When Coronation Street newcomer Liam Bairstow went down a storm with fans on social media last weekend, it was clear that the soap had found itself a new rising star.
The actor has taken on the role of Alex Warner, the cheeky nephew of Cathy Matthews who has already struck up a strong bond with Roy Cropper.
Bairstow is the first cast member with Down's Syndrome to join Coronation Street after impressing the show's bosses at a workshop that they held for actors with disabilities earlier in the year. The 28-year-old northerner got on the phone to Digital Spy this week, for his first big chat since joining the ITV show.
Admitting that his new-found soap fame is still sinking in, he explained: "I feel really happy to be part of Coronation Street because I was a big fan of the show when I was a little boy."
The newcomer's TV success follows six years of hard work training with Mind the Gap, a Bradford-based theatre company for performers with learning disabilities.
Reflecting on his recent rise to prominence, Bairstow told us: "I went to the Corrie workshop and didn't know that it would lead to me getting a part. I couldn't believe it at first. When my tutor Charli Ward delivered the news, I got a bit emotional.
What to Read Next
"Joining Coronation Street has been unbelievable because it's the biggest soap. I've got another episode coming up on October 30, but after that you'll have to watch this space and stay glued!
"The cast have been really nice to work with. It's been really great to have scenes with David Neilson who plays Roy, since he's been on Coronation Street for so long. It's been really great to work with a legend.
"Melanie Hill who plays Cathy has been really nice too. She reminds me of my gran actually because she looks after me. But I would say the person I was looking forward to meeting the most was Kym Marsh! I remember seeing her on my first day when I went into The Rovers - she's one of my favourites."
Mind the Gap was established in 1988 and Bairstow is among eight resident artists who have been trained though the organisation's Academy.
Since joining, he's been involved in many productions including a national tour of Treasure Island, which required him taking on 6 different roles in the same show.
"I've wanted to act since I was a kid," Bairstow explained. "When I was little, I used to have a speech impediment and there were people at school who really bullied me a lot. It was really hurtful, but to get over that I've been working with Mind the Gap. I know now that it's best to talk about it and get it off your chest.
"I've been at Mind the Gap for six years and I see myself as a coach to all of my other friends. I'd love to work with them more and try to get them on TV like me.
"When I was in the newspaper a few weeks ago, all of my friends in the pub were really shocked. I had really nice comments - they were saying, 'Oh, the little boy from Allerton has turned into a grown-up!'"
Alongside his soap commitments, Bairstow is still working with Mind the Gap on another theatre production called Contained, which features nine interwoven stories focusing on family, friends, love and loss. This will be going on tour with six dates in October and November.
Corrie bosses may also have to snap the star up on a long-term contract quickly, as he's also a big fan of a certain other soap across the Pennines.
Bairstow laughed: "I'm a big fan of Emmerdale too and I'd love to have a role on that in the future. My favourite on that show is Charley Webb who plays Debbie Dingle.
"But I'm working with Coronation Street at the moment and I don't know what's going to happen - I'm just going to go with the flow!"
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV.
