Simon O'Brien has joined 'Coronation Street'.
Brookside legend Simon O'Brien - right - is joining Corrie
The 56-year-old actor - who is best known for starring as Damon Grant in now-defunct soap 'Brookside' during the 1980s - will make his debut on the cobbles in the coming months as Frank Bardsley, a mystery new love interest for established character Sean Tully (Antony Cotton).
A 'Corrie' insider told Digital Spy: "While Sean is smitten, there may be more to Frank than meets the eye. Frank went to school with local undertaker George Shuttleworth, who knows details about his past and is wary of him. Is Frank the same guy that George knew all those years ago, or has he changed his ways?"
The outlet reports Frank is a guest character and that the Simon has already started shooting his scenes in the ITV soap.
Simon was an original cast member of Liverpool-based soap 'Brookside', making his debut as the on-screen son of Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston's characters Bobby and Sheila Grant.
He was propelled to teen idol status thanks to the role before being killed off in a three-part 'Brookside' spin-off series 'Damon and Debbie.'
In the spin-off, widely credited as being the UK's first "soap bubble", Damon and Debbie McGrath - who was played by former 'Emmerdale' actress Gillian Kearney - headed to York to get away from their parents, who didn't agree with their relationship.
Simon has gone on to a career in property development, but returned to screens to host 'The Great House Giveaway'. He is expected to appear in 'Coronation Street' in the coming months.
Tagged in Ricky Tomlinson