Michelle Keegan happy for Tina to be gay

Michelle Keegan says she'd have no problem if her 'Coronation Street' alter-ego became a lesbian.

The stunning actress plays feisty Tina McIntyre in the ITV1 soap and while she is currently dating Graeme Proctor - who is set to marry Chinese immigrant Xin Chiang to help her stay in the country in a scheme organised by Tina - she wouldn't be adverse to the brunette bombshell getting into a relationship with another woman.

When asked if she handle it if her character came out as being gay, as Sophie Webster and Sian Powers did, Michelle replied: "If the storyline required it, then you just do it. Everyone is so close on set and all the cast get on really well, so it wouldn't be a problem. It would definitely be a different side to Tina!"

While she loves her character, Michelle isn't impressed with Tina's plan with Graeme and Xin as she knows it will have great implications for their relationship.

She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Tina thought she'd come up with a really good plan but it's sort of backfired. I don't think she realises how serious the situation is and it starts to affect her relationship with Graeme."

The 23-year-old beauty also revealed how much she will miss Craig Gazey, who plays Graeme, when she leaves the soap later this year.

She said: "Craig's leaving in about two months, which is really sad, but I think it will only hit me when he's filming his last scenes.

"I'm close to all of my on-screen boyfriends - Jack Shepherd, Ryan Thomas and Craig. We're all really good mates. When you work with a person day in and day out, you become close."