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Antony Cotton believes the reason he's kept his job on 'Coronation Street' after 13 years is due to his off-screen persona rather than his onscreen character Sean Tully. The 39-year-old actor insisted the producers have kept him and fellow castmates Jennie McAlpine and Malcolm Hebden - who play Fiz and Norris respectively - on for so many years is because they have ''different roles to play'' off-screen in the green room. Antony said: ''The people that are left, like me, like Jenny McAlpine, Malcolm Hebden, that have been there a long time. Within the show, we all play a part, but then...

'Coronation Street's Tracy Barlow attacks Tina McIntyre after discovering her illicit kiss with Rob Donovan. Michelle Keegan's character will walk into drama when she returns from London next week as Tracy (Kate Connerty) learns she kissed her boyfriend - played by Marc Baylis - before she left. Tracy discovers the news about her seemingly perfect beau from Weatherfield gossip Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden), who overhears Tina brag abut the kiss to Rob's sister Carla Barlow (Alison King). Kate told Inside Soap magazine: ''She's utterly heartbroken. Every relationship she's ever had has been a disaster. She doesn't want to consider that this man,...

Coronation Street actress Michelle Keegan has revealed her excitement at getting to work with Cheryl Cole.

The 26-year-old actress, who plays Tina McIntyre on the ITV soap, filmed a special sketch for the soap with the 'Call My Name' singer as part of the Text Santa charity appeal.

"I was really excited when I found out that Cheryl Cole was going to be filming at Corrie," said Keegan of the cameo appearance, which has had new images released. "She is someone I really admire and I have never met her properly so when I found out she was going to play Tina's friend I couldn't believe it."

The actress continued: "They say never meet your idols but she was amazing. She is such a huge Corrie fan and she was genuinely pleased to be filming with us.

"I sat and chatted with her for ages which was lovely. She didn't...

Cilla Black has filmed a 'Coronation Street' cameo. The 69-year-old presenter fulfilled a lifelong dream by making her debut on the ITV show in the Rovers Return pub, where she socialised with soap stalwarts Rita Sullivan - who is played by Barbara Knox - and Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden). She said: ''I play myself and I walk in the pub and no-one realises it's me.'' The scene sees Cilla enter the pub but nobody can place who she is until Rita realises she is a singer she knew from the 1960s, when the corner shop owner was also a performer. Cilla's...

Coronation Street's David Neilson and Chris Gascoyne love rehearsing plays together. The pair - who play Roy Cropper and Peter Barlow - are ''very serious actors'' who enjoy using their downtime between scenes by running through dialogue from Nobel Prize-winning playwright Samuel Beckett and even get their colleagues Stephanie Cole and Malcolm Hebden to join in. A source said: ''You would not necessarily think it from watching them on-screen, but Chris and David are very serious actors. They love running through lines from Samuel Beckett plays and discussing his work. ''They are particularly interested in one of his plays and one day they...

Coronation Street's David Neilson and Chris Gascoyne love rehearsing plays together. The pair - who play Roy Cropper and Peter Barlow - are ''very serious actors'' who enjoy using their downtime between scenes by running through dialogue from Nobel Prize-winning playwright Samuel Beckett and even get their colleagues Stephanie Cole and Malcolm Hebden to join in. A source said: ''You would not necessarily think it from watching them on-screen, but Chris and David are very serious actors. They love running through lines from Samuel Beckett plays and discussing his work. ''They are particularly interested in one of his plays and one day they...

Coronation Street's David Neilson and Chris Gascoyne love rehearsing plays together. The pair - who play Roy Cropper and Peter Barlow - are ''very serious actors'' who enjoy using their downtime between scenes by running through dialogue from Nobel Prize-winning playwright Samuel Beckett and even get their colleagues Stephanie Cole and Malcolm Hebden to join in. A source said: ''You would not necessarily think it from watching them on-screen, but Chris and David are very serious actors. They love running through lines from Samuel Beckett plays and discussing his work. ''They are particularly interested in one of his plays and one day they...

Suranne Jones has revealed her former co-star Malcolm Hebden used to get his head ''lost'' in her breasts. The 34-year-old actress - who played soap superbitch Karen McDonald on the show from 2000 to 2004 - says the 73-year-old star (Norris Cole) used to enjoy putting his head in between her big boobs while the pair were in the show's green room in between scenes. She told Attitude magazine: ''Norris would sometimes stick his head between my breasts in the 'Corrie' green room. ''But we're not to tell anyone that ... his head used to get lost in there because I...

Suranne Jones has revealed her former co-star Malcolm Hebden used to get his head ''lost'' in her breasts. The 34-year-old actress - who played soap superbitch Karen McDonald on the show from 2000 to 2004 - says the 73-year-old star (Norris Cole) used to enjoy putting his head in between her big boobs while the pair were in the show's green room in between scenes. She told Attitude magazine: ''Norris would sometimes stick his head between my breasts in the 'Corrie' green room. ''But we're not to tell anyone that ... his head used to get lost in there because I...

Suranne Jones has revealed her former co-star Malcolm Hebden used to get his head ''lost'' in her breasts. The 34-year-old actress - who played soap superbitch Karen McDonald on the show from 2000 to 2004 - says the 73-year-old star (Norris Cole) used to enjoy putting his head in between her big boobs while the pair were in the show's green room in between scenes. She told Attitude magazine: ''Norris would sometimes stick his head between my breasts in the 'Corrie' green room. ''But we're not to tell anyone that ... his head used to get lost in there because I...

Coronation Street's pensioners will get high on cannabis in a new storyline. The ITV soap's Sylvia Goodwin and Dennis Tanner are set to score the drug from a dealer, before baking it into ''space cakes'' for them and their friends in a bid to beat the aches and pains of old age. The plan runs smoothly until Roy (David Nielsen) sells some of the cakes to Kabin owner Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox) and Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) by accident. Roy rushes over to alert them and has to admit what's really in the cakes, leading to a showdown between Rita, Sylvia...

Sue Johnston's arrival on Coronation Street will reportedly upset the locals next month. The Royle Family actress will play Michelle Collins's character Stella Price's mum Gloria, who arrives in Weatherfield this September. Soon after arriving, Gloria starts making putdowns towards several residents when she begins to co-run the Rovers Return, reports the Daily Star. She provides a suggestion box to improve the pub, but one customer describes her as "vulgar and loud". When Gloria discovers that it was Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) and Mary Taylor (Patti Clare), (more)...

Coronation Street returnee Terry Duckworth sparks outrage on the cobbles later this month as he starts searching for lap-dancers to work at his new business. As fans already know, Terry (Nigel Pivaro) is about to arrive back in Weatherfield to launch a strip club next to the Bistro. When he later learns of his son Tommy's inheritance money, he spies an opportunity and convinces the mechanic to help him set up the new bar, neglecting to mention that it'll be a lap-dancing joint. Starting work for his scheming father, Tommy (Chris Fountain) is given flyers to hand out for '7th Heaven'. Terry promises to pay him when the bar is open and the money is rolling in. However, when a lap-dancer turns up in The Rovers to do an audition for Terry, Tommy is stunned to realise that he's working for a lap-dancing club - while Norris (Malcolm Hebden...

Coronation Street airs Hollywood actor Robert Vaughn's first scenes later this month as he makes his debut as wealthy Milton. Roy Cropper's mum Sylvia (Stephanie Cole) has spoken of little else but Milton since meeting the rich American on a cruise last month, but the realities of a long-distance romance begin to hit home in the coming days. Sylvia will soon be left fuming when she discovers that Roy (David Neilson) has put a bar on Milton's number to prevent further huge bills for international calls. The outspoken café worker gets round this obstacle when Sophie Webster teaches her how to use Skype, but she later worries when she doesn't hear from Milton for a few days. Upset over Milton's lack of contact, Sylvia throws all of her efforts into her music contest with Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) at The Rovers. However, (more)...

Coronation Street star Malcolm Hebden and former cast member Beverley Callard have today joined the tributes which are pouring in for their late colleague Betty Driver. Driver, who played Rovers Return barmaid Betty Williams for 42 years, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on Saturday. She had been in hospital for six weeks. Hebden, better known as Weatherfield busybody Norris Cole, told Daybreak this morning: "It's a very sad day for all of us, I'm afraid. It wasn't entirely unexpected, but Betty was such a central part of the show for so many years - I'm afraid we're all feeling a bit glum today." He continued: "Betty had been a professional and very successful since she was about 14 years old. I myself remember seeing Betty as a child, singing at the Opera House in Blackpool. She was what we call a trouper. (more)...

The residents of 'Coronation Street' will be terrorised by a plague of monster rats. The giant rodents will take up residence in Weatherfield next month and locals will be horrified as the see the dirty creatures in The Rovers Return pub, Roy Cropper's cafe and at the back of Nick Tilsley's bistro. So Roy (David Neilson) and Nick (Ben Price) try to catch them but fail and it is left to busy-body Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) to sort out the situation. He tells Rita: "They may have beaten amateurs like Roy Cropper and Nick Tilsley but they'll find me quite a different adversary...

Coronation Street busybody Norris Cole will do battle with a plague of rats in a forthcoming storyline, a report has claimed. The comic plot begins when a swarm of rodents descends on the cobbles in the coming weeks, causing chaos in the Rovers Return, Nick Tilsley's bistro and Roy Cropper's café, according to the Daily Star. It is thought that Nick (Ben Price) and Roy (David Neilson) fail in their early attempts to get the situation under control, leaving Norris vowing to tackle the problem himself. Chatting to Rita, Norris - played by Malcolm Hebden - is quoted as saying: "They may have beaten amateurs like Roy Cropper and Nick Tilsley but they'll find me quite a different adversary altogether. Let's see them get past the Pied Piper of Weatherfield!" (more)...

Coronation Street star Patti Clare has revealed that her eccentric character Mary Taylor will harbour a huge grudge against Sylvia Goodwin in a forthcoming storyline. A feud plot for the pair begins when Sylvia (Stephanie Cole) has an argument with Weatherfield busybody Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden), which infuriates Mary due to her strong feelings for him. "Mary basically comes to think that Sylvia is the most evil woman in the whole world," Clare told Inside Soap. "Norris has a few accidents and Mary blames Sylvia. "I'm not 100% sure where they're going with it, but it's going to be funny - and possibly a little bit scary!" Clare also admitted that she does (more)...

Coronation Street's new online game Corrie Nation officially launches today, allowing fans to create, populate and grow their own version of Weatherfield. The internet spinoff project - introduced to mark the show's 50th anniversary - is the first ever social networking game to be created by a British soap. Corrie Nation was first launched to beta testers on November 1, but today marks the first time that it has been fully available to the public. As revealed when the project was first announced last month, the game lets viewers manage a virtual world based on the ITV1 programme and features special animated versions of Weatherfield favourites past and present.

Pictured: Julie Hesmondhalgh, Antony Cotton, Michelle Keegan and Malcolm Hebden with cartoon versions of their respective characters Hayley Cropper, Sean Tully, Tina (more)...

Malcolm Hebden has revealed that his Coronation Street character Norris Cole has a huge following among children. Speaking to Inside Soap's Coronation Street Special, the actor admitted that he is baffled by the number of letters he receives from young people who seem to love watching the Weatherfield busybody. Hebden explained: "For some unknown reason, Norris is immensely popular with children, though I never understand why. Is he the granddad they've always wanted to poke fun at? "He's always wrong, but most of (more)...

Malcolm Hebden has admitted that he is too scared to ask whether his Coronation Street character Norris Cole will be killed off in the soap's forthcoming tram crash. The show's new producer Phil Collinson announced back in July that some much-loved Weatherfield residents will lose their lives when disaster strikes on the cobbles this December. Speaking to The Mirror, Hebden revealed that the programme's cast have now been offered the chance to discover whether they will be written out, but he has so far resisted the urge to ask about Norris's future. Hebden explained: "The producer is being very cagey. You've got to go to him and ask him if you are going and he'll tell you - but I haven't (more)...

Coronation Street's Malcolm Hebden has teased that viewers can expect big changes in the aftermath of the upcoming tram crash. Hebden, who plays shop owner Norris Cole in the ITV soap, told Digital Spy that The Kabin will be one of the premises most affected when the tram is crashes onto the street in December's dramatic 50th anniversary plot. "Yes, you can [expect changes]," he admitted. "That's all I can say on that." He added: "The Kabin will look very different after this!" Hebden also praised the soap's efforts to keep details of the plot secret. "I think it's great!" he said. "They're spending a fortune on it. It's (more)...

Cricketer Andrew Flintoff has expressed his desire to make a guest appearance on Coronation Street. According to The People, Flintoff also revealed that his favourite characters on the ITV1 serial are Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden), Deirdre Barlow and Emily Bishop. He explained: "Corrie's got everything. I could easily fit it in and I'd love to have a go. I could be in The Kabin, marking up the papers with Norris and Rita. "I heard Snoop Dogg is also interested in making an appearance. If he's a fan I'm in good company." (more)...

Coronation Street actress Patti Clare has described her character Mary as "oddly uninhibited". Speaking to the Radio Times, the actress also praised Malcolm Hebden - who plays Norris Cole - for his "comic" ability. She said: "She gets things wrong. She finds it difficult to express emotion, she's socially awkward and desperately lonely. She really does love Norris, though. "There's a lot of passive aggression there - perhaps from looking (more)...

ITV has apologised after the Yorkshire village of Haworth was misspelled in an episode of Coronation Street. In Sunday's episode of the Weatherfield soap, viewers saw a direction sign which displayed the way to "Hawarth". The shot was featured when regular character Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) made a bid for freedom after growing disturbed by the behaviour of friend Mary Taylor (Patti Clare) as they shared a holiday in Brontë Country. An ITV spokesman told Keighley News: "We can only apologise for the error but we would hope the fact that the area was depicted and talked about in such a positive light would (more)...

Coronation Street actor Malcolm Hebden has revealed that he wants co-star Patti Clare to remain in the soap for "as long as possible". The duo's characters Norris Cole and Mary Taylor are currently taking centre stage in the ITV1 show with a Misery-style storyline taking place in a remote cottage. Although the plot leaves Norris never wanting to see Mary again, Hebden is adamant that the character should stay in Weatherfield for a long time to come. Speaking to Inside Soap, he explained: "Patti Clare, who plays her, is a real find. I want (more)...

Andrew Sachs has admitted that he often shouts at the screen when he watches Coronation Street. The Fawlty Towers star appeared in Weatherfield last year for a guest stint as Norris Cole's (Malcolm Hebden) estranged half-brother Ramsay Clegg. In a new interview, Sachs confirmed that he continues to enjoy Coronation Street as a fan but appreciates some characters more than others. The Mirror (more)...

Anne Kirkbride broke down in tears while filming scenes for her on-screen mother's funeral. The 'Coronation Street' actress, who plays Deirdre Barlow, had to take a break as she became overwhelmed when Blanche Hunt - played by Maggie Jones, who died in December - was laid to rest outside a church in Manchester. One onlooker said: ''It must be a very emotional time for all the cast to be filming these scenes. ''Maggie was a brilliant actress and clearly a much-loved part of the cast.'' However, the sombre mood was lightened when it emerged that Malcolm Hebden, who plays Norris Cole, had fallen asleep and ..

Shobna Gulati has enlisted her Coronation Street co-stars to help provide a dream holiday for a young cancer sufferer. The actress, who plays Sunita Alahan on the ITV1 soap, has persuaded a string of her colleagues to perform at a fundraising event in Blackburn, Lancashire next month. All profits from the show, which is to feature music, dance and comedy, will go towards helping 5-year-old Madison Allan visit EuroDisney with her family. The youngster suffers aggressive neuroblastoma and is understood to have had repeated operations on a tumour. Tickets for the event reportedly sold out in just an hour after going on sale last week. Gulati, Malcolm Hebden (Norris Cole), Sam Aston (Chesney Brown), Vicky Binns (Molly Dobbs) and Andrew Whyment (Kirk Sutherland) (more)...

Coronation Street legend Blanche Hunt is to make a number of humorous jibes about her family and friends from beyond the grave, it has been revealed. The battleaxe is to make her final put-downs when her last will and testament is read out on screen later this year, The Mirror reports. It is thought that Blanche will have the last laugh on newsagent Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) by making him believe that he will inherit something - only to reveal that she merely wants to cancel her subscription to Crossword Monthly. She is also expected to insult barmaid Betty (more)...

The stars of Coronation Street are reportedly worried that they will lose their jobs under a new producer. Phil Collinson will join the show next month after Kim Crowther decided to step down. However, the News of the World reports that the cast of the ITV1 soap are concerned that Collinson will decide to kill off up to six characters. Veteran stars of the show, including William Roache (Ken Barlow), Barbara Knox (Rita Sullivan) and Bill Tarmey (Jack Duckworth) are expected to be safe because of the 50th anniversary later this year. However, Malcolm Hebden (Norris Cole), Jimmi Harkishin (Dev Alahan), Sue Cleaver (Eileen (more)...

Filming for Norris Cole's new Coronation Street storyline was yesterday halted due to snow, it has been confirmed. A location shoot in the Yorkshire Moors for scenes involving Norris (Malcolm Hebden) and his admirer Mary Taylor (Patti Clare) was abandoned after poor weather conditions made it too difficult to film. Norris's new Misery-style plotline sees Mary holding the newsagent captive in a remote cottage near Haworth (more)...

Coronation Street's Norris Cole is set to be kidnapped by a jealous admirer. The gossiping shopkeeper - who is played by actor Malcolm Hebden - is in for a rough ride when he's imprisoned by his ex-love interest, Mary Taylor (Patti Clare) after he turns down her sexual advances. A source at 'Coronation Street' revealed: ''Mary convinces herself they are reincarnations of Heathcliffe and Cathy and keeps trying to share his bed.'' After agreeing to go on holiday to a remote cottage with his former lover, competitions enthusiast Mary sabotages their car and phone and gets violent when the timid shopkeeper tries to go ..

Coronation Street busybody Norris Cole is to be held captive by admirer Mary Taylor in a dramatic new storyline, it has been revealed. The plot begins when the newsagent, played by actor Malcolm Hebden, agrees to go on holiday with Mary to a remote cottage near Haworth where the Brontë sisters wrote their novels. It is believed that crazed Mary (Patti Clare) subsequently sabotages the car and the cottage's phone before turning violent to Norris's horror. Weatherfield producers are thought to have drawn inspiration from Stephen King's 1988 novel Misery when devising the storyline. The book tells the story of a novelist who is kidnapped by unstable fan Annie Wilkes and subsequently held in (more)...

Coronation Street actor Malcolm Hebden has revealed that he "loves" working with co-star Patti Clare. In an interview with the soap's official website, the star claimed that his friendship with Clare makes it easier to create chemistry and humorous moments when they film scenes as Norris Cole and Mary Taylor. Hebden commented: "I think when Patti and I get together it's comedy all the way. We love working together which is a good start (more)...

Veteran actor Nigel Havers has joined the cast of Coronation Street. The 59-year-old, who is best known for his role as Lord Andrew Lindsay in 1981 movie Chariots Of Fire, is to appear as a possible new love interest for hair salon owner Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls). Audrey first meets Havers's character Lewis when she attends a ball with Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) in the run-up to Christmas. She is immediately bowled over by his charming ways, but feels frustrated because he is accompanying her old friend Claudia, played by one-off guest Rula Lenska. However, the night out takes a twist when Claudia reveals that Lewis is a gentleman escort who charges women for his company at social events. (more)...

Coronation Street's Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) finally breaks down during tonight's episode when he opens his estranged half-brother Ramsay's (Andrew Sachs) trunk. Having shunned Ramsay's attempts at building bridges, Norris was stunned to learn that he died on his return flight home to Australia. The news knocked Emily (Eileen Derbyshire) for six, while Norris remained indifferent about his relative's passing. Earlier (more)...

Coronation Street actor Malcolm Hebden has admitted that his recent emotional scenes have proved to be a challenge. Viewers will soon see the 69-year-old's character Norris Cole showing his softer side as he visits his mother's grave following the shock death of his half-brother Ramsay (Andrew Sachs). Hebden has now revealed that he is surprised by the shopkeeper's change in attitude - and is adamant that elements of his usual personality should remain throughout the tragic scenes. In an interview with Digital Spy, he explained: "That's the difficulty for an actor. Norris is so irritating. He blows with the wind - he can behave quite sensibly and then just turn the whole thing upside down. I'm a little bit concerned about him. "I haven't seen any of it but that emotional stuff becomes bigger and bigger and bigger. It's just making (more)...

Coronation Street star Malcolm Hebden has ruled out appearing on a reality TV show. The 69-year-old actor, who plays Norris Cole on the ITV1 soap, revealed that he may have considered competing on Strictly Come Dancing in the past but now feels that his body isn't "up to it". Speaking to Digital Spy, he explained: "That's the only one I would have done - none of the others.

"I (more)...

Coronation Street's Craig Gazey has revealed that he has been given more scenes with Maggie Jones and Malcolm Hebden. Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy at the Inside Soap Awards launch in Manchester, the actor - who plays eccentric butcher Graeme Proctor - expressed his delight at filming more scenes with Weatherfield comic characters Blanche Hunt (Jones) and Norris Cole (Hebden). He said: "You might be pleased to know that me and Blanche... they're starting to put us together a little bit now. We've had (more)...

Coronation Street star Malcolm Hebden has admitted that he is surprised by the popularity of his alter-ego Norris Cole. The 69-year-old actor made his debut in the role in 1994 - and the busybody shopkeeper has since become one of Weatherfield's most recognisable characters. On how he copes with fame, Hebden told the Blackpool Citizen: "I am a private person. I live alone and I quite like it like that. I don't hide away though, and I've been filmed shopping in Sainsbury's on someone's mobile phone once - it was on YouTube. "You do have to be careful though. I don't go out clubbing at night. For one thing I'm too old, but I (more)...

Former Coronation Street actress Ali Briggs is to make a return to the soap. Briggs played the role of Emily Bishop's (Eileen Derbyshire) deaf niece Freda in 2005. Freda was last seen leaving her aunt's upset after housemate Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) became annoyed by the attention she was receiving from Emily. Her return will also signal the arrival of Freda's fiancé. A source told The Mirror: "Norris struggled to deal with her deafness and this led to some great comedy scenes at Norris's expense." They added: "Freda was cast in the mould of many great (more)...

As Norris (Malcolm Hebden) continues to put off his world tour with Mary (Pattie Clare), she invites him for dinner in their camper van in an attempt to win him round to the idea. Uneasy at the prospect, Norris reluctantly attends and is stunned to find Mary half-dressed in purple negligee. As she flirts outrageously, he becomes uncomfortable when she begins discussing what she wears to sleep in before suggesting they try (more)...

Veteran actor Andrew Sachs has revealed that he and his wife concocted the idea for his Coronation Street character around five years ago. In January, the 79-year-old, who played iconic hotel porter Manuel in BBC comedy Fawlty Towers, was cast in the role of Norris Cole's (Malcolm Hebden) estranged brother Ramsay Clegg. Speaking of the character's origins, he said: "It actually goes back about five years. Myself and my wife had dreamt up a storyline where I played Norris's brother. We thought it would be great fun if a brother every bit as annoying as Norris turned up and the pair of them wound everyone up. "I was [subsequently] at a charity function and we mentioned the it to a member of the Coronation Street team who was also there. I didn't hear anything and then a couple of years ago, I was asked if I was interested in the (more...

Coronation Street producers have confirmed that veteran actor Andrew Sachs has accepted their offer to appear in the ITV soap. The 78-year-old former Fawlty Towers actor is rumoured to have been cast in the role of Norris Cole's (Malcolm Hebden) brother. A spokesperson for the soap said: "I can confirm that Andrew Sachs has taken us up on the offer. He will be joining us later this year." They added: (more)...

Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs could be in line for a role in ITV soap Coronation Street as Norris Cole's brother. Producers at the soap first began working towards casting Sachs, who played Manuel in the classic BBC comedy, back in April after Malcolm Hebden, who plays Norris, suggested that he would be interested in a part. A spokesperson for the Manchester-based soap this morning said: "We first started working on a possible character for Andrew Sachs six months ago after learning that he was (more)...

Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs could be in line for a role in ITV soap Coronation Street as Norris Cole's brother. Producers at the soap first began working towards casting Sachs, who played Manuel in the classic BBC comedy, back in April after Malcolm Hebden, who plays Norris, suggested that he would be interested in a part. A spokesperson for the Manchester-based soap this morning said: "We first started working on a possible character for Andrew Sachs six months ago after learning that he was (more)...

A group of veteran Coronation Street stars have been told to expect massive pay cuts, according to a report. Betty Driver (Betty Williams), Barbara Knox (Rita Sullivan), Malcolm Hebden (Norris Cole) and Eileen Derbyshire (Emily Bishop) will start to be paid on a scene-by-scene basis within the next few weeks, the Sunday Mirror claims. The cast members currently receive between £180,000 and £250,000 per year. However, under the new arrangement, the stars' pay rates would only reach their former levels when the actors are involved in high-profile storylines. An insider told the newspaper: "It's an absolute disgrace. These stars have (more)...