Coronation Street bosses are replacing Amber Chadwick (pictured) with actress Elle Mulvaney in the role of little Amy Barlow. Elle will be the sixth actress to play Steve McDonald's (Simon Gregson) and Tracy Barlow's (Kate Ford) six-year-old daughter. A source told the Sun that an upcoming plot, which sees Tracy let out of prison to attend grandmother Blanche Hunt's funeral, needs a 'really good little actress'. Amy was originally played as a newborn by Holly Bower in early 2004. Rebecca Pike took on the role for 17 months until June 2005. Louisa Morris then appeared for four months as Amy before being replaced by Madison Hampson, and Amber has played the part for nearly four years. The source added: "Amber was lovely, but Elle is a very natural little actress." A Coronation Street spokeswoman confirmed: "Amy has some big storylines coming up so we decided to recast an older child who could play younger. "This is common practice. For example, Alex Bain is two years older than Simon is on screen." Click here to watch whatsontv.co.uk’s weekly soaps video preview, the Soap Scoop
