Mikey North first joined the ITV soap as Gary Windass in 2008 and has been involved in major plotlines over the years.
From sharing the screen with the nation’s favourite characters to watching the next generation of actors set foot on the Cobbles, Mikey has high praise for the show.
He said: “I’ve been on Corrie for almost two decades now, but it doesn’t feel like two minutes. I always remember being the young one on the set, but I’m now more the middle-aged dad. I’ve really grown up with the show.
“The best part is the people you work with and everyone from the cast to the crew is fantastic. When I see Ken Barlow in the green room, I still catch myself. I’ve got to give a mention to my on-screen wife Sami as well. Who you’re paired up with is so important.
“It’s obviously great when Gary is involved in the big storylines. I feel like we’re going through another brief interlude in the life of Gary at the moment, but he has definitely developed over the years. He’s gone from a full-blown tearaway to a semi-tearaway.”
The actor is now gearing up to appear at the much-loved Bewdley Festival in October and even took the time to give a special mention to The King Arthur pub on Worcester Lane.
He said: “My wife is from Hagley, so I actually know the area quite well. It’s a lovely part of the world. I’ve got to give a shoutout to The King Arthur pub. We do spend quite a lot of time there.
“I’m friends with one of the organisers of Bewdley Festival and I was asked if I’d like to take part. All the organisers have been lovely and dates all lined up perfectly, so I’ve decided to come and see what it’s all about.
“I’m really looking forward to coming to Bewdley and being part of the festival. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it and the town, especially the community spirit. It will also be great to share the bill with comedian Ria Lina. I saw her on Live at the Apollo and she is really funny.”
Mikey North’s Corrie and Me talk, which is being led by Adrian Goldberg, will take place on Sunday (October 12) at 7.30pm at St George’s Hall.
Mikey promises to give fans of the show a behind-the-scenes look into life on the Cobbles and how the show is produced as well as there being a Q&A.
He said: “We have done a similar thing over in Canada, where there is a big Corrie fanbase. We have someone acting as an interviewer, and we give an insight into how the show is filmed, what goes into making an episode and what it’s like working on set.
“It’s really great to talk to the fans and it’s also a great opportunity for people interested in TV or production, especially younger people who might want to know what it’s like in the industry.
“I look back at when I was younger and I’d have loved to hear from someone who worked in the industry about what it’s like being an actor.”
Mikey said Corrie is about two months in front with filming, but it varies at different times of the year.
The cast are also preparing for the upcoming Coronation Street and Emmerdale crossover.
He said: “It can be hard not to give something away when we’re a few weeks or a couple of months in front, but it does mean I get two Christmases in my life – one filming for Corrie and then one on December 25.
“I don’t know if Gary will be part of the crossover with Emmerdale yet, but it will be a great watch. It’s really exciting and quite surreal.
“I feel very lucky to be part of such an incredible show. It’s the world’s longest-running TV drama and its legacy is not wasted on us.
“It’s crazy how you can travel 10 hours to Canada and people know about the show and who you are. It is a testament to the reach of Coronation Street.
“It is so accessible and it really brings people together and connects them. The schedule can be quite full-on, but it brings me joy to know that all that hard work is worth it if it brings someone a bit of relief watching it at the end of the day.”
Tickets are on sale for Mikey North – Corrie and Me at https://events.bewdleyfestival.org.uk/index.php?cPath=18