Parrot joins 'Coronation Street' cast

A new cast member of the feathered variety began filming with Coronation Street this week.

A blue and yellow Macaw parrot called John (real name Charlie) will arrive on the Street when Jesse Chadwick (John Thomson) moves into Number 11 with his girlfriend Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) after his mother throws him out.

However, in a series of comedy scenes, John takes an immediate disliking to Eileen.

With the ability to mimic voices, the three-year-old Macaw has caused hysterics on set by copying what the actors and production teams say.

His owner Sarah Purdy told the soap's official site: "He just picks up what the actors say. They were rehearsing their scripts and he picked it up and said what the actors were supposed to say! The cast and crew have been in hysterics at him."

Of working with the bird, Thomson said: "I thought we'd have to teach it its lines but it directly mimics all the actors and the assistant director.

"Charlie has actually mimicked to perfection the first assistant director when he's said 'from the top'. The parrot says it exactly on cue! I wouldn't be surprised if next week I arrived at work, the parrot's been given a job directing the show!"

Charlie first appears on screen at the end of August.