Madelaine Newton appeared on Coronation Street intermittently between March and November 1997 as Mary McKenna, mother of police officer Alan McKenna. Her other credits include roles in Second City Firsts; When the Boat Comes In; The Spoils of War; Auf Wiedersehen, Pet; Inspector Morse; Peak Practice; Grange Hill; Tilly Trotter and Table 12. She is married to the actor Kevin Whately who also appeared on the programme as lorry driver Kevin in February 1981.