Corrie's North "hated" on screen absence

Coronation Street's Mikey North has admitted that he "hated" being off-screen when Gary Windass was in Afghanistan.

Gary spent time in the country last year but returned following an attack which killed his best friend Quinny. Speaking to Digital Spy, North confessed that being absent from the ITV soap was the only downside to the plot.

"I hated it, and like you say, it was the main downside because I didn't like being off work!" he said. "It was a bit of a tough time, but I just clung to the fact that the storyline would get to the point where I could come back and feature on the street again."

He continued: "That was always the light at the end of the tunnel, but it was difficult being off. It sounds daft as for most people it would be nice to be off and sit at home all day, but I hate that - I'd much rather be at work!"

North also revealed that the storyline, which has seen Gary struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, will "run and run" for the rest of the year.

Corrie Extra: Gary's Army Diaries airs on Monday, January 31 at 10pm on ITV2.

> Click here to read our interview with Mikey North