# Jodie Prenger
**Jodie Prenger** is an English actress and singer from [Blackpool](https://www.edgepedia.org/blackpool), Lancashire, best known for winning the BBC talent show *I'd Do Anything* in 2008 to play Nancy in the West End revival of *Oliver!*, and for playing Glenda Shuttleworth in the ITV soap opera *Coronation Street* since 2022.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jodie-prenger-mn0002436257) • [2](https://mediamole.co.uk/coronation-street/jodie-prenger-signs-new-coronation-street-deal/297/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1979, Blackpool, Lancashire, England[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jodie-prenger-mn0002436257) |
| Breakthrough | Won the BBC talent show *I'd Do Anything* in 2008 by public vote after 12 weeks, casting her as Nancy in the West End revival of *Oliver!*[3](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/march/id-do-anything) |
| Award | 2010 WhatsOnStage award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for *Oliver!*[4](https://jodieprengerofficial.com/about-jodie/) |
| Earlier TV win | Won the second series of the weight-loss show *The Biggest Loser* in 2006[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jodie-prenger-mn0002436257) |
| Soap role | Glenda Shuttleworth, sister of undertaker George Shuttleworth, in *Coronation Street* from 2022; under contract until at least 2027[2](https://mediamole.co.uk/coronation-street/jodie-prenger-signs-new-coronation-street-deal/297/) • [5](https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/news/jodie-prenger-thrilled-new-coronation-street-contract-1438442.html) |
| Early career | Northern cabaret circuit, Blackpool Opera House, Alton Towers, and eight months in 2001 as one of four main entertainers aboard the Disney Wonder[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jodie-prenger-mn0002436257) • [6](https://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/articles/jodie-prenger-sails-into-weatherfield) |
## Early career
Prenger began her career on the Northern cabaret circuit before performing at her hometown's Blackpool Opera House, at the theme park [Alton Towers](https://www.edgepedia.org/alton-towers), and with the [Disney Cruise Line](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-cruise-line) in Florida.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jodie-prenger-mn0002436257) In 2001 she spent eight months aboard the Disney Wonder as one of four main entertainers in a team of 19, experience she later drew on when playing a cruise performer on television.[6](https://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/articles/jodie-prenger-sails-into-weatherfield) In 2006 she won the second series of the weight-loss challenge show *The Biggest Loser*.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jodie-prenger-mn0002436257)
## I'd Do Anything and Oliver!
*I'd Do Anything* was the Saturday night BBC talent show that cast the role of Nancy in a new West End production of Lionel Bart's *Oliver!*. It began on 15 March 2008, and after 12 weeks of performances and sing-offs Prenger won by public vote.[3](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/march/id-do-anything) In the final she beat [Jessie Buckley](https://www.edgepedia.org/jessie-buckley) and [Samantha Barks](https://www.edgepedia.org/samantha-barks), despite producer [Cameron Mackintosh](https://www.edgepedia.org/cameron-mackintosh)'s reservations that she was too large for the role.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jodie-prenger-mn0002436257) Money raised from viewer votes went to the BBC Performing Arts Fund, which gave bursaries to aspiring performers and musicians.[3](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/march/id-do-anything)
**Critical reception.** Prenger opened as Nancy at the [Theatre Royal, Drury Lane](https://www.edgepedia.org/theatre-royal-drury-lane), in a production directed by Rupert Goold with [Rowan Atkinson](https://www.edgepedia.org/rowan-atkinson) as Fagin. Benedict Nightingale in *The Times* wrote that she initially seemed to be "parading, posturing, performing rather than acting" but went on to prove herself "a tough, coarse, credible presence with a big, robust voice".[7](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/review-round-up-consider-oliver-a-smash_18535/) The *Evening Standard* called her "the people's choice as Nancy" on the BBC show hosted by [Graham Norton](https://www.edgepedia.org/graham-norton) and supervised by Andrew Lloyd Webber, while critic Michael Coveney of *The Independent* was less enthusiastic about her casting.[8](https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/oh-what-a-triumph-for-the-tv-nancy-6886999.html) The role earned her the 2010 WhatsOnStage award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.[4](https://jodieprengerofficial.com/about-jodie/)
## Theatre career
After *Oliver!*, Prenger played the [Lady of the Lake](https://www.edgepedia.org/lady-of-the-lake) in the UK tour of *Spamalot*, Fairy Bow Bells in *Dick Whittington* at the Manchester Opera House, and Dolly in the National Theatre's production of *One Man, Two Guvnors* at the [Theatre Royal Haymarket](https://www.edgepedia.org/theatre-royal-haymarket).[4](https://jodieprengerofficial.com/about-jodie/) She played Miss Hannigan in *Annie*, took the title role in the UK tour of *Shirley Valentine*, and played Kelly in the world premiere of [Kay Mellor](https://www.edgepedia.org/kay-mellor)'s *Fat Friends* the Musical.[6](https://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/articles/jodie-prenger-sails-into-weatherfield) Her touring work also includes *A Taste of Honey* (tour and West End), *Abigail's Party*, *Tell Me On A Sunday*, and the Watermill Theatre's production of *Calamity Jane*, based on the 1953 Doris Day film.[4](https://jodieprengerofficial.com/about-jodie/) • [9](https://www.whatsonstage.com/stage-names/jodie-prenger/) She starred as Helen in the National Theatre production of *A Taste of Honey*, a performance she said was inspired by watching early episodes of *Coronation Street*.[6](https://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/articles/jodie-prenger-sails-into-weatherfield) She has also appeared in *Les Misérables* in the inaugural production at the Dubai Opera House and in pantomime at the Liverpool Empire and Birmingham Hippodrome.[9](https://www.whatsonstage.com/stage-names/jodie-prenger/)
Her casting in *Fat Friends* placed her among reality-TV-originated performers in musical theater; a scholarly study of star casting notes that performers whose breakthrough came through reality TV rose from 1.6% of musical theater performers in the final decade of the twentieth century to 16% in the twenty-first century, and cites the 2018 *Fat Friends* cast, which included Prenger alongside Freddie Flintoff, Sam Bailey, Kevin Kennedy, and [Natalie Anderson](https://www.edgepedia.org/natalie-anderson), as an example of the trend.[10](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19392397.2025.2468176)
## Television and Coronation Street
Prenger's television acting credits include *Waterloo Road*, *Hustle*, *Candy Cabs*, *Wizards vs Aliens*, *Casualty*, *Citizen Khan*, *Jamie Johnson*, *Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators*, *The Walk-In*, and *Years and Years*, in which she played Debbie Green.[9](https://www.whatsonstage.com/stage-names/jodie-prenger/) • [11](https://www.metacritic.com/person/jodie-prenger/)
**Glenda Shuttleworth.** In 2022 Prenger joined *Coronation Street* as Glenda Shuttleworth, the sister of undertaker George Shuttleworth ([Tony Maudsley](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-maudsley)), a cruise ship singer who arrives in Weatherfield straight from a stint on the cruise ships and takes a job behind the bar of the Rovers Return.[2](https://mediamole.co.uk/coronation-street/jodie-prenger-signs-new-coronation-street-deal/297/) • [6](https://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/articles/jodie-prenger-sails-into-weatherfield) Producer Iain MacLeod described the character as "loads of fun" with "echoes of classic Coronation Street females of old".[6](https://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/articles/jodie-prenger-sails-into-weatherfield) Prenger said being in the soap had been on her bucket list since childhood.[6](https://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/articles/jodie-prenger-sails-into-weatherfield) In 2026 she signed a new contract keeping her on the show until at least 2027, telling the *Daily Star Sunday*: "I knew straightaway I was going to sign. I love being on the show."[5](https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/news/jodie-prenger-thrilled-new-coronation-street-contract-1438442.html)
## Presenting, radio, and other work
Prenger has worked extensively as a presenter and contributor. She led the search to find a Toto for a gala performance of *The Wizard of Oz* on [BBC One](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-one)'s *Over the Rainbow*, and had regular slots on *This Morning* and *The National Lottery*.[4](https://jodieprengerofficial.com/about-jodie/) She came second on BBC One's *Let's Dance for Comic Relief*, was voted Reality TV Star of 2008 by readers of *TV Times*, and made guest appearances on shows including *Pointless*, *The Chase*, *Loose Women*, *The One Show*, and *All Star Family Fortunes*.[4](https://jodieprengerofficial.com/about-jodie/) On BBC Radio 2 she was a guest presenter for Paul O'Grady and Elaine Paige, appeared as co-host on *Going Out With Alan Carr*, and took part in concerts including *Friday Night Is Music Night* and The Andrew Lloyd Webber 60th Birthday Party.[4](https://jodieprengerofficial.com/about-jodie/) She toured with John Barrowman on his 2010 and 2011 tours and recorded a duet of "So Close" for his self-titled album.[4](https://jodieprengerofficial.com/about-jodie/)
After her own weight loss she released the fitness DVD *Jodie's Fitness Blasts* on New Year's Day 2014, and she has been a supporter of Diabetes UK, taking part in the BBC program *Long Live Britain!* on Type 2 diabetes.[4](https://jodieprengerofficial.com/about-jodie/) Her writing credits include *Tracks*, *Lockdown Love Story*, *Cinderella: A Socially Distanced Ball*, *Rasins*, *A Government Inspector*, *A Very Very Bad Cinderella*, and *Homo Alone*.[9](https://www.whatsonstage.com/stage-names/jodie-prenger/)
## References
1. [Jodie Prenger Biography by Jon O'Brien, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jodie-prenger-mn0002436257)
2. [Jodie Prenger signs new Coronation Street deal, Media Mole](https://mediamole.co.uk/coronation-street/jodie-prenger-signs-new-coronation-street-deal/297/)
3. [I'd Do Anything, BBC Mirror (History of the BBC)](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/march/id-do-anything)
4. [About Jodie, Jodie Prenger Official Website](https://jodieprengerofficial.com/about-jodie/)
5. [Jodie Prenger thrilled with new Coronation Street contract, FemaleFirst](https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/news/jodie-prenger-thrilled-new-coronation-street-contract-1438442.html)
6. [Jodie Prenger Sails Into Weatherfield!, ITV Coronation Street](https://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/articles/jodie-prenger-sails-into-weatherfield)
7. [Review Round-up: Consider Oliver! a Smash?, WhatsOnStage](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/review-round-up-consider-oliver-a-smash_18535/)
8. [Oh! what a triumph for the TV Nancy, London Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/oh-what-a-triumph-for-the-tv-nancy-6886999.html)
9. [Who is Jodie Prenger?, WhatsOnStage](https://www.whatsonstage.com/stage-names/jodie-prenger/)
10. [The changing nature of celebrity in musical theatre: the development of star casting, Celebrity Studies](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19392397.2025.2468176)
11. [Jodie Prenger, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/jodie-prenger/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Soap operas and continuing serials › British and Australasian soaps and characters › Coronation Street*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license