Andrew Lancel has joined 'Coronation Street'.
The actor - best known for portraying DI Neil Manson in 'The Bill' - arrives in Weatherfield early next year as Frank Foster, a business associate of Carla Connor (Alison King), and soon sets his sights on her sister-in-law Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh).
The 40-year-old star told the Liverpool Echo newspaper: "I'm a massive fan of 'Corrie' so it's very exciting. My wife Louise is a big fan too so she's thrilled.
"I was once an extra on 'Corrie' when I was a teenager and I've always watched it.
"You can't get much more high-profile than 'Corrie'. For me it's always about the part and when I heard about this I couldn't resist it.
"Frank looks like he's going to be fun to play, there's more to him than meets the eye, he's definitely not one-sided."
Michelle has most recently been romancing Ciaran McCarthy - who is played by Boyzone star Keith Duffy - but the actor's musical commitments mean he will soon depart the show again.
Andrew - who will soon be seen on screen in a guest role on BBC medical drama 'Holby City' - is delighted to have secured a long-term contract on another ITV show.
He said: "I've had a great seven years on ITV and I wanted to stay with the network.
"'The Bill' was like a family and it will be like that on 'Corrie'. I've met a lot of the cast and I've only ever known people to have fun in it."
25 November 2010, 12:00pm
