10:35AM, Oct 15, 2009
Veteran TV actor and all-round smoothie Nigel Havers has joined the cast of Coronation Street.
In a saucy twist he's set to play Lewis, a male escort.
Nigel will first grace screens in December, when he accompanies Claudia (played by special guest star and Celebrity Big Brother contestant Rula Lenska) to a Christmas ball.
Word on the grapevine is that Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls), who is already annoyed to be taking Norris (Malcolm Hebden) as her guest, will be even more upset too see that old pal Claudia has a charming chap on her arm.
On learning that Lewis' services are available for hire, Audrey decides to book him for another event. But things go wrong when she starts to fall for him.
Corrie bosses have insisted that there's nothing lewd about Lewis' role. "There is no suggestion that Lewis is anything more than a companion escort for his clients," said a spokeswoman.
Is love on the cards for Audrey or will her festive fling go awry?
We'll have to wait and see, but we do know that Nigel will continue the role in the New Year.
Find out when Coronation Street is on TV.
