Corrie: Craig Kelly

[faceless]

Coronation Street: Craig Kelly
Ian Wylie
May 14, 2009
manchestereveningnews.co.uk

CORONATION Street star Craig Kelly admits landing in the world of Weatherfield can be a bit of a shock. “There’s been a few times where you go to do a scene and everything’s quiet. And then suddenly a voice will scream inside your head, ‘You’re in Corrie!,” he reveals. “The Rovers continues to be quite surreal. It’s got easier now but for the first six weeks it was like a spaceship and quite an alien place because of the history that you associate with it.

“It’s so iconic within an iconic show. So to find yourself, being an actor, trying to pretend that you’re in a pub – that’s hard, because you’re not in any old pub, you’re in the Tardis, in a way. You’re in this amazing palce called the Rovers Return. It took me a few weeks to try and calm down.”

Craig, 38, has caused quite a stir since turning up on the cobbles earlier this year as new factory boss Luke Strong. The Lytham-raised actor originally made his mark as Vince Tyler in classic Manchester drama Queer As Folk, written by Russell T Davies, which also featured Corrie co-star Antony Cotton. Although his CV is full of subsequent TV, film and theatre work, including a small role in Titanic, some may be puzzled as to why Craig didn’t do even more television after playing Vince. “I’ve always tried to be as choosy as I can be, within reason,” he explains.

“After Queer As Folk, in the space of over seven years I think I was offered every year at least five or six projects where I didn’t have to audition. They were just scripts sent to me: ‘Would you do this?’ So I chose not to do most of that stuff. And one of the reasons was I had, and I will potentially have again if and when I leave this show, a massive voiceover career, which meant that I didn’t have to actually act for a living. I was acting for fun, because I enjoyed doing it.

“There was a time when most of the long running serials and soaps all phoned my agent and went, ‘Would Craig be interested?’ And it was always, ‘No, no, no.’ With something like Corrie, it was never something that I thought would happen. I never chased it. I won’t say which one, but I have been offered a soap in my past and I’ve said no. But with Corrie, it was a different thing. If you’re going to do a soap, you might as well do Corrie because it’s got something special about it. And also I liked the character. It wasn’t a million miles away from me.

“It was something I could have turned down. It seemed to me whatever decision I made would be the right one. It’s a big jump to come to Manchester, to be in the public eye again, when I could get away with not being recognised so much and earning a great deal in doing voiceovers and doing stage plays, short films and low key stuff. But then, what it came down to was I couldn’t turn it down. I’d have always thought, ‘What if? That could have been fun.’ And it has been fun. So I’m pleased that I’ve gone down this path.”

Craig had a hard act to follow in Rob James-Collier, who played hugely popular Underworld partner Liam, murdered at the instruction of yet to be rumbled Street villain Tony Gordon (Gray O’Brien). “I know Rob was a massive hit but you don’t think about that. You just do what the writers write for you. Fortunately, I’ve had some great feedback with the character having a big demographic, appealling to fans of all ages, which is great. It’s pretty huge in Manchester. I walked through the city centre a few weeks ago and I really noticed it. I’d never had it to that sort of degree before, people taking pictures, pointing.”

Once the voice of the Special K TV commercials, among many others, Craig has also lent his vocal talents to BBC and Channel 4 idents, plus narrated several series, including Shipwrecked. He recently filmed a role in new ITV1 drama serial Collision, due on screen this autumn. It tells the story of a major road accident which changes the lives of those involved.
Craig and his younger brother – former Shameless star Dean Lennox Kelly – team up on screen for the first time to play brothers Jeffrey and Danny. “it was great to work with him close up. I got to see how good he is. We’ve always said, ‘Why has no-one cast us as brothers?’ Now we’ve ticked that box.”

Back on the Street, Alison King returns after maternity leave later this year to reprise her role as Carla Connor. It was her sudden departure from Weatherfield that sparked Luke’s arrival at the factory. “Alison is a friend of mine and the sooner Carla comes back to the cobbled streets, the better because I think she’s brilliant in the show.” Fans continue to speculate about possible links between mystery man Luke and Carla. Has Craig been told anything? “I just know that he’s an associate of Carla’s. There’s nothing particularly, as far as I’m aware, sinister going on in terms of a huge game plan.

“I don’t personally think he is Carla’s long lost brother because wouldn’t Michelle have known? But it’s nice that people speculate. The writers write for you and then they see what you do with it. So I’m actually quite intrigued about which way they’re going to go. Or perhaps Carla will walk in and go, ‘Who’s he?’ I’m sure there’s a twist in the tale,” he laughs.

****************************************

LADIES’ man Luke Strong is currently trying to woo former Rovers barmaid Michelle, played by Kym Marsh. “He has a little fling with Michelle, which was fun because Kym’s a really good actress. She plays the part very well.” But just over the horizon is a liaison with teenage temptress Rosie Webster, who is Luke’s PA at the factory. It comes as she is awarded thousands of pounds in compensation following her ordeal at the hands of teacher turned kidnapper John Stape.

“The young bombshell throws herself at him and at first he resists. He knows he shouldn’t mix business and pleasure,” says Craig. “But then the business is struggling and she’s got thousands in the bank, she’s absolutely goregous and he’s a single guy. What can you do? A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do in these times of recession. I think what’s going to be interesting is how he deals with the aftermath of that.”

Off screen, Craig is set to marry girlfriend Camilla this summer. “She’s very good at organising, she does all the work. I think a woman knows what she wants when it’s her wedding but I have helped out. I think I’ve hit the right balance.” Are we likely to see the end result on the pages of a glossy magazine? “It’s the power of Corrie. I’ve only been in it for two minutes. There is interest but I doubt it, to be honest. You never know, but it’s not something I plan for.”

[pirtybirdy]

Maybe Rosie will be co owner of underworld and end up being her mother's boss. What a nightmare! lol!

[faceless]

haha, that would be funny

[faceless]

Craig Kelly quits Coronation Street
Craig Kelly has announced he'll be leaving Coronation Street later this year. His character, factory boss Luke Strong, has been a bit of an enigma since he arrived in Weatherfield earlier in the year, but the soap's official website promises we'll see his true colours before he disappears in suspicious circumstances in October.

Craig said: "I have had a ball playing Luke Strong and although it's been fun I always knew he would be a character that would enter the street in mysterious circumstances, ruffle feathers, make his mark and leave." He continued: "Being in Corrie was something I wanted to do but I didn't want to stay too long. I am grateful for the chance to have played such a great character and to have walked the cobbled street."

A Corrie spokesperson added: "Some characters arrive in Weatherfield and stay for years, others pass through affecting the lives of the residents, just as in real life. Luke will not be killed off and the door will be left open for a possible return in the future." It's believed his exit storyline will pave the way for Carla's return.