'Coronation Street' stars Richard Hawley and Connor McIntyre live together.

Richard Hawley

Richard Hawley

Richard - who plays factory owner Johnny Connor in the soap - has revealed he shares a flat in Manchester with his co-star, who portrays villainous builder Pat Phelan, and the pair get on so well that help each other learning their lines.

He said on 'Lorraine': "It's the odd couple. We stay together five days a week we share a flat together in Manchester.

"It's been a very enriching time actually, it's quite funny, because we lounge around in our pajamas, each one of us play the other characters in the show (when practising our lines) ... I've got my northern wife in Phelan!"

Richard goes home to his wife Helen in Brighton on the weekends and admitted his fun and cosy living arrangements with Connor won't last for long because his partner is keen to join him Manchester eventually.

He explained: "Yeah it's quite a long way to travel, I live in Brighton. So next year I'm going to try to get a flat there with my real wife, hopefully darling! We'll be coming up (together)."

However, Richard's character has been diagnosed with the debilitating disease multiple sclerosis (MS) and sufferers eventually die from complications associated with the disease.

But the 61-year-old actor says he'd like to stay in the ITV soap for as long as he can.

He said: "It's not an exit story, it can't be because it's a slow progressive illness that Johnny has. BUt I don't mind, i think you get great stuff out of an exit story. But I'd like to be there a long time actually.

"I don't even know what the short term future is for us. It's a great job to have, I don't really see it as, well, I like to see it as year by year and story by story. So you give it your all and be a part of it at the time."

And the former 'Prime Suspect' star admitted his new role has changed his life, and he's loved seeing how the long-standing cast take pride in being in the soap.

He said: "There's a pride in what they do and a pride in that city. A pride, humour and community, and resilience. It's an honour to do it, it's really enriched my life."

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