Dame Joan Collins turned down a part in 'Hollyoaks'.
Dame Joan Collins
The 83-year-old legend has revealed she was offered the role of Tabitha Maxwell-brown in the Channel 4 soap but she snubbed the chance and bosses were forced to approach her former 'Dallas' co-star Linda Gray instead.
Speaking at her new comedy show, 'Jonas Collins Unscripted', she said: "I was just asked to be in 'Hollyoaks' but I'm not doing it. You know who is doing it? Linda Gray.
"Between filming a movie and my new show I wouldn't have had time for anything else."
Linda - who was known for portraying long-suffering wife Sue Ellen Ewing in CBS' 'Dallas' between 1978 and 1989 - announced she had joined the Channel 4 soap earlier this month and was "thrilled" she had been chosen by bosses.
She said at the time: "I'm thrilled to be going from one iconic series to another and can't wait to work with the fantastic cast.
"'Hollyoaks' viewers are going to love it when Tabby whips up a storm just like Sue Ellen did."
Although Linda's appearance in the show will only last a week, bosses have left the door open for a future return.
'Hollyoaks' Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood explained: "When we came to discuss who could possibly play Marnie's [Lysette Anthony] mother the list was very small.
"Lysette Anthony has fast become a fabulous soap bitch so having Linda Gray play her mother Tabitha is the perfect fit.
"We can't wait to have an international TV icon arrive in Chester and become part of the 'Hollyoaks' family."
Meanwhile, Linda isn't the only newbie on the soap as Chelsee Healey has also joined the programme as "tough, gobby and absolutely shameless" Goldie McQueen.
The 27-year-old actress will play a distant member of the mouthy family and is set to wreak havoc in Chester when she goes to extreme lengths to make cash for her sons.
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