Dev pays tribute to the real shop heroes of Covid
CORONATION STREET ACTOR JUDGES OUR AWARDS FOR KIND-HEARTED CORNER SHOP BOSSES – AND WE REVEAL HOW THEY HELPED IN LOCKDOWN
CORONATION Street star Jimmi Harkishin has joined our campaign to celebrate heroes who worked day and night to distribute food, medicine and essentials to the elderly and vulnerable through three national lockdowns.
Jimmi, 56, plays corner shop boss Dev Alahan and found himself at the heart of the action when the pandemic was included in the TV soap script.
“Life imposed itself on Coronation Street – the Rover’s was shut because all the pubs were shut. But the corner shop was still open so I was involved,” says Jimmi.
In association with The National Lottery, we asked readers to nominate the people – the Newsangels – who, like Dev, worked out of corner shops, small post offices and mini-marts to deliver to houses, hospitals and care homes.
They cooked meals, worked long hours and sourced special products to help customers and frontline staff.
Jimmi is delighted to join our judges to select a winner and ten runners-up. He says: “The local shops, for those who were shielding or those who didn’t want to go to large supermarkets, were a lifeline – for food, newspapers and local information.
“Many people don’t have cars and they can’t get to large out-of-town supermarkets so local shops like Dev’s are essential.
“I have great local shops and even now the lockdown is over I still choose to use them. I will pop to my local shop for something to cook for dinner rather than go to a supermarket.”
Jimmi says that it’s important to reward the shopkeepers who went the extra mile. “It’s right they should be recognised with this Newsangels campaign. Without these local shops many people would have been left without food and basics during the lockdowns. They deserve our thanks.”
There is an award of £5,000 for the overall Newsangels winner, while each runner-up will win £1,000.