Mike (Louis Emerick)

Former Brookside actor Louis Emerick is joining the cast of Coronation Street.

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Best known for playing Mick Johnson in the classic Channel 4 soap, Emerick is heading to Weatherfield to play Mike – Steve McDonald's old school teacher who takes a liking to his mum Liz.

Steve (Simon Gregson) won't be best pleased to see Mike again, especially after he attempts to date Liz (Beverley Callard).

The actor, who also played PC Walsh in Last of the Summer Wine, has tweeted his delight at joining Corrie.


Louis Emerick.
✔
@thelouisemerick
Evening all,well as you know now,I'm heading for,The most famous street in the world,@itvcorrie to say I'm chuffed,is the biggest understatement EVER!I wanna thank All of U on here for your support+belief!How many of U have sed"you'd be fab in it,a man for Liz"😘xx

11:28 PM - Jan 26, 2018
76 76 Replies 20 20 Retweets 284 284 likes
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He wrote: "Evening all,well as you know now,I'm heading for,The most famous street in the world,@itvcorrie to say I'm chuffed,is the biggest understatement EVER!I wanna thank All of U on here for your support+belief!How many of U have sed'you'd be fab in it,a man for Liz'x"

Louis starred as taxi driver and shopkeeper Mick in Brookside from 1989 to 2001.

More recently, he has appeared in a number of movies and theatre shows. He played the role of Horse in the touring production of The Full Monty.

Louis will begin shooting his new role on Corrie from next week.


Digital Spy

He was good in Brookside

Liz getting a new man

i wouldn't put it past kate oates to make him an abuser of steve or andy

Good Stuff, a decent actor, long established in a soap previous and is over 30!!!

Will be so nice to see a more senior person walking the cobbles, it so needs some fresh interest.:cheer::cheer::cheer:

Former Brookside star Louis Emerick arrives in Coronation Street next week as a new love interest for Liz McDonald.

The actor, currently best known to soap fans as Brookie's Mick Johnson, has now landed the role of Mike – an old teacher of Steve's, who takes a shine to Liz when he visits The Rovers.

Digital Spy recently paid a visit to the Corrie set to hear Louis chat about his brand new role for the first time.

What can you tell us about Mike?

"Mike is Steve McDonald's ex-teacher. He's probably taught Tracy Barlow and Leanne Battersby too. Mike has now retired from teaching, but he's just got his cab driver's licence. He's got an old farmhouse over in Spain that he's doing up, so he needs to work to fund it. His plan is to work part-time and use his cab.

"Mike just happens to visit The Rovers, meets Liz and likes what he sees. He says that he used to give Steve an extra detention so his mum would have to come and have a word! On that day he comes into the pub, he ends up getting a job with Streetcars. So, that's fulfilling the part-time work thing... and then he's going to work on wooing Liz!"

How is Mike planning to woo Liz?

"Well, he knows she's got a little soft spot for Spain and he's hoping that might be a way to tempt her to come and stay with him for a day or two."

Is there good on-screen chemistry between you and Beverley Callard, who plays Liz?

"I've known Bev for nearly 30 years! We actually did an episode of Mile High back in 2003, so it's been great. That's what's been nice about coming into Corrie – that my character is involved with both her and Simon Gregson, who I know as well. I couldn't have wished for a better baptism, if you like."

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Mike Thornbury arrives at The Rovers in Coronation Street
© ITV

What's it been like to dip back into the soap world?

"I think if you're coming into something like this after 58 years, it is an institution and it's quite scary. So, you do think to yourself as an actor coming in that you don't want to let anyone down. You're really going over the lines and drumming them in. It's exciting, but scary at the same time."

You've been on the show before, haven't you?

"32 years ago I delivered the new furniture after The Rovers had been burned down for the first time. I had a lovely scene with Bill Tarmey and Roy Barraclough. It was a couple of lines, but I treasured that forever. It's taken me 32 years to get back!"

Has the show changed?

"Well, that was at the old Corrie set. But what's interesting is that I was waiting to do my first scene in The Rovers as Mike, and even though it's moved locale, you still get that sense of nervousness because of all the people that have stepped into The Rovers before. It didn't take away the nerves – you still felt you were treading on holy ground."

Did you always want to come back?

"To be honest, I never thought it would happen. I'd been up for a couple of parts before and kind of got close. But then as a fan of it you think: 'It's probably not going to happen now'. As an actor, you watch it and you see characters that maybe you could be linked with, and then somebody else comes in. I'd kind of given up the ghost of ever coming in."

Can you say what the other parts were?

"One was Tony, but he's ended up dead, so I don't want to go that way! The other part was the one that Derek Griffiths did, but he's a lovely guy to lose out to. But I've got my time now, so that's cool."

How do you feel about joining another soap?

"I left Brookside in 2001 and for the next few years after that, I wouldn't have gone near another soap. That's the reason why I left, because I wanted to do other stuff. But it's now 16 or 17 years down the line. I definitely needed that gap, because it's very intense. But if given the chance, who wouldn't want to come in and do it?"

How will Steve react to the new romance between Mike and Liz?

"I don't think Steve's going to like that so much. We're going to have to keep that quiet, I think.

"Steve initially isn't going to take Mike on with the cabs, but when he leaves the office, Tim says to him: 'Listen, you can have a bit of fun here. He was your teacher, he gave you detention. Now you can give him the OAP runs!' Which is what they do. It's nice and light."

How does Mike compare to Jim McDonald?

"Oh Jim McDonald's in the right place – in prison! Come on, you'd never let that man out again, would you? (Laughs.) Liz has got someone with a bit of culture now, a bit of charm. Someone who's going to woo her properly! So leave him there, throw away the key."

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Beverley Callard and Louis Emerick on set at Coronation Street
© TWITTER @THELOUISEMERICK

Does Mike have a dark side?

"Not at all. Well, unless there's something going on in Spain. At this moment in time, no. He's just looking for some part-time work, he's loving doing up the Spanish old farmhouse. Now he's seen Liz, he's decided that he wants to pursue her."

Is Mike divorced?

"I've seen something where it says that his ex-wife Jill went off with half the money they were going to use for this farmhouse. That's why he's got to work now."

How long are you in the show for?

"I'm here until May and then we'll see what happens then. I'll be hanging onto the door, saying: 'Don't throw me out!'"

Are you still in touch with anyone from Brookside?

"We had a proper reunion for the 30th anniversary a few years ago, which Phil Redmond organised. That was great, because everyone was there – from cast and crew. Now like a lot of people, we're in touch on social media because we're all busy doing whatever we're doing.

"Now and again, little pockets of us will get together. I was out with Michael Starke, who played Sinbad, three or four months ago. I also live quite close to Dean Sullivan who played Jimmy. We'll meet up now and again."

https://youtu.be/WRv0V_mYL_U

What else have you been doing between Brookside and now?

"I've been touring with The Full Monty off and on since 2014. It was voted Best UK Tour. Immediately after this I'm doing a third series of Zapped, which was on the Dave channel. We're going for series three, which just fits in nicely. I was also in Casualty for two years between 2003 and 2005."

And you're always playing people called Mike!

"Yeah! I was Mick in Brookie, in an episode of Holby I was Michael Denton, in Casualty I was Mike Bateman, so there's something about Mike. Are they taking the Mike, I don't know? It's followed me around!"


Digital Spy

Great stuff, he was good as Mick in Brookside and I'm sure he will be good in Corra, think I will like this:love:

he is leaving

http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coro...ke-thornberry/

Coming up on Coronation Street, Mike Thornberry will be bowing out from Weatherfield as his relationship with Liz McDonald falls apart.

Mike has been dating Liz (Beverley Callard) for a few weeks now, but it seems that he's not the right man for her, as she's far more focused on her forbidden feelings for Johnny Connor.

Next week, Mike realises that something is amiss when he spots Liz and Johnny having an earnest conversation in the pub.

When Mike asks if there's something going on, a guilty Liz is unable to deny it. As a result, Mike leaves heartbroken.

Later in the week, Mike's woes get worse when Liz's son Steve takes great pleasure in sacking him from Streetcars.

Mike's setbacks mark the end of Brookside star Louis Emerick's guest stint in the role. The actor will soon be touring the country in a production of The Full Monty alongside Hollyoaks star Gary Lucy.

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Liz McDonald and Mike Thornberry break up in Coronation Street
© ITV


Coronation Street airs these scenes on Monday, June 25 at 8pm and Friday, June 29 at 8.30pm on ITV.

shame he had potential, let's hope he tells steve and tracy about liz and johnny before leaving

Coronation Street is set to bring back Louis Emerick as Liz McDonald's ex-lover Mike Thornberry.

The actor announced his exit from the soap back in April after just a three-month stint as a cabbie, but is now returning to the cobbles.

Digital Spy has learned that Mike has unfinished business with Liz and he'll be back on our screens in November.

Emerick and his character Mike proved to be massively popular with fans, who were disappointed to see him leave. Luckily for them, however, the door was left open for a return after his contract ended.

Speaking to Digital Spy ahead of his arrival back in March, Louis told us that he would be in Corrie "until May". "We'll see what happens then," he added. "I'll be hanging onto the door, saying: 'Don't throw me out!'"

Emerick actually made his first appearance on Corrie 32 years ago in a brief cameo where he helped to deliver some furniture to the Rovers Return after it had burned down. He told us that he went for a few more parts, but never thought he'd return.



Digital Spy

Great News, I liked Mike, but maybe not with Liz?
I just need the Rana crowd to disappear, if I see them shaking their heads anymore when they are acting, I will be see sick!!!

I am glad he is returning, he had potential, I was not keen on him also with Liz

CORONATION STREET will be welcoming back a familiar face over the Christmas period, just before tragedy hits for Liz McDonald who is set to be involved in an explosive plot over the festive season.

Liz (played by Beverly Callard) will face a blast from the past in the coming weeks on Coronation Street as a former flame returns.

Mike Thornberry (Louis Emetic) had a brief dalliance with Liz earlier this year, but bid farewell to the ITV soap after finding out she had a one night stand with Johnny Connor (Richard Hawley).

Although it wasn’t a bitter break up, Liz is sure to be shocked to see Mike back in Weatherfield, but Jenny Connor (Sally Ann Matthews) may be overjoyed as she has had doubts her husband Johnny is still sleeping with Liz.

The door was left open for Mike to return sometime in the future, however, viewers may have not been expecting it to be this year.

Revealing the news to Digital Spy, a Coronation Street spokesperson confirmed: “He is back on screen for a few episodes around Christmas time.”

Although Mike’s return will be short lived, it is set to be dramatic as Liz could find herself the target of a revenge plot.

Having already suffered at the hands of her ex-husband Jim McDonald (Charles Lawson) who made her believe her dead daughter Katie was still alive, Liz is set to face further heartache.

In one of the soap's biggest Christmas storylines, The Sun reported earlier this month Liz will be knocked down by a mystery assailant.

However, it was not known if the Rovers barmaid will pull through the ordeal.

Could it be Jenny who takes the ultimate act of revenge to ensure Liz is out of Johnny’s life for good as she rages with jealousy?

The ITV soap has not confirmed the storyline yet, but it seems Mike could be set for heartbreak if he and Liz have a romantic reunion.

Why does he return for Liz, she was not interested romanticially in him, preferred the cheater Johnny