Coronation Street recently announced the comeback of a character and now they're announcing the arrival of someone new. The ITV soap has mysteriously revealed that former Brookside star Simon O'Brien has joined the cast.
He'll play the role of Frank Bardsley, a mysterious new love interest for one Weatherfield resident, but is reportedly then set to have a relationship with an entirely different cobbles character.
Tweeting a picture of Brian on Thursday (May 5), a tweet from the official Corrie account read: "Welcome, the newest member of the team, Frank Bardsley, played by Simon O'Brien! Could love be in the air for a lucky someone on The Street?"
The post has come as a surprise to fans of the ITV soap who are already remembering Simon for his past TV work. @hughesjg tweeted: "My goodness! Right then, a call to the wonderful Gillian Kearney next, please. Let's reunite 'Damon and Debbie'. #Brookside #Corrie."
"Oh my lord I was quite taken with ‘Damon’ back In the day," @1melhemmings commented ad @Auntygoya replied: "Fantastic!! Damien lives on."
@hilssinger wrote: "Damon!!!!!!! Brookside was my favourite!!!" while @HarteElisabeth replied: "Aw bless Simes. He’ll always be Damon to me."
They were also guessing who the love interest may be and they've made it clear who'd they like to see loved up on the cobbles. @SusannaCupCake tweeted: "I hope it's Mary she deserves some love."
"Oh please let it be Mary she deserves love and fun and Frank looks a tad cheeky and would suit Mary," @Trustme2222 replied.
However, Digital Spy reports that Simon started filming at Corrie two months ago and his character Frank will make his first appearance on the cobbles later this month, when he meets Sean Tully at the Rovers Return and starts flirting with him.
The actor, from Garston, Liverpool, played Damon Grant in Channel 4 soap Brookside from its inception in 1982 until 1987. Damon was introduced as the youngest son of Bobby and Sheila Grant. played by Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston. However, he was killed off in York at the end of the 'soap bubble' Damon and Debbie.
He also acted in the British version of Fraggle Rock, co-presented BBC One show To Buy or Not to Buy, as well as played caretaker Wally Scott in Grange Hill from 2003.
