Sarah Harding (17th November 1981 - 5th September 2021) was an English singer and actress best known for being in the girl group Girls Aloud. She appeared on Coronation Street between July and August 2015 as Robert Preston's wife Joni.
Born Sarah Nicole Hardman in Ascot, Berkshire, she moved to Stockport following the separation of her parents at the age of fourteen and went on to study hair and beauty at Stockport College. Harding auditioned for the second British series of Popstars: The Rivals in 2002 and was sorted into the group Girls Aloud alongside Nadine Coyle, Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts, and Kimberley Walsh. The group achieved twenty consecutive UK top ten singles, six albums and five BRIT Award nominations. Girls Aloud won "Best Single" in 2009 with their song "The Promise".
Her credits on the big screen include roles in St. Trinian's, Bad Day, St. Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold and Run for your Wife and was cast in the role of Molly in the touring production of Ghost the Musical.
In August 2020, Harding publicly revealed that she was battling advanced breast cancer. It was announced in March 2021 that her cancer was terminal and that she did not expect to see another Christmas. Harding passed away in September of the same year and several of her Coronation Street co-stars including Kym Marsh and Catherine Tyldesley paid tribute to her.
