Coronation Street casts 90s sitcom star as Ed and Ronnie Bailey's dad

A TV insider told The Sun that the actor has been spotted filming scenes in Manchester.

"Ram has already been filming his scenes in Weatherfield, though viewers won’t get to see them for some months," they said.

They continued: "It’s a substantial role for him to have been cast in, though it will come as second nature [as] he’s a seasoned star of multiple dramas - including soaps."

John Holder is best known for portraying the character Pork Pie in the sitcom Desmond, but has also appeared in Emmerdale, Doctors, Casualty, The Bill and Heartbeat.

In 2006, he portrayed Cedric Lucas in EastEnders.

More recently, the star featured on BBC One’s Death in Paradise in the role of Nelson Myers.

Meanwhile, younger viewers may recognise the actor from his stint on the BBC’s The Story of Tracy Beaker, in which he played 'Flying' Freddie Mercer.

It comes at the end of an era in the ITV soap, as Wednesday night’s episode saw The Rovers closed and boarded up, leaving many fans in tears.

The pub, which has been at the centre of the Corrie community since the first episode in 1960, was closed for an extensive refurbishment earlier this week - but, in a shock move, all staff learned their contracts had been terminated with immediate effect.

Read more:

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• Coronation Street star on 'damaged' Courtney as her character clashes with Dev

Coronation Street airs weeknights on ITV. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.

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