Coronation Street legend hopes ‘brave’ storyline stands test of time | Soaps [Video]

A whole new audience are discovering wicked Coronation Street villain Charlie Stubbs following repeat broadcasts on ITV3. Two decades on, actor Bill Ward is taking on a new project in his hometown – and is reflecting on how he worked Charlie’s inner-psych.

Research is key for Bill, 57, who has played a number of complex roles throughout his career. He aspires to look beyond a character’s archetype, and explore the reasons behind their motivations.

‘I do lots of kind, gentle and upstanding characters but nobody seems to want to talk about them!’ he exclusively told Metro this week, after a successful opening night of Gerry and Sewell at Newcastle Theatre Royal.

‘The last part I did was in The Full Monty playing a completely hopeless individual. I’ve played a drag queen in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ he explained.

‘I try and go back to the source material and work out how these people tick. You try and get inside of their head.

‘You have to try and be on their side, …