Visitors making the most of the Easter weekend at Twycross Zoo were in for a surprise on Good Friday, as Coronation Street favourite Tina O’Brien was spotted on a family day out with her young son, Beau.

The actress, best known for her role as Sarah Platt on the long-running ITV soap, spent the day exploring the zoo’s 100-acre site, making the most of a series of up-close animal experiences and soaking up the relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Fresh-faced and dressed for the early spring chill in a tan fleece and jeans, Tina kept things effortlessly low-key as she enjoyed the day with Beau, blending in easily with other visitors.

Tina and Beau’s visit coincided with an exciting “baby boom” at the zoo, which has recently welcomed both a newborn gibbon and a bonobo infant - a particularly special arrival, as Twycross is the only zoo in the UK where visitors can see bonobos, one of humans’ closest living relatives and an endangered species that the zoo is working to protect.

During their visit, Tina was spotted:

  • taking part in a giraffe feeding experience, getting up close with the towering animals
  • enjoying a hands-on capybara feeding session alongside Beau
  • chatting with animal keepers and learning more about the zoo’s conservation work
  • strolling through the zoo grounds and stopping to see the newest arrivals
  • pausing for a tasty lunch at the zoo’s restaurant, where she and Beau were spotted watching the animals between bites

Onlookers described her as warm and down-to-earth throughout the visit. One guest commented: “She looked amazing but so relaxed - just really present with her son and clearly enjoying the day.

“It was lovely to see.” Beyond the star sighting, the zoo’s recent arrivals highlight important conservation milestones.

Both the gibbon and bonobo births form part of vital conservation programmes, helping to protect vulnerable species and support global biodiversity. Looking ahead, Twycross Zoo is continuing to invest in the future of conservation through its new Global Conservation Centre - a £25 million development set to open in early 2027, alongside plans for on-site accommodation, making future visits for families like Tina’s easier and more immersive than ever.