Coronation Street legend looks unrecognisable 27 years after leaving the soap

Former Coronation Street star Chloe Newsome is unrecognisable (Picture: Chloe Spruce/Instagram)

Former Coronation Street star Chloe Newsome looks worlds away from her cobbles role – 27 years since her last appearance in Weatherfield. But do you remember which character she played?

If you were watching the ITV soap in the 90s, you might remember Chloe as the first wife of Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) – Vicky McDonald, previously Arden.

The Sheffield born actress, 48, assumed the role from originator Helen Warburton in 1991.

She went on to appear in 256 episodes of The Street, departing in 1996 and making a brief return in 1998.

Chloe also starred in 1999 spin-off After Hours, which followed Steve and Vikram Desai (Chris Bisson) driving to Calais for cheap booze.

En route, the lads bumped into Vicky and legends Bet Gilroy (Julie Goodyear) and Reg Holdsworth (Ken Morley) in Brighton.

Chloe played Steve McDonald’s first wife Vicky (Picture: Granada Television)

Alongside her Corrie role, Chloe has also appeared in Children’s Ward, The Bill, and more recently a BBC Radio 4 adaption of Agatha Christie’s The Lie.

She married husband Kevin Spruce in 2013, and the pair share a number of children.

On their ten year anniversary she wrote, alongside a photo of them atop a mountain: ’10 years ago today, we were off to Iceland on our honeymoon. Today we once again donned our storm wear & ventured out.

‘I do love braving the elements with you Mr Spruce. Here’s to the next 10 & some.’

Regularly taking to Instagram to share family snaps, the star now sports a luscious blonde hairstyle, worlds away from her mousey brown hair of over two decades ago.

Chloe married husband Kevin Spruce in 2013 (Picture: Chloe Spruce/Instagram)

What happened to Vicky McDonald?

Troubled Vicky arrived in Weatherfield to stay with her grandfather Alec Gilroy (Roy Barraclough) following the death of her wealthy parents in a car accident.

Steve’s eyes lit up when he realised he could benefit financially from a relationship with her, and she soon started working for his t-shirt printing company Dun 2 A T.

Following their marriage, she eventually saw through his façade and testified against him in court, when he was facing charges for handling stolen whisky and perverting the course of justice.

The character later went on to run a wine bar, Vicky’s, and married a man named Robert.

She last appeared in the 1999 spin-off After Hours (Picture: Granada Television)

On the eve of their wedding, she spent time with Steve – though when he learnt that she was facing financial difficulties, lost interest in a reunion.

Although she’s been rarely mentioned since, Vicky led the way for a number of women to walk down the aisle with Steve.

His second marriage to Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) in 2018 was the seventh time!

As we know, the pair have since separated following her affair with Tommy Orpington (Matt Milburn).

Will he find another lucky woman to call Mrs McDonald?

Sparks have been flying recently between Steve and Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney), and he’s struggled to keep his hands off her despite her treatment of Ken Barlow (William Roache).

However, recent scenes saw her turn him down when he apologised for calling their time together a mistake, with the disgraced carer insisting that she deserves better.

With both of them clearly still interested in each other, could they be set to overcome their differences?

This article was first published on March 27, 2025.

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