Coronation Street to create role for Andrew Sachs - exclusive

[Perdita]

Coronation Street bosses are trying to create a role for Andrew Sachs.

His agent wrote to Corrie bosses before the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand phone message furore.

Now scriptwriters are hoping to write him into the ITV soap as the brother of hapless shop assistant Norris Cole, played by Malcolm Hebden. Andrew, 78, could be in Weatherfield within weeks.

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An insider said: "I suppose that without the row over the phone call the agent's letter might have gone unnoticed. But I think they hope they can work the part of Norris's brother into the script. Andrew is a fantastic actor and I think the chemistry between him and Norris could just be fantastic."

Andrew, who played dozy waiter Manuel in the 1970s hit comedy Fawlty Towers, fell victim to a prank by Brand and Ross. Brand left a message on his answering machine claiming he'd had relations with his granddaughter Georgina Baillie.

BBC bosses apologised, Brand quit and Ross is suspended for three months without pay.

But the incident has boosted Andrew's profile. He was on stage last week in a 60th birthday tribute show for Prince Charles.

From The Mirror


I would love him to be in Corrie :cheer:

[miccisy]

So like i said the whole thing was a publicity stunt to get famous again.

[tammyy2j]

Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs is being lined up to join the cast of Coronation Street.

The actor, who has been in the headlines recently over the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand prank call scandal, is in talks to appear in the ITV soap next year.

The Daily Mirror reports that Sachs will play the brother of busy-body Norris Cole, who works alongside Rita in The Kabin.

A Coronation Street spokesperson said: "We first started working on a possible character for Andrew Sachs six months ago after learning that he was interested in joining the show.

“This was brought to our attention by Malcolm Hebden who plays Norris Cole. We have been in discussions with Andrew about the proposed storyline which would be seen on screen some time next year."

Andrew Sachs recently revived the Fawlty Towers character Manuel at a birthday celebration for Prince Charles. His most recent high-profile TV acting role was playing a paedophile in The Bill.

So BBC are the villians and ITV the heroes

[Perdita]

Andrew Sachs has accepted the Coronation Street role offered to him last month.

The Fawlty Towers actor, who made the news this autumn during the Manuelgate affair, revealed that he has not let his age get in the way of the opportunity.

"They're asking me to do Coronation Street next year. I'm a little concerned because I'm a pensioner, as the newspapers keep telling me, and it takes me longer to learn the lines. I'm going to take up the challenge anyway," he told the Radio Times.

Sachs added that he is already familiar with the soap thanks to his wife, saying: "I have to watch Coronation Street. It was a condition of my marriage. My wife was such a fan that I've been watching it since 1962."

[Perdita]

FORMER Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs, 78, has spent his first day filming on the cobbles of Coronation Street.

He plays Ramsay Clegg the illegitimate half-brother of Norris Cole, co-owner of The Kabin, played by Malcolm Hebden.

The veteran actor, who played dozy Spanish waiter Manuel in the classic 1970s BBC TV comedy, was recently the victim of prank phone calls from chat show host Jonathan Ross and his guest Russell Brand.

[Perdita]

Andrew Sachs has said that he has accepted the part of Ramsay Clegg - the estranged brother of Norris Cole - in Coronation Street.

The former Fawlty Towers star told The Guardian that he rejected a part on the soap two years ago, but asked producers if they had considered creating a brother for Cole.

The show then offered him a contract last July, which was signed in January. Sachs will appear in the programme for three months from May 15.

Sachs said: "Bad enough to have one Norris, but to have two! Twins - Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

"I met somebody from the Street, producer or somebody, and we had a word - this was ages ago - and he said, 'I'll put that to them'. For the producers, all the publicity was just a happy coincidence."

The actor also told the newspaper that he was grateful for the attention he received following the lewd phone messages he was left by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross.

[Chloe O'brien]

you can just picture Norris and Andrew as brothers. I for one am looking forward to some great comedy from these two.

[Perdita]

FAWLTY Towers legend Andrew Sachs is struggling to get to grips with Coronation Street shoots — because the soap is filmed out of sequence.
Sachs, 79, is filming a stint on the cobbles as Norris’s half-brother Ramsay Clegg.

But he admitted yesterday finding the gruelling schedule tough. He said: “The atmosphere is terrific, unexpectedly so.

“But it’s a bit confusing because there are so many scenes and different crews and it's all filmed out of order.

“I wake up in the morning never sure whether I'm supposed to be in Manchester or not.”

Andrew, who played Spanish waiter Manuel in the classic Seventies comedy, also revealed he would like to have been in The Royle Family.

He said: “It is the total opposite of Fawlty Towers.

“Our show was all about movement and farce. The Royle Family is all about sitting still and drinking tea. And it’s brilliant.”

[Chloe O'brien]

Well if they have another Royle Family they could have him as Jim brother or something.

[Perdita]

I don't think there will be another Royle Family series, maybe a Christmas special, but I think the last one was not perceived as well by the viewers as previous ones.

[lizann]

he has died rip Andrew

[Dazzle]

he has died rip Andrew

That's sad news. :(

[Splashy]

I will always remember him as the zannie waiter from Forty Towers, a show that only ran for one season yet everyone has memories of it "what ever you do dont mention the war"