HE was a bad lad in Bad Girls.
Now the man who played evil prison warder Jim Fenner is to tread the Corrie cobbles.
Actor Jack Ellis starts filming tomorrow, alongside Matthew Crompton, best known as Pc Sam Harker in The Bill.
They play father-and-son bookies Harry and Dan Mason.
Both are said to have an eye for the ladies and are just on the right side of the law.
The Rosamund Street betting shop is one of a string of outlets run by the pair.
It has drifted in and out of storylines over the years, along with a series of managers.

MILLIONS of viewers will have to sit through them hundreds of times.
So are Coronation Street’s new sponsorship idents going to be any better than those awful Cadbury ads?
I’ve now seen the first plug for furniture retailer Harveys.
It will be screened for the first time on Sunday as the company launch their £20m two-year deal to sponsor Corrie.
You can watch it for yourself by clicking on the link at the end of this blog.
Among other things, it features the flying ducks which once swooped over Hilda Ogden’s living room “muriel”.
Viewers will see a series of objects from the home coming to life to watch Coronation Street on TV.
They include those ornamental ducks – former residents at No 13 with Hilda and Stan, played by Jean Alexander and the late Bernard Youens.

THERE’S a spot of mischief making in a new TV interview with former Coronation Street star Julie Goodyear.
It comes as ex-Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan asks the soap queen about her disastrous 2002 return to Weatherfield.
Julie went back to the role of Bet Gilroy / Bet Lynch seven years after leaving the cobbles.
She lasted just 17 days, freely admitting tomorrow night that she simply couldn’t cope with the five episodes a week filming schedule.
With a “panic-stricken” Julie on the verge of a nervous breakdown, the tabloids had a field day.

SOMEONE is moving into Coronation Street – as this exclusive pic shows.
Furniture retailer Harveys begin their £20m Corrie sponsorship a week tomorrow – Sunday Sept 30.
Many viewers have been puzzled by the disappearance of sponsorship around episodes this week.
The last Cadbury “bumper” ads were screened last Sunday – and ended without any fanfare with a post-final credits plug for Dairy Milk Melts.

ONE of the many things I like about Coronation Street is the seamless mix of the young and not so young.
Jack P Shepherd is, quite rightly, attracting praise for his performance as devil child David Platt.
At just 19, the young actor has a big future ahead in Weatherfield.
Screen mum Gail has finally had enough in tonight’s episode and throws David out.
Most Street fans will also recognise the contribution made to the current storyline by actress Helen Worth, who plays Gail.
Meeting her again recently, I was struck by the enthusiasm she showed for both Corrie, her character and fellow cast members, including Jack, and Tina O’Brien, who plays her daughter Sarah.
This, it has to be remembered, from someone who has been working on the show for 33 years.

WOULD you care to waltz with this man?
It’s murder on the dance floor after Brian Capron was named today as one of 14 celebs taking part in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The actor who played Coronation Street serial killer Richard Hillman may induce a quickstep or two among the other contestants.
He’s been paired with professional dancer Karen Hardy, who won last year’s series dancing with Mark Ramprakash.

THERE’S a dramatic autumn and winter ahead in Coronation Street.
I was at ITV Network Centre in London yesterday to talk to Jack P Shepherd (David Platt) and Helen Worth (Gail Platt).
On the morning after Corrie picked up four more awards, executive producer Kieran Roberts was also there to chat about future highlights.
In episodes to be screened on September 17 and 19, wild child David almost kills niece Bethany, aged seven, when he hides ecstasy tablets in her doll.
After finding them and taking one, the little girl starts to fit and is rushed unconscious to hospital where she begins a fight for life.
In scenes filmed at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, Bethany faces possible brain injury or even death.
Tearaway teen David is then arrested and warned by police that he could be charged with manslaughter.

DO you think they’re doing it on purpose to wind us all up?
Trudy and her lights now appear to be a permanent fixture ahead of every episode of Coronation Street.
She was there again last night, complete with the annoying shouting director.
With Cadbury’s sponsorship of Corrie due to end in October, perhaps someone thinks constantly running the “Trudy lights!” ident is funny.
Well, it’s not.
Does no-one at ITV care about irritating millions of viewers?
Or having taken the sponsorship cash, do they not have a say?

IS Antony Cotton the answer to ITV1’s teatime prayers?
The Corrie star made a strong start last Monday and Tuesday with 2m viewers each day.
But the jury is still out on Manchester-based That Antony Cotton Show.
By Wednesday the audience was down to 1.5m – and that’s how many were watching Friday’s edition.
Trade magazine Broadcast pointed out that both Sharon Osbourne and Richard Hammond had similar initial high ratings in the tricky 5pm slot.
Both series lost viewers and tailed off.
Several critics have been quick to dismiss Antony’s chances of long term teatime success.
Still, who takes any notice of critics?

IT’S the end of an era on Coronation Street.
Liz Dawn, battling an incurable lung disease, is to quit her role as Vera Duckworth after 34 years on the cobbles.
The veteran actress, now 68, will depart later this year.
Her battleaxe character will not be killed off, leaving the door open for possible future guest appearances.
But, sadly, she now feels unable to carry on as before alongside screen husband Jack, played by Bill Tarmey.
“It’s been an amazing 34 years,” she said.
“I’d like to thank everyone for what has been the best time of my life.”
Liz was diagnosed with chronic emphysema three years ago and had already reduced her workload on the Street.
Her illness – linked to smoking and advanced age – leaves the lungs inflamed.
Sufferers become short of breath as the disease gradually worsens.