I’m Ken Barlow’s new love interest but I battled my body for years

Ken Barlow’s new love interest Helen Lederer, 69, says she lived off slimming pills for years and wine in a desperate bid to be thin: ‘It was truly like I was living the Ab Fab life’ .Helen Lederer, who’s famous for making people laugh in shows like Absolutely Fabulous, is getting ready to be on one of the UK’s most loved TV shows, Coronation Street. She’s going to play Elspeth, a new love interest for Ken Barlow, played by William Roache. But before her big debut, Helen is talking openly about her struggles with how she looked and how she learned to be okay with herself.

Helen admits she tried all sorts of things to stay thin when she was younger. She went on diets where she ate very little, sometimes only 400 calories a day, and even took pills to help her lose weight. “I used to do crazy things to stay thin,” she says. But now, in her 60s, she’s learned to love her body. “It’s been a journey, but I’m finally happy with how I look,” she says with a smile.

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She also talks about how she might have tried new weight-loss shots if they were around when she was younger. In the world of comedy, where men often dominated, she felt a lot of pressure to look a certain way. She remembers feeling like she needed to wear clothes that didn’t show off her body too much.

But now, as she gets ready to be on Coronation Street, Helen is excited. She says it’s an honor to be on a show with such a long history and to act with William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow. “Ken is a good-looking older man,” she jokes. Her character, Elspeth, catches Ken’s eye at a singles night, and the story takes off from there.

Helen also discusses how she has chosen not to have surgery to alter her appearance. She believes it’s important to stay true to herself, especially in an industry where people often want to look perfect. “I’ve decided to be myself,” she says proudly.

With a career that includes roles in shows like Doctors and Midsomer Murders, Helen is no stranger to acting. She’s been married for 25 years and loves to have fun, going to parties and enjoying life. And for fans waiting to see her on Coronation Street. She hints that she might stay on the show for a while if they ask her back.

So, as we get ready to see Helen Lederer on our screens in Coronation Street on March 27th, we can cheer for a talented actress who’s learned to love herself just the way she is.