Fleeshman to release album this year

Former Coronation Street star Richard Fleeshman will release his debut album before the year is out.

The actor, who played Craig Harris on the ITV1 soap, signed a contract with Universal Records last month. Rather than recording cover versions, Fleeshman has been allowed to write his own material for the album.

A source told the Daily Star: "The album will be out by the end of the year. Richard's taking this seriously. It's not a case of another soap person doing something cheesy. He's a talented guy and had been biding his time to make the right record. Hopefully people will look past the stereotype and judge him on the music."

Fleeshman won singing contest Soapstar Superstar in 2006.