Having rapidly made an enemy in David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd) over kitchengate, Coronation Street's Gary Windass (Mikey North) and his clan - mother Anna (Debbie Rush), father Eddie (Steve Huison) and uncle Len (Conor Ryan) - took root on the Cobbles at the end of November. After their arrival, Anna quickly sought to befriend Gail (Helen Worth), while Gary's animosity with David has continued to escalate. Next week, Gary pushes David to the edge when he jibes at him about his past indiscretions and a vicious scrap breaks out between the pair. So what's it been like settling in at Corrie and what's to come from Gary over the next few weeks? We gave actor Mike North a bell to find out.
You're still the relative new kid on the block. How's it been like settling in?
"It's been great. I've had some nice storylines to come in on, too. And being part of a new family, you're all in the same boat settling in. Everyone's been fantastic here - we've all been made to feel very welcome."
What's it like working with your 'second' family?
"It's funny because you start to feel that they are your real family. I'm sure they all feel the same way, too. My 'mum' Anna probably feels maternal towards me in a stupid kind of a way!"
The Windasses seem to have this shady past life. Will we ever learn why they had to leave Spain?
"I would have thought so. I'm sure that'll come out in a few months. At the moment, I've not read anything that hints as to why we left Spain. We were probably up to no good or were evicted for some reason."
What's the reason behind Gary's dislike of David?
"I think it all stems from the kitchen business when Joe sold us a kitchen that we refused to pay for, and to get revenge David, Tina and Graeme trashed the kitchen. So right form the start, David and Gary have been enemies and because he has a good looking girlfriend, Gary sees that as an opportunity to wind David up even more. Any chance Gary gets, he'll wind David up."
Has Gary always been a bad lad character growing up?
"I think so, yeah. He gets it all from his uncle Len, who in a way is his idol. Gary copies his uncle and wants to be like him, even though he realises that it's not the best thing to do."
Has Gary been brought up with Len acting as his dad?
"Len's someone that he looks up to, but he knows who his dad is. Len's his hero and probably plays more of a brotherly role."
Does Gary really fancy Tina or is he just winding David up?
"Course he does. He fancies himself to be honest - he thinks he can get anyone with his one-liners. Fancying Tina isn't the main thing for him, though. His focus is to wind David up. I think he's just playing the game. He knows he's winding Tina up in the process. I'm sure deep down that he hopes one day she'll fall for him."
Gary has a criminal record doesn't he?
"Yeah. He got into a scrap with some of the lads on the estate where he used to live and ended up being charged with assault. He ended up with a suspended sentence and if he gets caught again for the same thing, he'll end up going down for I think three years."
Next week, Gary learns about David's past and starts taunting him, doesn't he?
"Gary steals loads of copper piping from the builders' yard with his uncle Len to make himself a bit of cash as well as getting at Joe. Gary convinces Jason that he wasn't involved and the pair become quite pally. Jason ends up telling Gary everything about David's past, including pushing his mum down the stairs, giving ecstasy to his niece, driving the car into the canal and not getting on with his dad. Gary keeps going on at David until he snaps and lamps him just as Tina comes into view. Once David throws the first punch, Gary gets stuck in and goes to town on him. Gary hopes that he'll get away with it because she's the one that saw David throw the first punch."
Who gets hurt?
"David knows who's boss by the end!"
After the scuffle, David's taken to hospital. What happens to Gary?
"Gary storms off and leaves his mum to deal with it all but when he returns home, the police are in the house and arrest him because Rita saw the end of the fight and told the police that it was all Gary's fault. When Gary speaks to Len later in the day, it's only then that Gary realises that his plan was flawed from the outset because Tina would never lie for David, even though she knows the truth."
Gary Windass talks Rosie and Graeme
Last week, I caught up with Coronation Street newbie Mikey North to chat about the forthcoming screen fight between his character Gary Windass and resident bad boy David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd). Since he turned up on the Street, Gary's been taking every opportunity to speak to David's girlfriend Tina (Michelle Keegan), winding David up in the process.
However, Gary soon hears about David's colourful past after a chat with Jason (Ryan Thomas). Armed with plenty of ammunition, Gary continues with his provocative remarks, pushing David further to the edge. At the mention of David's relationship with his dad Martin (Sean Wilson), David snaps and goes for Gary. By the end of the scrap, the young Platt is left in a bloody state. Click here to read what Mikey has to say about the storyline.
Here, however, are a few extra quotes from my time with Mikey. By the sounds of it, we've probably not seen the end of Rosie and Gary, and we'll probably be delving a little deeper into the family's past.
Are there any similarities between you both?
"Most of the characters that I play are the bad lads and I'm not like that at all. I've no idea where I get it from - it must be the guys I went to school with!"
Gary had a bit of a thing over Christmas with Rosie Webster. Does he actually like her or was she just a means to an end?
"To be honest, I think Gary saw that he had sex on tap next door and so thought he might as well try and get in there. It was only a quick bit over Christmas, but I wouldn't rule out a potential reconciliation. They're quite a match, really."
Who haven't you had scenes yet that you'd love to film with?
"In real life, I live with Crag Gazey who plays Graeme and he introduced the Windasses onto the Cobbles because Graeme knew of the family. I'm hoping that things might develop along that strand and we might find out how Gary and Graeme know each other. The scripts have mentioned some names of Gary's estate mates as well as other Windass family members. So I wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing a few people from the family's past sailing through."
Corrie seem to have played the Windass arrival a better than they did with the Mortons - they actually have a storyline, which is a good start! One question that I'm still pondering, though, is whether there's still room for the Mortons on the Cobbles. Have the Windass clan successfully usurped their position in Weatherfield? Or would the Mortons be welcomed back with open arms?
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