Amelia Bullmore Amelia Mary Bullmore was born on 31st January 1964 in London . She took a drama degree at Manchester University . After graduation she was a founder member of the Red Stocking Theatre Company , an all - girl radical comedy group that toured the country performing musical comedies . Her early work was mainly on stage with the Contact Theatre Group in Manchester along with other productions including " Breaking Rank " , " Ladies in the Lift " , " Oh Yes We Can " , " The Threepenny Opera " and " A View From a Bridge " . In February 1990 , she made her television debut in " Coronation Street " as newly married yuppie , Stephanie Barnes and remained with the series for eighteen months . Amelia went on to work in radio and on the film " Woman Of The Wolf " . She also returned to the stage as Leanne and Tish in " The Queen and I " at The Royal Court Theatre , London and later their productions of " Road " and " Thickness of Skin " . In May 1992 , Amelia rejoined " Coronation Street " briefly before appearing at the Glasgow Citizens Theatre in " Major Barbara " and at the Manchester Royal Exchange in " Romeo and Juliet " . She also returned to television as Beth in the comedy " Stuck On You " , opposite Neil Morrissey , and as Catriona Bilborough in " Cracker " alongside Robbie Coltrane . After playing Ros in " Faith " for ITV , Amelia rejoined " Coronation Street " again in 1995 for one month , before taking roles as Caroline Poole in " Frontiers " and Karen in " Hetty Wainthropp Investigates " . She also appeared in the film " Mrs Dalloway " as Rezia Warren Smith , and on television in " The Other Side of Midnight " . A string of comedy credits followed at the turn of the century , and included memorable roles in " Brass Eye " and " I ' m Alan Partridge " . She juggled the dual role of actor and writer for BBC2 ' s sketch show " Big Train " ( 1998 , 2002 ) , " Attachments " ( 2000 ) and " Blue Jam " on radio , which was subsequently remade for television as " Jam " . Her other writing credits include two scripts for the BBC2 drama " This Life " in 1997 and two for " Black Cab " , a series she co - devised , in 2000 . In more recent years , Amelia has played regular characters in several TV series , including Helen Preger in " State of Play " , Joyce Hazeldine in " Suburban Shootout " and Caroline Price in " Ashes to Ashes " . Guest roles have included parts in " Donovan " , " Sorted " , " Dalziel and Pascoe " , " The IT Crowd " , " Agatha Christie ' s Poirot " , " Shameless " and " Lewis " . Returning to writing , her stage play - a comedy entitled " Mammals " - premiered at London ' s Bush Theatre in 2005 before embarking on a UK tour , and was awarded the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for female playwrights . Amelia trod the boards once again in 2008 , in a revival of Alan Ayckbourn trilogy " The Norman Conquests " at the Old Vic Theatre in London . The production was critically acclaimed and transferred to Broadway the following year , where it received Drama Desk and Critics ' Circle awards for its ensemble cast , and a Tony award for Best Play Revival . In 2011 , Amelia played Kay Hope in acclaimed Olympics comedy " Twenty Twelve " . That same year she created the role of DCI Gill Murray in ITV ' s Manchester - based detective drama " Scott & Bailey " , alongside fellow " Coronation Street " alumnus Suranne Jones . Bullmore also contributed scripts for the second and third series . A guest role in an episode of BBC ' s " Sherlock " aired in 2012 , and in 2013 , she returned to TV sketch comedy as part of the cast of " It ' s Kevin " . Amelia lives in London although she used to have a place in Manchester . She was romantically involved with " Families " actor Martin Glyn Murray , whom she met when appearing at the Liverpool Playhouse but later married actor Paul Higgins and they have two daughters , Mary and Flora .