Magic Frank and Coronation Street

I hope you are keeping well and coping with the restrictions now placed on everyone.

It’s all too easy to dwell on the negatives in these circumstances. However I want to share a piece of good, personal news.

From time to time I work as a supporting artist on TV programmes.

The last couple of weeks have seen me in the background at the Still Water Retirement Complex on Coronation Street.

This programme has been I the background my entire life. I remember the original cast. Powerful characters such as Annie Walker, Ena Sharples, Albert Tatlock and Elsie Tanner.

I never imagined that one day I would be on the programme, even in the background.

My mum would have loved to see it!

Even though we are only ‘extras’; everybody at ITV treated us with the greatest courtesy. In particular, Bill Roach (Ken Barlow) made a special effort to chat with a small group us. What was memorable was how quickly we all moved from the usual, slightly awkward small talk, into a conversation about how to live a long and fulfilling life.

You can watch the clip here