Nikki Sanderson

Career

Sanderson was born in Blackpool, Lancashire and joined Coronation Street in 1999 and 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 a self-confessed karaoke enthusiast, Sanderson has made several television appearances singing, most notably on ITV's Madonna Mania, Discomania, Abba Mania 2 and Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes, where her impression of LeAnn Rimes, singing the smash hit 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.

She has appeared on the cover of Loaded magazine and in August 2005, the cover of Maxim magazine and in June 2006 the cover of FHM as the headlining feature of the issue, combining a photo shoot and exclusive interview with one of the magazine's journalists.

For 2006 and 2007, she was signed up by hip sports fashion footwear brand KangaROOS to head up their high-profile new print advertising campaign.

In June 2007, it was reported that Sanderson would make a brief return to Coronation Street in autumn 2007, when her character, Candice Stowe, turns up during the build up to Sarah Platt's (Tina O'Brien) wedding. However these reports were later dismissed by Sanderson during an appearance on ITV's Loose Women due to "scheduling problems".

She appeared in the "Tuareg Productions" play Living Under One Roof at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham from 26–30 June 2007.

She appeared in the second series of All Star Family Fortunes which aired on 25 December 2007.

In 2008 she joined the cast of the ITV1 series, Heartbeat, set in the 1960s, to play the part of Dawn Bellamy. She played the part of Audrey in the horror film Boogeyman 3 released in 2009. She plays the character Gee Gee, a dance teacher, in the 2008 film Clubbed, an underworld drama set in the early 1980s.

Sanderson starred in the 2010 UK tour of The Vagina Monologues.

In September 2012, it was announced that Sanderson had joined the cast of Hollyoaks as Maxine Minniver. Sanderson's first episode was aired on 5 November 2012.

In December 2012, Sanderson appeared in pantomime as Peter Pan at the Gracie Fields Theatre in Rochdale.

In late 2013, Sanderson, along with her Hollyoaks co-star and on-screen boyfriend Jeremy Sheffield, appeared in character as their Hollyoaks characters Maxine and Patrick in a series of government "This is Abuse" adverts, highlighting the issues of domestic violence, following on from the domestic violence storyline their characters previously addressed in the soap opera. In the adverts, first broadcast in November, Patrick reads the private messages on Maxine's mobile phone, he then intimidates her into changing her clothes on the night of a party, insisting that the clothes she is wearing make her look "cheap", Patrick then kisses her and threatens that she not to do anything that would make them look foolish, the advert ends with the on screen graphic "Abuse in relationships isn't always physical".

For her portrayal of Maxine, Sanderson received nominations for the "Best Actress" award at the British Soap Awards 2014 and 2015. She was also nominated for "Beat Serial Performance" at the National Television Awards 2015.

Personal life

Sanderson dated her former Coronation Street co-star Danny Young from 2005 to February 2009.