Nikki Sanderson

Nikki Sanderson (born 28 March 1984) is an English actress and former glamour model who is known for playing Candice Stowe in the television soap opera Coronation Street, Dawn Bellamy in Heartbeat and Maxine Minniver in Hollyoaks. During her time at Coronation Street and since, she has also been a television presenter on programmes such as CD:UK, Junior Eurovision: The British Final and Ministry of Mayhem. Career Sanderson was born in Blackpool, Lancashire and joined Coronation Street in 1999. She left in autumn 2005, when her character left Weatherfield to become a stylist for Status Quo. Prior to this, she had appeared in children's drama Children's Ward and in 2004, the hit fitness DVD Coronation Street: Funk Fit. Since leaving Coronation Street she has appeared in episodes of the BBC television series' Holby City and New Street Law alongside fellow Coronation Street alumni Chris Gascoyne and Chris Bisson. In 2006, Sanderson appeared in a touring production of The Vagina Monologues with Jerry Hall amongst others and an episode of Kay Mellor's Strictly Confidential. A keen singer, and karaoke enthusiast, Sanderson has made several television appearances singing, such as ITV's Madonna Mania, Discomania, Abba Mania 2 and Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes, where her impression of LeAnn Rimes, singing the theme from the film Coyote Ugly, Can't Fight the Moonlight earned her the winner's spot. She has also appeared on The X Factor: Battle of the Stars in the solo 16–24 category, mentored by Sharon Osbourne where she was eliminated fifth. At the time, though, Sanderson was suffering from tonsillitis and was straining her voice to sing.