Sir Ian McKellen has confirmed that he will be joining the cast of Coronation Street.
"For my next job I shall realise a long-held ambition – to appear in Coronation Street," the Lord of the Rings star posted to his mckellen.com website. "On 29 March I go to the Granada Studios in Manchester and team up with the regulars for 10 episodes as Mel Hutchwright, a dodgy novelist invited to meet the local reading group. More I shouldn’t reveal, except that the script is hilarious and well up to the Street’s current high standards as UK’s most popular television programme."
It is understood that the soap's top brass flew to Hollywood especially to sign McKellen up for the programme.
"About 15 years ago I turned down a previous offer to visit the Street, as Elsie Tanner’s long-lost nephew," Sir Ian continued. "But I chickened out. After all it can’t be easy to fit in with the expertise of the cast who have made Coronation Street so watchable over so many years. Now, I am nervous but raring to go. I don’t yet know what Mel will look like nor sound like (a bit of my native northern accent maybe) but I’m already studying his lines, as rehearsal time is scarce for the five-times-a-week show."
"For my next job I shall realise a long-held ambition – to appear in Coronation Street," the Lord of the Rings star posted to his mckellen.com website. "On 29 March I go to the Granada Studios in Manchester and team up with the regulars for 10 episodes as Mel Hutchwright, a dodgy novelist invited to meet the local reading group. More I shouldn’t reveal, except that the script is hilarious and well up to the Street’s current high standards as UK’s most popular television programme."
It is understood that the soap's top brass flew to Hollywood especially to sign McKellen up for the programme.
"About 15 years ago I turned down a previous offer to visit the Street, as Elsie Tanner’s long-lost nephew," Sir Ian continued. "But I chickened out. After all it can’t be easy to fit in with the expertise of the cast who have made Coronation Street so watchable over so many years. Now, I am nervous but raring to go. I don’t yet know what Mel will look like nor sound like (a bit of my native northern accent maybe) but I’m already studying his lines, as rehearsal time is scarce for the five-times-a-week show."
More: Soaps
Soap Scoop
'Enders Jack stands up to Derek - PicsJack has an angry showdown with Derek on EastEnders later this month.
Soaps Interviews
Emmerdale star talks John Barton exitWe chat to James Thornton about his dramatic Emmerdale departure.
Soap Ratings
Helen Flanagan's Corrie exit draws 9.3mThe young actress brings in more than 9.2m for both episodes in the double bill.
Reality Bites
Does Simon Cowell have new SuBo?: VideoWatch a clip of Jonathan Antoine, who is tipped for success on BGT.
