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Catherine Tyldesley has shared a heartbreaking glimpse into the life of a working mother, confessing that when she's away for filming, she often goes “two or three days without speaking” to her children. The former Coronation Street star, who shares her son Alfie, six, and daughter Iris, three, with husband Tom Pitfield, spoke candidly on the Behind The Brood podcast about the emotional toll of long-term filming away from her family.
Catherine was recently filming the Channel 5 drama The Good Ship Murder aboard a cruise ship in Malta, with a combined shoot schedule of over 18 months. Juggling a demanding filming timetable and maternal instinct, she described falling into “work mode”, immersing herself so fully in her role that she becomes “somebody else.”
“When I’m on set, being in Malta as much as I have been, a year-and-a-half in total if you join it all up. I’m OK, because it’s very fast paced. My head is firmly in work mode. I’m somebody else, I’m not me,” she explained.
However, the real emotional challenge hits when the day winds down. “It’s when I get back to that hotel in the evening and it’s silent,” Catherine admitted. She misses bedtime routines: tucking in Iris, chatting with Alfie about his day, those simple moments that build a bond. While she acknowledged that Zoom is “wonderful,” she emphasised, “it’s not the same.” Technology can’t replicate the warmth of a hug, the sound of a child’s voice brushing alongside your shoulder as you read a bedtime story.
Her husband Tom added perspective on how hard it is on the family, too: “Some days we’ll go two or three days without Zooming and that might seem mental to some people. The reality is, you’ll sometimes want to ring Iris and she’s too busy playing with her dollies.” He painted a realistic picture of the logistics: juggling schedules, kids who don’t always stick to video-call plans, and the slower internet on ships.
The actress, who shares son Alfie, 10, and daughter Iris, three, with her husband Tom Pitfield, said on Behind The Brood podcast that the reason is because her career can be fast paced – Credit: Instagram
Despite the difficulty, Catherine remains proud of her work and dedication. But she now says she’s deliberately carving out more quality time with Alfie and Iris when she’s home, prioritising weekend outings, family dinners, and bedtime rituals to reconnect. She even hinted at adjusting her future commitments to allow for more home days.
Catherine’s honesty resonates deeply with parents everywhere facing the same juggle. She admitted with a rueful laugh, “It’s a real balancing act, when you love your career but you love your kids more.” For her, it means planning every day at home like it’s a treasured moment, because, after 18 months at sea, each one truly is.
