Evil Harvey arrives on the cobbles

TV SUPERSTAR WILL MELLOR TELLS US WHY JOINING CORRIE IS A BAPTISM OF FIRE – AND ALSO A DREAM COME TRUE…

Will Mellor’s acting CV speaks for itself. After huge success in popular dramas and sitcoms such as Broadchurch, Line Of Duty and Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps,

the star – who helped launch Hollyoaks

in the 90s playing fan favourite Jambo – ought to feel very proud. Yet, after three decades in the acting biz, and all he’s achieved, Will admits he’s been chasing a role on Corrie his whole life!

“I used to joke that I was the only northern actor that hadn’t been asked to be in it,” laughs 44-year-old Will, as he makes his cobbles debut this week as evil drug boss, Harvey. “Coming from Manchester, Corrie is a show that I’ve grown up with – and I’ve always said, ‘If they come knocking, I’ll do it!’”

Well, hammer on Will’s door the bosses did. And after a difficult year for him personally, the actor explains why his Street stint couldn’t have come at a better time…

Welcome to Coronation Street, Will! How does it feel to finally step foot on Britain’s famous cobbles? Honestly, this is massive for me! I’m really chuffed to be here – and I want to do the character of Harvey justice for myself and the show. Hopefully people will enjoy the storyline, even though he’s not the nicest man you’ll ever meet.

Yes, Harvey sounds like a nasty piece of work. What can viewers expect? He’s a seasoned baddie who turns vulnerable people into drug dealers and bullies them into doing things they don’t want to. Harvey’s the lowest of the low – and the sort of person that, when he says he’s going to break your legs, he means it!

You’ve not played many villains – was it tricky getting into character? It’s important to me that people see past Will Mellor, and wipe from their minds anything that I’ve done before.