The actor auditioned for another character on a different soap before landing the role of Dee-Dee
ITV Coronation Street’s Dee-Dee Bailey has been embroiled in drama from the get-go. The character, played by Channique Sterling-Brown, first appeared on our screens in 2022 and since then has become a fan favourite.
The feisty fictional solicitor has been involved with Callum Lill’s Joel Deering, who has been living a secret life for months after having an affair with troubled teenager Lauren Bolton.
When Lauren returned to the street, Joel made plans to send her away so he could protect his relationship with Dee-Dee, but his web of lies began to unravel and Dee-Dee soon realised he was baby Frankie’s father.
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While their on-screen relationship has been a deeply traumatic one, away from the cameras actors Calum and Channique are actually “best friends”.
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Channique’s relationship with many of her castmates appears to extend beyond the typical 9 to 5 bond. Her social media account is flooded with fun photos of holidays, night outs and snaps with other Corrie actors.
The 27-year-old looks to be very close to her fellow soap stars, especially Tanisha Gorey, who plays Asha Alahan, as reported by OK! The two enjoyed a sun-soaked week together earlier this summer. The pair could be seen lavishing it up at the beach and taking trips to restaurants while holidaying in Mallorca.
Channique also appears to be an avid runner, having joined her co-stars on the Manchester 10k Great Run back. She shared a celebratory post from the event, which the stars ran to raise money for charity. She was joined by Peter Ash, Colson Smith, Calum Lill, Elle Mulvaney, Luca Toolan and others.
Channique was born in London but moved to Halifax, West Yorks, as a teenager. She then eventually settled in Manchester in 2018 after graduating from the University of Central Lancashire with a BA Honours in Acting.
She took up a job working 12-hour shifts during the pandemic, testing for Covid, as it allowed her time off to attend auditions. She now volunteers at her local Samaritans branch in the city and also sings in a band at her local church.
The actress was awarded the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer for her portrayal of Dee-Dee at the 2023 awards ceremony. However, it wasn’t always the role she had her eyes set on.
Channique once auditioned for the role of Naomi Walters in Emmerdale, but it was eventually given to Karene Peter. Since getting the role of Dee-Dee, Channqiue said the children at the School School, where she teaches, were “surprised” to see her.
She told the Mirror: “I was in church the other day and a woman came up to me and said, ‘Oh my goodness, we were in Tesco and my son started screaming, because you were on the front cover of one of the magazines’. She said, ‘I didn’t know you were a celebrity.’ I said, ‘I’m not a celebrity, I’m just Chan’. She literally just knew me because I work with the kids at church.”
