Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Explorer hits ocean depths in trench dive
Shirley joy over Will’s Corrie role
EXPLORER Richard Garriott made history yesterday by diving to the deepest place on the planet and returning safely.
The trip to the 36,000ft depths of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean took years to plan.
British-born Richard, 59, became the first person to have flown in space, been to both the North and South Poles and now reach the bottom of the world.
He spent 12 hours underwater taking a pack of Rowntrees Fruit Pastilles to keep him going.
Hoping to inspire a new generation of explorers, he also took pictures drawn by young Mirror readers with him on his adventure.
After his journey he simply said: “Back on the surface! Great dive.”
WILL Mellor says he has finally made mum Shirley proud by landing a role in Corrie, 32 years after she first hoped he would join the soap.
The actor was hired to play drug dealer Harvey. It comes after a difficult 12 months during which he lost dad Bill.
Speaking of Shirley’s joy, Will, 44, said: “I got with an agent in Manchester when I was 12. I went to an open audition, because I couldn’t afford drama school.
“They took me in the room to have a chat. And the agent said, ‘We want him in our agency. He’s got great confidence.’
“And from that moment I got in, mum said, ‘I’d just love him to get on Corrie.’
“And I was 12. So she’s had to wait 32 years. And finally, her son’s on Coronation Street. And not playing the nicest character, but she’s over the moon, so are all the family.
“We’ve all had a really tough year, losing my father last year. And this has been a real boost for us. A bit of fun.
“I love the character. It’s very different
for me.” Will’s first appearance on screen will be on Friday March 12.
He added: “I will be watching at home with my wife and kids. That will be unusual as stuff I have done hasn’t been something the kids would watch and mostly I am an embarrassment to them.
“But my daughter is a Corrie fan. My mum will be on the phone to tell me what she thinks.”
Will said he will wear Bill’s ring on screen as a tribute to him. Harvey will put pressure on Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) and mum Leanne (Jane Danson) who get mixed up in crime.
And he is prepared for some abuse in the street from fans who struggle to separate real life from soaps. Will added: “I’ve already had messages going, ‘Why can’t you leave Simon and Leanne alone?’ And I was like, ‘I’m not even on screen yet.’”