The actor, who played Mavis Wilton on the cobbles for 26 years between 1971 and 1997, appears in the short film Sleepless in Settle, which has been released for free on YouTube.

Set in the North Yorkshire town of Settle, where Barlow moved to after leaving Corrie, the 22-minute short has been directed by her Dinnerladies co-star Judy Flynn.

The plot focuses on 72-year-old Alan and his 94-year-old mother Barbara, who worries that she hasn’t got much time left and that her son will be all on his own once she passes away.

After watching the film Sleepless in Seattle, she decides that she needs to find her son a nice wife after six years of being single, so he won’t be alone when she’s gone. Unfortunately for her, she gets a lot more interest than she expected, and it’s not long before Alan finds out…

Eagle-eyed Corrie fans might also recognise Alan actor Graham Turner from the soap too, as he played Tai Chi instructor Gerry Northrop in 2023.

Barlow is quoted (via BBC News) as saying that she is “delighted such a sweet comedy will be able to get a wider audience.”

“The film is just the sort of thing people need right now — a gentle comedy,” she added.

“It has a very sweet message that people of different generations can successfully live together. It was such fun to make.”

Although Settle is in the title, the movie was filmed in Rye and Rye Harbour back in September 2023.

Flynn told BBC News last year how reuniting with Barlow came about, stating: “I’ve always admired her work.

“We met again at her 90th birthday party and I asked if I could write something specifically for her and she agreed.

“Filming with Thelma was a total joy. She had so much energy and was full of ideas.”