K ym Marsh knows she’s been lucky. Just over 24 years ago, when she was introduced to the world as a twentysomething singer from Merseyside on the reality competition Popstars , there were no guarantees that her career in entertainment would last. Hear’Say, her group that was put together on the show, was successful but short-lived – as was Marsh’s solo career, which culminated in two top 10 singles before coming to an end in 2003 when she was dropped by her label.
But in 2006, a guest role on Coronation Street extended into a 13-year stint on the cobbles. After that came presenting jobs, a spot in the revival of school drama Waterloo Road , opportunities on the stage, a turn around the dancefloor on Strictly Come Dancing and more. “Not everyone’s allowed the scope in their careers that I’ve been allowed,” Marsh says now at 48.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be able to do all of these different things.” This brings us to Marsh’s latest endeavour: tackling one of the most iconic roles in British theatre, Beverley Moss, hostess with the mostest in Mike Leigh ’s Abigail’s Party . The production, currently playing at Manchester’s iconic Royal Exchange Theatre, has already scored rave reviews from critics.
Not that Marsh is too bothered either way. “I find reviews really funny,” she says. “I get why they’re important, but at the end of the day it’s the people that are coming to watch that matter.
And every audience we’ve had has just been wo.
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