The Hour

Since 1998 actor John Michie has been charming Scotland as the rugged cop with a dark side on Taggart, but now he’s delighting a new group of fans as the latest addition to the cast of Coronation Street.

Speaking to STV’s The Hour, he said that the next year on the soap would reveal his character Karl’s bad side, but that he could also be caring and touching.

He explained: “Karl is a bit of ne’er-do-well, a bit of a flirt. Likes a drink, likes a gamble. He’s a wee bit work shy I would say. He’s happy to tag along with Stella who brings in the pennies and subsidises his pints for him while he does a little bit of work on the side.”

John stars alongside former Eastenders star Michelle Collins, who played Cindy Beale in the soap, and Manchester actress Catherine Tyldesley. The family of three first arrived in Weatherfield to run landmark pub The Rovers, but Michelle Collins’ character Stella has a secret past that soon complicates matters.

John also revealed that while the plots of Corrie may be huge, the set itself is surprisingly small. He said: “The street is not the width of a normal street. Everything’s just a wee bit smaller.

“Obviously on the telly, the way it’s filmed, it looks normal, [but] there’s going to be a big move to Salford Quays within the next year or so. Then it will be rebuilt, I think full size then, so that was interesting.”

Although John is contracted to work on Corrie for one year at least, with the option of a second, the producers have already guaranteed him time off should the opportunity to return to Taggart come up.

He added that while he would not be free to film an entire series of the famous cop show, he would at least make an appearance.

For more on Corrie and a sneak peek of what's ahead visit stv.tv/coronationstreet or visit taggart.tv.

JOHN ON THE HOUR

• John Michie on Made in Scotland
• John Michie on Taggart
• John explores the Munros of Scotland
• Michie's dark past