David Neilson: 'Corrie fame was a shock'

David Neilson has admitted that he found it difficult to adjust to overnight fame after joining Coronation Street.

The star made his debut as Roy Cropper on the Weatherfield soap in 1995 after working as a jobbing actor in theatre and television since the '70s.

Speaking to The Mirror, he explained: "It was a shock. Occasionally I would be on television in something and someone would recognise me as an actor, but this was different.

"If you are in someone's living room three times a week you become a member of the family, so I was surprised at first."

Neilson moved to Barcelona in 2002, and still spends much of his time there with wife Jane when he is not busy working on the ITV1 drama.

He commented: "I need to get away from Roy and be myself and they don't know Roy in Barcelona. If I'm in Spain for a few days I forget what I do for a living, which is the important thing.

"It means when I come back and someone shouts 'Roy', for a moment I forget they're actually talking to me. And it's only a couple of hours on the plane so I can commute to Manchester easily enough."

Neilson recently ruled out ever making public appearances as Roy, arguing that it would "make a mockery" of the character.

> Click here to read our recent interview with David Neilson