some big storylines. But bosses have clearly decided that she has no future in the soap, and have ruled out a return by killing her off.
“You might have thought they would show such a well-known character being written out on screen but that wasn’t to be.”
Georgia spent five years playing Katy before leaving to take part on Strictly Come Dancing.
She said at the time: “I’d decided the time was right to go before I met with producer Stuart Blackburn to discuss Katy’s future.
“It was a mutual decision for me to leave, but I wish I’d got in first.”
The TV star also came 98th in FHM’s Sexiest Women of 2015.
However, before finding fame on the cobbles Georgia appeared in Grange Hill as Alison Simmons.
She made her first appearance in episode two of series 28 in 2005 to 2008.
Alison’s best friend is Sammy Lee and her storylines included her relationships include Ed.
Chris Bisson
Emmerdale star Chris Bisson, 46, first arrived in the village back in 2009 playing Jai Sharma.
He first shot to fame as J.J in Children’s Ward on the children’s TV series on ITV.
The show was set in Ward B1, the children’s ward of the fictitious South Park Hospital and followed the stories of the young patients and the staff.
Chris also enjoyed fame in Prime Suspect, Holby City and as Vikram Desai in Coronation Street from 1999 to 2000.
He then appeared as Saleem Khan in the 1999 film East Is East and Kash Karib in Shameless.
When the cameras stop rolling, he leads a much less dramatic life with fiancé Rowena Finn and their two children.
Chris made his first steps in the eponymous village 13 years ago, making his first on-screen appearance on September 11, although he temporarily left the show in 2013 after becoming a father.
He appeared in series two of I’m A Celebrity back in 2003 and was eliminated second.
The actor also revealed that two years ago that he had undergone a hair transplant to keep his good looks.
According to the actor, the hair transplant also helped him save his career.
Chris said: “As soon as you start losing your hair you’re immediately cast older, so it does reduce the amount of parts you can play.”
Jessica Fox
Hollyoaks favourite Jessica Fox, who plays school teacher Nancy Hayton in the Channel 4 soap, has become a firm favourite with a generation of viewers since she joined in 2005.
But the soap star landed a role in Enid Nightshade in three series of The Worst Witch.
Previously Speaking to Metro, Jessica spoke about her fond memory of the show.
She said: “It was a really, really fun thing to film. We had such a good time doing it. There was always something mad happening.
“I loved it when anything got blown up, I found that really exciting.
“Enid was very naughty, she was always getting into trouble and doing naughty things.”
Jessica went onto plays Belle Wise in Crossroads in 2003.
Jessica has played Nancy for the past 17 years and has been involved in some of the show’s most dramatic storylines.
They involve domestic abuse, a ménage a trois, an addiction to painkillers, two attempted rapes, an MS diagnosis and the death of her partner Kyle.
Nancy rekindled a romance with ex Darren and are set to tie the knot for the second time.
Robert Kazinsky
EastEnders star Robert Kazinsky plays hardman Sean Slater on the BBC One soap.
He first appeared in 2006 before his exit in 2009 – but has made a few surprise returns to Albert Square since.
Before before enjoying soap stardom, Robert played Sven Garley in The Basil Bruch Show in 2005.
The popular show features the quick witted fox and was produced for six series that ran from 2002 until 2007.
Sean return last November to help mum Jean get rid of Stacey’s new wife Eve.
The actor has revealed he will return in the future – whenever he’s back in the UK from his home in America.
He told the Metro: “Earlier this year I was able to visit my family in the UK for the first time in years thanks to the global pandemic and a thankfully difficult work schedule, and while I was packing my bags I sent Kate Oates an email.
“It was simple really, I live in LA and when conditions allow I’ll try and see my family every year – or more if I can – so I though why wouldn’t Sean do that. Pop in for a cuppa?
“So I said to Kate, I’m in London for one day, let’s write a scene and I’ll swing by in the morning and we can do it, better than that, every time I’m in the UK, if I can. Let’s do it again and she rallied the troops and made it happen.”
