Coronation Street actress Jennie McAlpine, 35, gave birth to her second born Hilda with husband Chris Farr back in October. After introducing her newborn, reports claimed the actress had named Hilda after Jean Alexander’s character Hilda Ogden, who was on the soap from 1964 to 1987. But, Jennie insisted this wasn’t the case. She told OK! Magazine: “She wasn’t [named after Hilda Ogden] but I do love that there’s that association.
“I loved Hilda as a character, I have a picture of her up in my dressing room and I have three flying ducks in my house, just like her.
“It’s quite hard to find a lovely name that isn’t associated with a Coronation Street character,” she added.
The Fiz Brown star added her daughter’s name was, in fact, chosen as it is a “family name” for both her and Chris.
Jennie and Chris also have four-year-old son Albert together.
Earlier this week, Jennie returned to filming on the cobbles following her maternity leave.
Taking to Instagram yesterday she shared a picture of the Hilda Bugden sculpture in view of her 247,000 followers.
She commented: “Can’t believe I’m halfway through my first week back filming on the cobbles.
“It’s helped having this Hilda for company every day.”
Earlier this month, Jennie admitted was “worried” about making a return to the soap following her break.
“It feels a bit like going back to school after the summer holiday, I’ve got butterflies!” she added in another interview with the publication.
She continued: “I’m worried I don’t have enough space left in my brain to learn all my lines.
“But the producers have promised I’ll be eased in gently.”
Jennie went on to say she “would have loved” to have a few years off work following Hilda’s birth, but said she couldn’t wait to get back into the role.
“I knew the longer I left it, the harder it would be to go back.”
Coronation Street continues tonight at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV.
Read the full interview in OK! Magazine – out now.