'I'm fascinated by anything historical — I'd love to do a period drama'

Lisa George on life after Coronation Street, reclaiming her identity and being an ambassador for eye health

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Lisa George spent 13 years as Coronation Street's iconic and outspoken Beth Sutherland (née Tinker), loved for her dodgy dealings and being a protective mum towards her son, Craig.

As we catch up with her a year after her final (tearful) farewell to the cobbles, she’s determined to prove there is indeed life after soap. Grimsby-born Lisa has also undergone a major health transformation over the last year, with the help of a surgical tweak, and is finally loving who she sees in the mirror.

As well as getting stuck into two history diplomas, Lisa - who competed on Dancing On Ice in 2020 - has also been managing a medical condition which has left her partially blind in one eye and without peripheral vision in her other.

She received a diagnosis of NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy) after years of searching for answers since first experiencing sight loss in 2016, with a recurrence in 2022.

In our exclusive sit-down, she fills us in on how she’s coping and why she’s determined not to let it hold her back...

Lisa, how’s life been away from Coronation Street?