The long time comic and actress is best known for starring in TV sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.

4

4

4

Then more recently she won soap fans over by joining the cobbles as Ken Barlow’s latest love interest.

However, despite playing these notable characters, she has revealed that neither of these jobs made her money as quickly as a non-fictional stint in front of cameras in the 80s.

Helen told the Telegraph that she once made £70k in just a day and a half – by advertising dishwasher tablets.

“By the 80s, I was working a lot on TV and then I landed two adverts: one for Advocaat, the other for Finish dishwasher tablets – and they paid ridiculously well,” she giggled. “I frittered it all on clothes.”

“I was paid £70,000 for a day- and-a-half’s work and that was twenty years ago – one day to say the lines, half-a-day to show my hand inserting the tablet.

“I went to Donna Karan – the proper posh shop, not DKNY – in Bond Street and bought a coat for £300. So yes, I’m a spender. I hate meanness. My attitude is that, if the money’s there, spend it.”

The Finish job may have had her running to the shops, but Helen was equally delighted to join the legendary cast of Coronation Street.

Just before her character Elspeth was introduced to the town, she shared: “When you get the call for Coronation Street you drop everything.

“And to be offered a part playing a role opposite William Roache is even more exciting.

“Bill was such a charming, lovely man.”

4