Rick’s ex gives Gary grief
MIKEY NORTH (GARY) IS ITCHING TO FILM THE BLOCKBUSTER SCENES CORRIE BOSSES HAVE BEEN PLOTTING FOR MONTHS…
Cobbles boss Iain Macleod revealed to Inside Soap earlier this year that Corrie would follow its annual tradition of airing an explosive week of drama during the week of the Britain’s
Got Talent live finals – with Gary Windass at the heart of the action. The smart money was on the body of Gary’s victim and former nemesis Rick Neelan being unearthed. But with the soaps currently paused due to Covid-19, actor Mikey North tells us that Gary’s secrets are staying buried for a little while longer…
Hi, Mikey! So, is Gary living on more borrowed time than you thought?
Honestly, we had some huge stuff planned. What we had in the pipeline was going to be a culmination of the past year of Gary’s life, and possibly the final chapter of this story. I think we were due to start filming it on the Monday that the country went into lockdown! I’m hoping we’ll pick it straight up. A lot of it was due to be filmed on location and I have everything crossed as the scripts were just fantastic. I was really excited to do it!
Gary never intended to kill anyone – that’s my excuse anyway!
But we will see Gary’s demons resurface now that Rick’s daughter, Kelly, has turned up – and this week we meet her mum, Laura. Tell us more…
Gary’s been keeping his promise, paying Kelly’s school fees so that Sharon doesn’t blab to the police about Gary killing Rick. However, Kelly explains to him that she’s been kicked out of the school, and that her mum hasn’t paid the fees. So when Laura arrives on the Street, Gary confronts her.
How does he account for the fact that Rick is actually dead?
Gary tells Laura he’s been in touch with Rick, which obviously he hasn’t! Gary knows she has kept the money he’s been sending for herself, so he points out that Rick will probably kill her if he finds out. Gary hopes that’ll be enough to get Kelly back to the private school.
We’re seeing more of Gary’s softer side, sometimes even his comical side. Do you enjoy playing that?
Gary has done some pretty inexcusable things, like beating people up, so as an actor you have to find lighter elements. Otherwise, there aren’t many people left on the Street he hasn’t had a fight with. I’ve probably got a career as a stunt double one day if the acting goes wrong!
Viewers love a soap bad boy, though! Samia Longchambon (Maria) told us ladies of a certain age were slipping you their hotel room keys…
Honestly, Samia is still amazed by that! She just doesn’t get what they see in Gary. I guess that’s what happens when you’re playing a bit of a bad boy – you’re going to get people hating you, and some liking you!
Do you know where Gary’s heart truly lies – is it all over with Sarah?
Well, I know that Gary and Sarah is something that Corrie is keen to revisit, as I had some stuff coming up with Tina [O’brien, who plays her] before everything went into lockdown. There is definitely unfinished business between them...
We doubt Maria will want to give up the lovely new flat that Gary bought them in a hurry, though…
Haha! It’s quite ironic that fist-wielding Gary Windass is living in a pink palace! I know that Samia likes it and she enjoys filming in there. It’s definitely more Maria than it is Gary, though it’s nice for him to have his own place on the Street for once.
Congrats on becoming a dad for the second time in real life, we presume that’s keeping you busy?
I haven’t been off work for this long in a while so it’s been great to spend time with the family – although with two young kids I’ll look forward to getting back to Corrie for a break! [Laughs] The newest addition [Eliza] is tricky, bless her, she’s not the easiest so we’ve definitely got our hands full. But Archie [Mikey’s three-yearold son] is a good lad, and is helping to look after her when he can.
Finally, what does the future hold for Gary? Will he one day have to pay for the fact that he’s a killer?
With Rick it really was self-defence – Gary didn’t have much choice! The factory roof is a bit harder to brush off. I guess Gary never intended to kill anyone, it’s just that he’s covered it up for so long. That’s my excuse, anyway! [Laughs] I’ve been on the show for 12 years, and we’re heading towards the 60th anniversary – so I’d love to be involved with that if I can be!