A former Brookside actor has joined the cast of Coronation Street.
Scenes this week introduced the character of Frank Bardsley as a new love interest for Sean Tully. As soon as he appeared on the screen, fans instantly recognised the actor, Simon O'Brien, as Damon Grant from Brookside.
The 56-year-old actor, from Garston, is remembered by a huge generation of soap fans for the role that he played opposite screen parents, Royle Family stars Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston. He starred in the soap for five years from 1982 when the very first episode aired.
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He and on-screen other half, Debbie, had a spin-off Damon and Debbie. It ran for just three episodes in 1987, where Damon was killed off.
In the 1990s, after a spell presenting BBC football show Standing Room Only and a regular role on the American sitcom Out All Night. He left show business for a while and, with Alan Bate, set up Liverpool Cycle Centre, a combination of vegetarian café, cycle shop, cycle parking and other resources relevant to his enthusiasm for cycling.
For the last thirty years he has successfully combined dual careers of acting and presenting. He has acted in Grange Hill, Casualty, Liverpool 1 and had many TV presenting roles including current Channel 4 property show, The Great House Giveaway, Lost and Found, he fronted 1980s shows like Move It and Standing Room Only and travel show, Rough Guide to the World with Magenta Devine.
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV and the ITV Hub (apart from the week beginning May 30)
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