Jill Halfpenny

Biography: Jill is an experienced soap actress, having played Rebecca Hopkins (Martin's lover) in Coronation Street, and Phil Mitchells wife Kate in BBC1 soap Eastenders.
As a teenager, she made her mark in Byker Grove as Nicola Dobson.
She's also appeared in other TV shows including Peak Practice, Dalziel and Pascoe, Touching Evil and The Lakes.

Jill's made several stage appearances, including roles in Cooking with Elvis, Studs and The Sound of Music.
Jill's adventurous and sporty. She's very good at roller-skating and ice-skating.
Jill loves dancing - anything from ballet to ballroom, and showed this by winning BBC 1 series Strictly come dancing, with dance partner Darren.
Jill is a skilled fencer - beware!

Although Geordie is her native accent, she can do many others from Northern Irish to New York.