Corrie’s Dee-Dee star admits it was ‘bizarre’ it took so long to introduce first Black family


Coronation Street actress Channique Sterling-Brown has candidly opened up about her experience joining the Bailey family and how important it is to have real representation of a Black northern British family. However, she also admitted that it was somewhat odd that the ITV soap – which first began airing in 1960 – introduced its first Black family only four years ago.
ITV first announced the introduction of the Baileys – which consisted of Edison (Trevor Michael Georges), Aggie (Lorna Laidlaw) and James (Nathan Graham) in June 2019. James has since left the soap, while uncle Ronnie (Vinta Morgan) arrived in 2021 and Ed and Aggie’s daughter Dee-Dee, played by Chanique, first turned up in September 2022.
“It’s wonderful, we all get on really well. I really love working with Ryan Russell [Michael],” Channique told the Mirror at the Inside Soap Awards last week when asked about joining the Baileys. “We’ve got a really good sibling dynamic going on, it’s always good fun. I’m very lucky to have them to look out for me from the start.”
Asked whether she thought it was strange that Coronation Street had introduced their first Black family in 2019, Channique replied: “Yeah, do you know, given the length of the show it’s bizarre, however what’s really special is that it’s a real representation of the Black northern British experience, which I don’t think you see a lot of. You see a lot of London-centric Black people experiences, but I love that they’ve got a family unit and they’ve got heart. You don’t know how much you need representation until you see it.”
The Baileys’ introduction came over three decades after EastEnders introduced their first Black family – the Carters – in 1985, which proves Channique’s point that Black experiences shown on TV have been largely London-centric. So the importance of Coronation Street having a relatable, normal family like the Baileys can’t be understated, with dedicated soap fans being able to watch their experiences during the weekdays.
Asked if her family watches Corrie, Channique replied excitedly: “They do! Mum’s a big fan!”
Despite only joining the soap a year ago, her portrayal of solicitor Dee-Dee has charmed viewers with her likeability and chaos. So much so, in fact, that she was awarded an Inside Soap Award for Best Newcomer.
“It’s been the best,” Channique said of playing Dee-Dee. “Do you know what, it’s true to life isn’t it? None of us have got it 100% together, she might be formidable in the court room but the rest of the time she’s absolute chaos! I really love that about her and I love that she’s very much her authentic self. Everything that is too much about her is very real about her. So yes, she dresses extremely brightly but she is still a professional. It’s kind of a balancing act.”
Viewers have been a little suspicious of her new love interest – played by Hollyoaks star Callum Lill – but Channique is optimistic about how it will all play out. Laughing, she told us: “I think viewers are just very suspicious – and I get it! It’s soapland so I do get it but Callum – who plays Joel – he’s wonderful, they’re having a great time. I do think as the viewers get to know Joel, get to know Joel and Dee Dee, we call ourselves Dee-Jay as a joke, I think they’ll really enjoy seeing this side of her and the dynamic between them. I get it! We’ve always got to be suspicious of a newbie, they were suspcious of me, so!”
Unsurprisingly, fans are convinced that there’s chemistry between her and Adam Barlow, but Channique is unconvinced anything will come of it. “They are genuinely just good friends – me and Sam [Robertson] get on really well, we’ve been working together for a year and yeah! Oh, and apparently roommates still! But yeah, they get on well and he’s very hot!”
Can she tease what’s to come from Dee-Dee’s romance with Joel? “I think it will just be great for everyone to see a new side of her, see how Joel fits in with the Baileys. Yeah, it’s going to be really nice and just fun.”