ITV Coronation Street star barely recognisable as she debuts striking new look two decades after soap death

ITV Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw, 51, has been inundated with praise after taking to social media recently with a new string of selfies.

The actress is a familiar figure in soap fans’ memories following her stint on the cobbles as Maxine Peacock.

Shaw joined the ITV soap in her early 20s in 1995 and quickly established herself as one of the street’s fieriest and sought-after characters.

Over the course of her stint on the soap, Shaw’s character enjoyed romances with several street residents, including Des Barnes, Andy McDonald and Tony Horrocks but it was with local butcher Ashley Peacock who she decided to settle down with.

But in what was a groundbreaking storyline at the time, Maxine met a deadly end on the soap after being murdered by serial killer Richard Hillman (played by Brian Capron).

The 51-year-old has continued to act since departing the ITV soap and has built up a following of thousands of fans on her social media channels.

Just last week, Shaw revealed the short-length blonde hair synonymous with Maxine was no more.

Instead, the actress now sports stunning long curls, as exhibited in a series of smiley selfies earlier this month.

Fans quickly rushed to praise the star’s ageless looks after she shared her latest update, with one follower commenting: “Wow these four are beautiful and amazing photos of you there Tracy.”

“You look very happy and well! Embracing those lovely curls,” a second added while a third weighed in: “You look fab.”

The compliments kept coming from a fourth who remarked: “Looking extraordinarily gorgeous, love your hair,” followed by a love heart emoji.

Since her exit from the ITV soap, Shaw reappeared on screens in BBC dramas Casualty and Doctors.

Earlier this year, she starred in the feature-length drama Cookster: The Darkest Days alongside Harry Potter star Nick Moran and The Batman actor Craige Middleburg.

Maxine’s demise came weeks before her killer Richard Hillman met his own comeuppance when he tried to kill the Platt family.

After driving their car into a canal with Gail, David and Sarah Platt all inside, he was the only one not to emerge from the water.

Two decades after Shaw and Capron left as part of the storyline, Gail Platt actress Helen Worth has decided to call time on her tenure on the soap.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

BBC Radio star dies aged 40 after year-long cancer battle as wife issues statementJohn Torode storms out of BBC Celebrity MasterChef kitchen over star’s timing bombshellThe Grand Tour boss sparks concern as he shares ‘touching’ parting gift from team

The 73-year-old said earlier this year: “I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding.

“I have been truly blessed to have been given the most incredible scripts week in week out, and to have worked with fantastic actors, directors and a brilliant crew.

“The past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.”