Coronation Street legend David Neilson took a break from the cobbles to join his co-stars out in Salford. The actor is best known, and much-loved, for playing Roy Cropper in the ITV soap.
Fans are used to seeing him behind the counter at Roys Rolls our out and about in Weatherfield in his trademark cardigan and with his trust shopping back. But David couldn't be further from his character as he headed over to The Lowry theatre to watch Girl From The North Country.
The story of the double Olivier and Tony award-winning West End and Broadway smash hit centres on a run-down guesthouse in 1930s America, in the middle of the Great Depression and it also sees celebrated playwright Conor McPherson boldly reimagines the legendary songs of Bob Dylan.
David cut a casual figure as he hit the theatre's red carpet. The soap star, 73, opted for shirt and pair of denim jeans but did opt to keep warm, like his Corrie alter-ego, in a zip-up cardigan and smart navy coat. He gave a smile for the camera as he posed with one of the show's official programme while wearing a pair of dark-rimmed glasses.
He was joined at the show by Shelley King, who plays Yasmeen Metcalfe in the ITV soap, and Roberta Kerr, who recently returned to Weatherfield in the role of Wendy Papadopoulos - nee Crozier. Roberta stood out on the red carpet, donning a patchwork jacket over her dark jeans and small heeled boots.
Shelley also got the jeans and a jumper memo as she embraced the cooler temperatures in a dark pair of denim and blue knitted jumper. Also making the short trip from the Corrie set over to The Lowry were on-screen couple Elle Mulvaney and Jack James Ryan.
Amy Barlow actress Elle also kept things casual, looking beautifully fresh-faced as she posed for the camera. And Jack James, who plays Jacob Hay in the ITV soap, looked bright and breezy in an open blue shirt over a white tee and a pair of smart black chinos.
Bill Fellows, who is now very much know to viewers as Stu Carpenter, also made the trip and appeared ready for the Manchester weather in a hoodie and khaki green coat.
David's appearance on the red carpet came as his character suffered a setback on-screen. His niece Nina Lucas thought she was doing her uncle a favour when she agreed to let Bernie Winter give their flat a clean. But the big clean soon turned into a big clear out as she discovered a box hiding in the back of the wardrobe.
While she believed it to be a box of old 'junk', it was actually a box of the late Hayley Cropper's belongings. Corrie viewers were quick to spot the character's iconic red anorak peeking out of the box which was later mixed up with the other boxes destined for the charity shop and was soon no where to be seen.
When Nina broke the news, Roy became short-tempered before apologising and detailing the heartbreaking reason for keeping the coat of his late wife for all these years. Explaining how certain music could make Nina remember her late boyfriend, Seb Franklin, Roy said the coat could make him recall Hayley. "That raincoat is my Proustian madeleine," he said. "Knowing it’s there – was there – makes me feel that she’s still here somewhere."
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