CORONATION Street stars young and old will be leaving Manchester’s famous cobbles on April 18 to appear in a one-off variety show in Blackburn.

Thirteen members of the soap will be descending on the Thwaites Empire Theatre to appear in ‘Maddi's Magnificent Corrie Caper’ in aid of a dream holiday for five-year-old cancer patient Madison Allan, of Lower Darwen.

With Ted Robbins as compere, the all-star line-up for the two-hour show includes Rossendale’s Jennine McAlpine and Sam Aston, and Ribble Valley actor Malcolm Hebden.

Recently confirmed stars also making the journey from Weatherfield to Blackburn include Kym Marsh, Steve Huison, Jack Shephard, Scott Wright and Graeme Hawley.

Other members of the show’s cast announced last month include Shobna Gulati, Peter Armitage, Debbie Rush, Ben Thompson and Andy Whyment.

When plans for the show were unveiled last month, tickets sold out in just three days, but the final show line up has only just been revealed.

Highlights will include on-screen double act Sam Aston, on guitar and Andy Whyment on vocals, performing together.

Jennie McAlpine will sing songs from the musicals and a surprise top cast member will make an appearance as a magician’s assistant.

Opera star Jon Christos and comedian Jimmy Cricket will also perform, as will Hollyoaks star Carly Stenson and her girl group Diamond.

Peter Shaw, Coronation Street’s first assistant director, was approached to produce the show by Shobna Gulati.

“Shobna has known Madison Allan since she was a baby, when she came and told me about the idea to hold a variety show I of course agreed to help out.” said Peter.

“The cast are excited about coming to Blackburn, I have told them about the Thwaites Empire Theatre and they are thrilled to be able to perform at such an intimate venue.

“And the theatre are letting us use the venue for free which is just amazing.

“I think that the audience will love seeing people that are well known from TV doing something completely different to what they normally do live in a theatre.

“Normally for these kind of events we get about 10 or 11 members involved, I don’t know when we last had 13. It might be an unlucky number for some people but not for us.”

Proceeds will go towards sending Madison, of Lords Crescent, Lower Darwen - who has rare childhood cancer neuroblastoma - to Euro Disney, Paris, with her family, as she recovers from her latest series of radiotherapy.

* Maddi's Magnificent Corrie Caper is at Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn on Sunday, April 18. Tickets cost £12 - call 01254 685500.