TIMING is everything for an actor. And Coronation Street star Tupele Dorgu knew it was the right time to leave gobby Kelly Crabtree and the famous cobbles behind.

“It was a decision I’d been thinking about for a long time, but had to wait for the right time to do it,” she says.

“I was in it for five-and-a-half years. It goes so quickly and storylines kept coming along. I kept thinking ‘wait until that’s over’.

“So, when I left it wasn’t a case of should I, shouldn’t I? It wasn’t a case of whether they would maybe ask me to stay. I just knew I wanted to move on and do different things.

“It was such a great time in Coronation Street, such a great place to work and everyone was so brilliant, but I felt I did not want to do it for a really long time.”

She didn’t want to stay and realise in ten or 15 years’ time that she hadn’t tried all the things she fancied doing. “I didn’t want to feel I should have done that.

I had to have a bit of foresight and make a decision as to when I wanted to go,” she says.

“When you go in, you always think you’ll only go in for six or 12 months and get a bit of money, a bit of a profile and then move on to other things. Then you stay a bit longer, then a bit longer, and that’s what had been happening.

“So I chose a good time for me to leave which would fit in with my life and suit me. I’ve never really looked back.”

One of her reasons for leaving was to do “things like this” – this being the “sheriff-busting, tightswearing, hog-roasting extravaganza of pantomime fun” that is this year’s seasonal show Robin Hood – The Pantomime Adventure at Newcastle Theatre Royal.

Lancashire-born Dorgu is cast as the Sorceress opposite father and son duo Clive Webb and Danny Adams, returning for what’s set to be another recordbreaking Theatre Royal pantomime.

The cast also features Steve Arnott as the villainous Sheriff, Phil Corbitt as The Henchman and Chris Hayward in his 26th panto appearance as Nurse Rita.

Dorgu hasn’t done panto for about ten years but says she knows what to expect, although I wouldn’t be so sure with slapstick kings Webb and Adams around. It’s already been revealed that the show will feature 3D and a fire-breathing dragon.

She’ll be used to fiery beasts having moved from Corrie to being a celebrity contestant in Marco’s Kitchen Burnout under chef Marco Pierre White. Dorgu has also done a small role in new Jimmy McGovern BBC1 series The Accused and a project with Trinny and Susannah.

SHE’S also busy running her own business, Sugarstorm, an entertainment agency providing celebrity appearances and entertainment for corporate functions, weddings and other events. She set up the business with her husband.

“I know a lot of celebrities and have been in the West End so have a lot of friends who are singers and musicians.

We thought it would be easy to put them in touch with people organising events, corporate functions, weddings and things like that,” she explains.

“So that’s what we do – personal appearances, hosting, shop openings.

It’s working really well, we’ve just had our third birthday party which OK magazine covered.

“It’s been really good. Because I was never really fullon seven days a week at Corrie, I had the time to do it. Now it works really well. It’s full time for me if I’m not doing anything and can give all my time to it. If I’m working or can’t physically do what’s needed, I get staff in.”

She worked as a singer and dancer all over Europe after training in drama and musical theatre, including a stint in the West End cast of Mamma Mia! During her time in Corrie, she managed to sing at charity events around Manchester.

“I always wanted to be in 42nd Street.

I saw it when I was young and loved it, the dancing on coins and things.

It was just awesome,” she says. “I was really lucky to get the opportunity to train and do it fulltime.

You never ever imagine you’ll be the girl on Coronation Street, so I’m blessed really.”

■ Robin Hood – The Pantomime Adventure: Newcastle Theatre Royal, November 30 to January 15. Tickets 08448- 112121 and online theatreroyal.co.uk