List of Coronation Street Characters (2009) - Claudia Colby

Claudia Colby arrives as an old friend of Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls).

On 5 October 2009, it was announced that Rula Lenska would portray Claudia. A Coronation Street spokesperson said: "Rula will play a glamorous friend of Audrey's who she meets up with at a function. She makes Audrey think about her life and what she wants out of it. She will film her scenes on Friday, October 16 and will appear on screen in the run-up to Christmas."

In 2010, Sue Nicholls has revealed that Lenska would return to Coronation Street for a future storyline. Talking about Audrey and Claudia’s relationship Sue said "Yes, she’s a little bit like the wicked witch, isn’t she? It’s great fun. In my head Claudia is that friend you know is always going to be a pain. She’s the one who says the wrong thing, is always trying to out do you and has a habit of saying really horrid things even though she thinks they’re a joke. But I think in a funny way they really do get on. She gets quite drunk at the party and when Audrey makes her announcement she has no qualms about filling Gail in on Lewis’s past." She made a return in later 2010. In December 2010, it was reported that Claudia may become landlady of the local pub The Rovers Return replacing Liz McDonald, a spokesperson said "Claudia ticks all the boxes for a feisty, no-nonsense landlady of a certain age. She could certainly make a great Rovers boss to follow in Liz's footsteps." However producer Phil Collinson later said the storyline suggestion was untrue.

In May 2011 it was announced that Lenska was to leave the serial in order to appear in theatre. A spokesperson for the serial stated: "We've loved having Rula. She's been absolutely brilliant as Claudia and we hope one day she'll return." Her departure will allow fellow characters Audrey and Marc to pursue a relationship. Producers decided to "leave the door open" for a possible return in the future as Claudia has proven to be a popular character.