Jodie Prenger: Animals have changed my life

11 September 2022

Jodie Prenger says animals have "changed [her] life".

Jodie Prenger says animals have changed her life

The 43-year-old actress won the part of Nancy in a West End production of 'Oliver!' on Andrew Lloyd Webber's BBC talent show 'I'd Do Anything' back in 2008 and has gone on to enjoy a long career on stage and screen but explained that rescuing animals is her passion away from showbusiness.

She said: "Animals have changed my life. Last year, instead of buying a load of old tat for Christmas, I rescued some dogs from the meat trade in China. I kept one and found homes in Britain for the rest. I love animals and I just keep getting more. I've now got three rescue cows, six dogs, three cats, five ducks and 15 chickens!"

The Blackpool-born star - who has starred in productions of 'Shirley Valentine', 'Tell Me on a Sunday' and 'A Taste of Honey' since her victory on the BBC talent show - lives in a farmhouse in Lancashire with her fiance Simon Booth and explained that even though they have been engaged for a decade, she does not consider marriage to be a "massive deal."

She told MyWeekly: "My fiancé Simon knew what he was letting himself in for the first time he came to my house. My mum had made some soup and it was boiling hot and burned his mouth. The parrot was in the corner swearing, the dogs were barking and I was still upstairs getting ready!

Marriage isn't a massive deal for me. We got engaged 10 years ago and we're happy as we are. We'll probably tie the knot one day, but I already feel like I'm married to him. He's there every morning, every night - oh, it's him again!"

Meanwhile, Jodie recently made a comeback to television when she made her debut as cruise ship singer Glenda Shuttleworth on ITV soap opera 'Coronation Street' and feels "lucky" that the part was created specifically for her because she is the "world's worst" at auditions.

She said: "I'm the world's worst at auditions when it's a role I really want. I lose my marbles! So luckily 'Coronation Street' created the part of Glenda for me. She's bolshy, bold, and brilliant with a heart of gold. She's an absolute whirlwind!"