Soap stars take to the stage

Two former stars from soap rivals EastEnders and Coronation Street are due to play opposite each other in a production of Taming of the Shrew in the autumn.

Actress Nichola McAuliffe – who played Ken Barlow’s last love interest in Corrie – will play Katherine and ex-EastEnders bad boy, Ross Kemp will play Petruchio when the Shakespearean comedy opens in Plymouth in October.