Tupele Dorgu

Tupele Dorgu
Born 13 December 1977
Preston, Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK
Occupation Actress, voice over artist
Years active 2003present
Known for Role of Kelly Crabtree
Notable work Kelly Crabtree in Coronation Street
Television Coronation Street (2004–2010)
Strictly African Dancing (2005)
Soapstar Superstar (2007)
Spouse(s) Mark Flanagan (married 2009)

Tupele Dorgu (born 13 December 1977 in Preston, Lancashire) is an English actress and voice over artist. She is best known for playing the role of Kelly Crabtree in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2004 to 2010.[1]

Education

Dorgu was educated in and around the Preston area; she attended St Clare's Primary School, Our Lady's High School and latterly at Kirkham Grammar School. Her mother is of Irish and English descent and her father is from Nigeria.[1]

Career

Dorgu has also appeared in Merseybeat, Loose Women, Casualty (2004), Doctors and Strictly African Dancing.

Dorgu played has performed in many musicals including La Cage Aux Folles, Three Minute Heroes,[2] and the West End production of Mamma Mia!.[1]

Dorgu left her role as Kelly Crabtree in Coronation Street in March 2010.

In winter 2010, Dorgu starred as the Sorceress in the pantomime Robin Hood at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle from 30 November until 15 January 2011. In mid-2011, she made a brief appearance on the BBC's Waterloo Road as newcomer Keeley James.[3]

Dorgu starred as Velma Kelly in the UK 2012 tour of Chicago.[1]

In June 2013, Dorgu became the narrator of Brendan's Magical Mystery Tour (a new show similar to Coach Trip) on Channel 4.

Soapstar Superstar

In January 2007, Dorgu was a contestant in UK reality programme Soapstar Superstar. The show (which is hosted by Zoë Ball) placed Dorgu up against ten other soap opera actors. Each night, she had to sing a different song with only 24 hours to learn it. Dorgu survived the bottom two for five nights and then finally went out, after making it to the semi-finals.[4]

Filmography

Year Title Type Role Notes
2003 Doctors TV Annette Poole 1 Episode, Episode Titled: "Nothing to Fear but..."
2003, 2004 Merseybeat TV Natalie Vance 3 Episodes, "Warrior Moon", "Repeat Offender" and "Day of Reckoning"
2004 Casualty TV Rachel Garrard 1 Episode, Episode Titled "Breaking Point"
20042010 Coronation Street TV Kelly Crabtree Series Regular, 439 Episodes
2005 Strictly African Dancing TV Herself Contestant
2006, 2009, 2010 Loose Women TV Herself Guest, 3 Episodes
2007 Soapstar Superstar TV Herself Contestant
2007, 2008 This Morning TV Herself Guest, 6 Episodes
2010 Accused TV Functions Manager Episode Titled: "Willy's Story"
2010, 2012, 2014 The Wright Stuff TV Herself Panelist, 8 Episodes
2010 Come Dine with Me TV Herself Coronation Street Special
2011 Total Wipeout TV Herself Celebrity Special 2
2011 Waterloo Road TV Keely James 1 Episode
2011 The Case TV Nicole Jones 4 Episodes
2013 Brendan's Magical Mystery Tour TV Herself/Narrator Day Time TV Series
2014 M.I. High TV Mandy Pluckley 1 Episode, Episode Titled: "The Problem Probe"
2014 Trying Again TV Chloe 1 Episode
2014 Hatch, Match and Dispatch Radio Duchess BBC Radio 4, Episode Two: "Losing My Penny"
2014 All at Sea TV Molly Tipton 1 Episode, Episode Titled: "Valentine"
2015 Cucumber TV Rosemary Pinks 1 Episode

Theatre

Title Role Theatre
La Cage Aux Folles Dermah English Theatre, Frankfurt
Three Minute Heroes Sonia Belgrade Theatre
Mamma Mia Ali Prince Edward Theatre
Hillbrow Johanna Courtyard Theatre
Robin Hood Sorceress Theatre Royal
Chicago Velma Kelly UK Tour Production, Number One Tour
Educating Rita Rita The Garrick, Lichfield
Teechers Hobby Theatre Royal Wakefield and Tour
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Pantomime) Wicked Queen Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Noises Off Belinda Bleir Royal Court Liverpool

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hutchinson, Charles (2012-04-13). "Chicago, Grand Opera House, York, April 16 to 21". The Press. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  2. "Three-minute heroes take the limelight once again", Coventry Evening Telegraph 15 September 2000
  3. "TV Preview: Waterloo Road - BBC1, 7.30pm". The Mirror. 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  4. Crook, Amanda (2007-02-08). "Soap star gives winnings to charity". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2012-08-22.

External links