Coronation Street has announced the casting of Tyrone Dobbs's new love interest.
Natalie Gumede will make her on-screen debut as police officer Kirsty Soames later this year. Her previous credits include appearances in Doctors, Emmerdale and most notably in BBC Three's Ideal.
Gumede said of her casting: "As a Northern lass who's grown up watching Corrie, I already feel at home on those famous cobbles. From the moment I read the script I knew I was going to love playing Kirsty and I can't wait to see how the story unfolds."
The 27-year-old actress added: "This is a dream role for me and I'm looking forward to creating a huge storm in Weatherfield."
The ITV soap's official website teased that the relationship between Tyrone (Alan Halsall) and Kirsty will be "far from an easy ride" as the Weatherfield mechanic continues to move on from his late wife Molly's affair with Kevin Webster.
Coronation Street producer Phil Collinson recently said that the relationship will be a "big storyline across the summer and into the autumn".
