Wizard Street
Sir Ian McKellen is to join the cast of Coronation Street.
The X Men and Lord of the Rings star will swap Hollywood for Weatherfield to play novelist Mel Hutchwright in ten episodes of the soap to be screened from May.
The character has already been referred to in the soap as the author of the steamy bodice-ripper, Hard Grinding, which the character Blanche mistakenly read for the Street's book group.
"I am nervous but raring to go, I don't know yet what Mel will look nor sound like, but I'm already studying his lines, as rehearsal time is scarce for the five-times-a-week show" he said.
Sir Ian had previously turned down a role in the series, because he was daunted by working with the show's regular cast.
Sir Ian recently missed out on guest starring in another soap - The Archers. He was one of four stars that you could vote to appear in a special Red Nose Day edition (along with Stephen Fry, Liza Tarbuck and Ewan MacGregor). The episode, written by Victoria Wood, will be broadcast on Radio4 at 3.30pm. Click on the link to see who won.
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