Former Coronation Street actress Millie Gibson has stressed how a new period drama came to her at a poignant time in her life.

The Doctor Who star is unrecognisable in an upcoming six-part series, The Forsytes, based on the novels of John Galsworthy.

Starring alongside Home and Away actor Joshua Orpin, One Day's Eleanor Tomlinson, This Life actor Jack Davenport, and Downton Abbey actress Tuppence Middleton, as well as Francesca Annis, Jamie Flatters, Susan Hampshire and Danny Griffin, Millie plays the "ambitious wife" of Soames Forsyte (Joshua) who battles against his cousin Jolyon (Danny) about taking over the family firm.

Set in the late Victorian-era, the steamy drama follows familial tensions and marriages erupting as years-long secrets come to life.

The synopsis previously teased: "Sticklers for tradition and status, the older Forsytes prize duty and reputation above all else, whilst the younger members rail against the rigidity of family expectations.

"The question of who will take over the family firm puts Soames Forsyte and his cousin Jolyon in conflict just as their lives are turned upside down by the arrival of two remarkable women.

"Ultimately each Forsyte family member grapples with the same dilemma - is it better to be ruled by the head or the heart?"

Speaking at the launch of the Channel 5 programme, Millie revealed how "special" the role was to her.

She said: "This job will always be very special to me, it came to me at a very needed time, and I fell completely in love with it and I fell in love with the cast and the crew, I will forever be grateful for it."

She continued: "This job was very special to me, I was very lucky enough to work with such an incredible ensemble. When I saw the cast release, I was like, 'Oh my god!'"

She added: "I'm very fortunate enough to have Joshua Orpin play the husband and we had the most special time, and it will always be in my heart, and I've learned so much from this job."

Millie played Kelly Neelan on Corrie for four years before quitting in 2022, saying at the time: "Now that the news is out about me exiting the cobbles, I just want to say I've had the most incredible 4 years. Growing up here, I've made long lasting friendships, learnt so much and I am forever grateful for my time and the storylines I have been given.

"I'm really looking forward to you guys seeing the future episodes coming up and I can't think [Corrie] enough for letting me be a small piece in this beautiful family.

"Kelly Neelan will be apart of my heart always. Thank you to you all for being so supportive."

She later further explained her decision to leave, telling The Mirror: "I have no responsibilities - I don't have kids, I don't have a mortgage to pay or anything like that, I'm still grateful to be living at home.

"So I thought I'm just going to see what else the world has. If it does, it does - that would be quite good, wouldn't it?

"I just thought I might as well see what happens while I'm still young."

She added: "Because I'm so young I thought I've got to leave. It was a decision where it would always be in the back of my mind if I didn't make it, so I had to just go with it and see what happens."

The Forsytes starts Monday, October 20 at 9pm. Watch or stream on 5