Will Mellor has told how he finally made mum Shirley proud by landing a role in Corrie, 32 years after she first hoped he would join the soap.
The actor was hired to play drug dealer Harvey. It comes after a difficult 12 months during which he lost dad Bill.
Speaking of Shirley’s joy, Will, 44, said: “I got with an agent in Manchester when I was 12. I went to an open audition, because I couldn’t afford drama school.
“They took me in the room to have a chat. And the agent said, ‘We want him in our agency. He’s got great confidence.’
“And from that moment I got in, mum said, ‘I’d just love him to get on Corrie.’
“And I was 12. So she’s had to wait 32 years. And finally, her son’s on Coronation Street. And not playing the nicest character, but she’s over the moon, so are all the family.
“We’ve all had a really tough year, losing my father last year. And this has been a real boost for us. A bit of fun.
“I love the character. It’s very different for me.”
Will’s first appearance on screen will be on Friday March 12.
He added: “I will be watching at home with my wife and kids. That will be unusual as stuff I have done hasn’t been something the kids would watch and mostly I am an embarrassment to them.
“But my daughter is a Corrie fan. My mum will be on the phone to tell me what she thinks.”
Will said he will wear Bill’s ring on screen as a tribute to him. Harvey will put pressure on Simon Barlow ( Alex Bain ) and mum Leanne ( Jane Danson ) who get mixed up in crime.
And he is prepared for some abuse in the street from fans who struggle to separate real life from soaps. Will added: “I’ve already had messages going, ‘Why can’t you leave Simon and Leanne alone?’
"And I was like, ‘I’m not even on screen yet.’”
*Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV.
