The actress was spotted at two bridalshops in Preston looking at gowns and was overheard talking about "just being asked".

Her employers Granada initially confirmed she was getting hitched.

A spokesman at Coronation Street said: "She's only just started telling people."

But when the star was approached by the Evening Post played down suggestions of marriage.

The former Kirkham Grammar School pupil told the Evening Post: "I was in there for somebody else."

The coy 30-year-old actress, who plays Underworld machinist Kelly Crabtree in the ITV1 soap, was at Dan Kerr Brides, Lancaster Road at 1.30pm on Tuesday.

A Fulwood woman, who was trying on bridesmaid dresses, said: "She came into the shop and caused a real big stir.

"She was looking at dresses and one of the sales assistants overheard her on her phone saying: 'I'm just in the dress shop now. It feels really surreal because he's only just asked.'"

Tupele, who was with an older lady, also went to look at dresses in the nearby shop One & Only Bridal Couture.

Tupele runs entertainment agency Sugar Storm - which lines up celebrities to appear at functions - with boyfriend Mark Rogerson.

The soap actresses Irish mother and Nigerian father still live in Fulwood and Tupele regularly returns to her roots.

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