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Glenda Shuttleworth

Glenda Shuttleworth is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Jodie Prenger. The character and casting was announced in June 2022 and Prenger made her first appearance on 5 August of that year. Prenger did not have to audition for the role and it was created for her in mind, which she was grateful for. Prenger was very happy to join the soap as it had been a dream of hers for years and her family had links to the soap as Prenger's great-uncle used to deliver the groceries of former cast member Pat Phoenix. Glenda was introduced as the sister of established character George Shuttleworth and she begins working as a barmaid of the Rovers Return pub, which Prenger was grateful for as it allowed her to interact with most of the cast. Prenger's singing was incorporated into the character and Glenda's backstory included the character working cabaret singer on cruise ships. Prenger has described the character as fun, bubbly and loving people, but admitted that she fronts a lot and wanted Glenda's vulnerability and backstory to be explored more. Glenda also sets up and runs a performing arts club for children.

Casting and characterisation
On 20 June 2022, it was announced that Jodie Prenger had been cast as Glenda Shuttleworth, the sister of established character George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley). Prenger had begun filming that same week. Prenger called joining the soap an "honour" and a "special moment" in her life as it had been on her bucket list to be in the soap since she was little; she added that she had "always" wanted it to happen but did not believe that it would. The role was created with Prenger in mind and thus she did not have to audition screentest for the role, which the actress was grateful for as she believed that she had done badly in auditions for roles that she really wanted in the past. Prenger added, "I think when your family have loved something for so long, it genuinely is an honour to be part of a constitution and a family. That's genuinely what it has felt like coming in. It's just a big, operating, lovely family and it's very, very special to me [...] On my first day I remember driving up to the gates at ITV and it felt like I was at MGM Studios. It was amazing. I didn’t need a trip to Disney World. I was already here!" Prenger's great-uncle used to deliver the groceries of former cast member Pat Phoenix, who played Elsie Tanner, a character that Prenger's grandmother "worshipped". Prenger also described her character as being fun, "camp" and loving people. Prenger has said that she loves having scenes with Patti Clare and Peter Gunn, who portray Mary Taylor and Brian Packham, as they make her laugh a lot, with Prenger calling it "entertainment within the entertainment". However, it was later confirmed that this was not the case and that Prenger would be staying as Glenda, with Marshall confirming on Twitter that she had made a mistake and called Glenda "fabulous". That same year, Prenger revealed that she still sometimes get nervous on the soap. Prenger also revealed that her partner looks after their pets when she is at work. Prenger revealed that she walked into a gay bar in Manchester where someone shouted "Glenda, hello darling!", which made Prenger believe that people now were calling her Glenda rather than Jodie. Prenger has said that she often forgets that people are watching the soap, commenting, "It sounds bizarre but even when somebody recognises me in public I think they're staring because I've got lipstick on my teeth again!" ==Development==
Development
Introduction and backstory Prenger made her first appearance as Glenda on 5 August 2022. In the episode, Glenda arrives at the same time that George has taken too many painkillers for his toothache and has to be hauled back in the back of a funeral car, and Glenda ends up instantly taking charge of the funeral proceedings instead. An ongoing theme for Glenda is that she often sings but whenever she asks to sing at weddings or other events, she is told no and is not given the opportunity to. Prenger was happy that the soap had incorporated her singing into the character. Prenger believed that Glenda is "completely insecure", explaining, "You know, we're all the same, we just want to get into a onesie with a top knot and snuggle up next to somebody. There is a lot of front with Glenda and it's nice to see these little snippets of her sometimes letting her guard down and I think she finds that hard to do. She probably fronts for other people. It's that thing of you put a front up for other people, you know, don't let the buggers grind you down". A Coronation Street source explained that Carla sees Glenda's potential and that her "brash confidence and capable dependability" makes her "perfect for the role", though they teased that she may face some jealousy from other staff that have worked there for long. Prenger called the story "very dramatic" and admitted that she was scared to film it. In the storyline, Glenda steps in to host a speed dating night at the Rovers; however, when Glenda is alone trying to lock up after the event is over, she finds masked burglars taking money from the till in the bar. Glenda is unable to stop them and the burglars shout at her to get on the floor and a terrified Glenda is forced to oblige and watch as they steal the money. It was reported that the incident would leave Glenda as a "shell of her former bubbly self". Discussing the storyline, Prenger revealed that Glenda is "utterly horrified" by the robbery, adding, "It's the worst feeling for anyone to see somebody invading your home, your private space and something that you are there really to protect and look after". Prenger joked, "I don't know who's more thrilled – Jodie or Glenda!" Prenger praised the fact that fans of Glenda would often ask her if Glenda would find romance, which she loved, commenting, "People genuinely care and it's like a big family". Glenda's new love interest was revealed to be established character Michael Bailey (Ryan Russell), who is initially Glenda's friend. A writer from TV Times had previously speculated that Glenda's love interest would be Michael's father, Ed (Trevor Michael Georges). In the storyline, Glenda spends time with Michael and confides in him on how she felt that her father preferred George over her. Michael tries to get Glenda and George to reconcile but this does not work, and Glenda worries that he is starting to cool with her because of the ongoing animosity between her and her brother. Prenger said that she enjoyed filming Glenda's kiss with Michael. Discussing the breakup, Prenger said, "I'm still not over it, but hey-ho, she had a little dalliance with a toy boy". Prenger revealed that some viewers wanted Glenda to get together with Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson), with one fan comparing them to former Coronation Street couple Vera (Liz Dawn) and Jack Duckworth (Bill Tarmey), with Prenger joking that she used to have a tight perm like Vera; Prenger also did not know what Steve's wife, Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford), would say about the romance. Todd then finds another copy of the will of Glenda and Archie's father Archie Shuttleworth (Roy Hudd), which states that Glenda was supposed to have half of his funeral business back in 2018, which is not the case. Maudsley believed that George wants the "absolute best" for Glenda but is also aware that she is not "the sharpest tool in the box and if she gets her hands on money, she's going blow it on something and send both George and the company into an early grave". Todd later accidentally tells Glenda about the will, leaving her "feeling profoundly"; Glenda then asks lawyer Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) about her legal options, who tells her that suing for half of the funeral parlour would be costly and risky, and Glenda is "Deflated" and "crushed" when Adam recommends that she forgets about the whole thing. Prenger also teased that viewers may see a feistier version of Glenda, telling Inside Soap, "I think that deep down, Glenda — as much as she likes to throw a game of bingo — has that fight in her that all northern women do," she said. "When push comes to shove, they're ready to rock and roll!" Prenger and Maudsley both celebrated the end of the siblings' feud, with Maudsley writing on Instagram that the siblings "love each other really" and that "peace is restored". Prenger revealed that she found it hard to "to fight with somebody you love" and admitted that she and Maudsley would laugh after filming arguments as they had such a "great rapport". ==Storylines==
Storylines
Glenda comes to Weatherfield to reconnect with her brother, George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley). Glenda helps George's business partner Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) with a funeral due to George being unwell and resolves a disputer over burying the deceased with his prized trombone. Glenda moves into the lodgings and becomes fast friends with Sean Tully (Antony Cotton), Mary Taylor (Patti Clare) and Todd. Glenda lies about having experience as a barmaid to get a job at the Rovers Return. After she pours a bad pint, Jenny Connor (Sally Ann Matthews) agrees to keep her on after Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell) offers to train her. Glenda wins over the customers with her stories from her time working on the cruise ships and she shows her worth when she throws a drunk customer out of the pub and successfully hosts the Rovers quiz night. Glenda takes Daisy Midgeley's (Charlotte Jordan) room at the pub when she moves out. Wanting to return to the entertainment world, Glenda asks to sing at Daisy's upcoming wedding but she is not convinced by her talent. Glenda's old friend Estelle Harrington) (Ruthie Henshall) visits her and George lends Glenda money to buy the Weatherfield franchise of Little Big Shotz, a performing arts club for children. Glenda sets up the school at the community centre whilst keeping her job and the Rovers and she trains the children to put on a Summer Spectacular at the Viaduct Bistro. When Jenny announces that the Rovers will have to close as it is no longer profitable, Glenda helps plan a party night designed to interest brewery "Newton & Ridley" in purchasing the pub. Glenda is meant to sing but when she loses her voice she books another singer. Philip Newton (Bruce McGregor) makes Glenda uncomfortable when he flirts with her and she calls him a perv to her a friend, unaware that the microphone is on and that everyone can hear through the speakers at the bar. Newton & Ridley do buy the pub but the company is purchased by LS Waterford, who fires all the staff, leading to Glenda moving in with George. Jenny later buys back the Rovers and Glenda moves back in and gets her job back. Glenda holds a speed-dating night but she is then assaulted by two men during a robbery when she is alone, leaving her shaken and blaming herself. Estelle later offers Glenda to buy Little Big Shotz off her and Glenda is desperate to get money to do so. Glenda then finds out that her father Archie Shuttleworth (Roy Hudd) actually left half of his funeral business to Glenda and a betrayed Glenda decides to sue George. Glenda starts dating Michael Bailey (Ryan Russell) but he grows tired of her feud with George and breaks up with her when she changes the locks of George's house. Glenda and George resolve their dispute when George offers Glenda the house if she leaves the business to him, which she accepts. ==Reception==
Reception
For her role as Glenda, Prenger was longlisted for "Best Newcomer" at the 2023 Inside Soap Awards. The following year, she was nominated for "Best Comedy Performance" at the first Radio Times Soap Awards. She was also longlisted for "Best Comic Performance" at the 2025 Inside Soap Awards. Speaking of the character's debut, Sam Cook from Wales Online opined that Glenda arrived at the "perfect time". Katie Fitzpatrick from Manchester Evening News reported how viewers wrote on Twitter that they were already loving Glenda's character, with Fitzpatrick writing that Glenda "immediately looked right at home". Alice Penwill from Inside Soap called Glenda a "real force of nature" and noted how she had been waiting for George's family to appear on the soap for a "long time". Penwill's colleague Steven Murphy noted how Glenda quickly "won the hearts" of other characters and "legions" of Coronation Street viewers. Stephen Patterson from Metro wrote that Glenda wasted no time "finding her footing in the eponymous street" by getting a job in the Rovers Return. In October 2022, Christopher Megrath from the Liverpool Echo reported how viewers were "divided" by Glenda's "drastic new look" after she changed her usual clothes style to host the pub quiz, with some viewers expressing on social media that they liked it whilst others did not. Michael Adams from Metro called Glenda "Bold and colourful" and noted how she "burst onto the cobbles". Jessica Sansome from Manchester Evening News wrote that Glenda "found herself at home" at the Rovers. In 2024, Laura-Jayne Tyler from Inside Soap wrote, "Jodie Prenger living her best life in Corrie is a special type of joy that could be bottled and sold for thousands. We'd buy". Alison Slade from TV Times wrote that the incident at the Rovers had left Glenda a "shadow of her former self". Maisie Spackman from Metro noted how "Poor" Glenda was "traumatised" and "left in pieces" by the violent robbery that she witnessed. George Lewis from Digital Spy called Glenda and Michael's relationship a "whirlwind romance" and opined that it was sad that they split up. Lewis' colleague Sam Warner believed that the end of Glenda and George's feud in 2024 was a "positive change". Louisa Riley from Inside Soap called Glenda "glamorous" and predicted that Glenda could introduce "Glitter in the hotpot" or "more campy cruise-ship karaoke" now that she has become manager of the Rovers. ==References==
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