GIRLS Aloud star Kimberley Walsh almost won the role of Maria Connor in Coronation Street - just before becoming a pop star.
The singer, 38, revealed she got down to the last three for the role of Corrie's Maria before finding fame in the girl group.
Talking to The One Show's Gethin Jones and Alex Jones she explained: "I actually got down to the last two or three for Maria in Coronation Street. "I think it was like the year before I got into Girls Aloud so yeah, things could have been very different." Samia Longchambon pipped the singer to the post by winning the part of Maria on the ITV show in 2000.
Read more on thesun.co.uk