LANCASHIRE comedian Ted Robbins has landed a plum role on the nation’s best-loved soap opera.

Ted, who lives in Crawshawbooth, has joined the cast of Coronation Street playing Brendan - who woos Mary Taylor as his mistress.

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Eccentric spinster Mary, who is played by Patti Clare, was previously romantically linked with fellow oddball Norris Ted said: “I am just looking forward to it.

“But I’m chuffed to bits and it came over so quickly and I am looking forward to meeting everyone.

“I am still going to be doing Radio Lancashire and I haven’t got any plans to move to Hollywood yet!

“It’s just for a few episodes and I just hope people like my character.”

The Liverpool-born father-of two, who turned 60 last week, made his name as a warm-up act before filming for major TV favourites like Brookside, Doctors, Holby City, Merseybeat, Lead Balloon, Little Britain, and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.

He is recovering after having a heart attack on stage in Manchester back in January while performing as Den Perry in a special Phoenix Nights show at the city’s arena.

Corrie producer Stuart Blackburn said Ted would play a long-desired love interest for Mary.

He added that he had done a fantastic audition and everyone on Coronation Street had been looking forward to welcoming him.

The arrival of Ted, second cousin of Beatle’s legend Paul McCartney, on the cobbles makes him the third member of Phoenix Nights to have a role on the ITV show.

Paddy McGuiness plays wilderness enthusiast Dougie Ryan in next week’s episodes and Peter Kay, who wrote Phoenix Nights, joined his friend Sally Lindsay, who plays Shelley Unwin, in an earlier cameo on the show.