Nikki Ann Sanderson, born on 28 March 1984 in Blackpool, is an accomplished actress and former glamour model, best known for her roles in popular television soap operas. She gained widespread recognition for portraying Candice Stowe in Coronation Street, Dawn Bellamy in Heartbeat, and Maxine Minniver in Hollyoaks. Throughout her career, Sanderson has not only excelled as an actress but has also showcased her talents as a television presenter on various programmes, including CD, Junior Eurovision: The British Final, and Ministry of Mayhem.
Sanderson’s acting career began in 1999 when she joined Coronation Street as Candice Stowe, a character who would become a fan favourite. She left the show in 2005 when her character moved to become a stylist for the band Status Quo. Before her stint on Coronation Street, she had appeared in children’s television drama Children’s Ward, and in 2004, she featured in the fitness DVD Coronation Street: Funk Fit.
After her departure from Coronation Street, Sanderson expanded her acting career with guest appearances in BBC series such as Holby City and New Street Law, where she worked alongside fellow Coronation Street actors Chris Gascoyne and Chris Bisson. She also toured with a production of The Vagina Monologues in 2006, alongside renowned actress Jerry Hall, and appeared in an episode of Kay Mellor’s Strictly Confidential. Additionally, she participated in a variety of music-related television shows, including Madonna Mania, Discomania, and Abba Mania 2. Sanderson also competed in Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes, where her rendition of LeAnn Rimes’ “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” from Coyote Ugly earned her the top spot. Her talent for singing was further showcased on The X Factor: Battle of the Stars, where she was eliminated fifth, despite battling tonsillitis during her performance. In 2006 and 2007, Sanderson became the face of sports fashion footwear brand KangaROOS for their advertising campaign. Later, in 2007, reports surfaced suggesting that she might return to Coronation Street for a brief cameo, but these were later debunked by Sanderson herself during an appearance on Loose Women. She also appeared in the play Living Under One Roof at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham.
In 2008, Sanderson joined the cast of the ITV1 drama Heartbeat, set in the 1960s, where she portrayed Dawn Bellamy. That same year, she also starred in the horror film Boogeyman 3 as Audrey and played the character Gee Gee, a dance teacher, in the film Clubbed, a gritty drama set in the early 1980s. Her next major role came in 2012 when she joined Hollyoaks as Maxine Minniver. Sanderson’s first appearance aired on 5 November 2012, and she quickly became a beloved character. In 2013, she and her on-screen partner Jeremy Sheffield, who played Patrick, appeared in a series of government adverts as part of the “This is Abuse” campaign, which highlighted the issue of domestic violence. For her portrayal of Maxine, Sanderson earned several nominations, including Best Actress at the British Soap Awards in both 2014 and 2015, and Best Serial Drama Performance at the National Television Awards in 2015.
In addition to her acting career, Sanderson’s versatility has made her a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, with her talent extending beyond the screen to music and theatre.
Pictured below are Coronation Street actresses, from left to right; Kate Ford, Samia Ghadie, Nikki Sanderson and Sally Lindsay with their award for Best TV Drama taken on 27 January 2005.
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