The reality star from the 2000s comes to Coronation Street 22 years later and looks exactly the same as always

A 2000s pop star is set to shake up Coronation Street by joining the cast as Steve McDonald’s new lover – and she hasn’t aged a day in the 22 years since her hit song.

Steve, played by Simon Gregson, was heartbroken when his wife Tracy, played by Kate Ford, eloped with former footballer turned interior designer Tommy Orpington, played by Matt Milburn. Despite a brief reunion, Tracy decided to fly to Spain after finding a message from Tommy that Steve had tried to hide.

Since then, Steve has taken his first steps into the world of online dating and in the next scenes he will be seen going on a date with one of his matches. The mysterious woman Aurora, who turns up at the Rovers Return, is played by Fame Academy star Pippa Fulton.

Pippa rose to fame on the talent show in 2002, where she shared the stage with future stars such as Lemar and David Sneddon before being voted out in the fourth week.

After Fame Academy, Pippa appeared in rival soap Emmerdale, where she played various guest roles from 2014 to 2017. The TV star also made an appearance in Channel 4’s BAFTA-nominated show Hullraisers, created by Lucy Beaumont, reports the Mirror.

Pippa’s character Aurora from Coronation Street is on her way to Weatherfield, but not everything is as it seems. In an unexpected plot twist, Aurora is not chasing Steve, but his pal Tim Metcalfe. Sally Metcalfe is not happy when she catches the two laughing together.

Although it seems Steve is ready to put his past with Tracy behind him, her return to the show may come sooner than expected. Last month, viewers saw Tracy say emotional goodbyes and seemingly hit the road for good in her boyfriend’s van.

But during a chat on This Morning last week, soap guru Sharon Marshall hinted that there could be more surprises in store this week. While discussing Steve’s new love story, Sharon sparked rumours that Tracy’s absence might not be permanent.

She commented: “I wonder… I mean Tracy, that was a pretty subtle exit for such an important character in the middle of the week, you know? Will she come back? That’s what I’m wondering!”