Corrie's Gary Windass to be 'long-term villain'

9 July 2019

'Coronation Street' bosses want Gary Windass to be a "long-term villain" and more of an "anti-hero" than Pat Phelan.

Mikey North

Mikey North's character will confess he is responsible for the death of Rana Habeeb (Bhavna Limbachia), who died when the Underworld factory roof collapsed on top of her, next week, but concerned fans need not worry about the 32-year-old actor leaving Weatherfield anytime soon.

He said: "Our producer Iain MacLeod says this is by no means an exit storyline.

"Obviously producers come and go, but Iain has specified this is not planned as Gary's exit and they want to keep him as a long-term villain, more of an anti-hero than in the Pat Phelan mould."

Gary has also bumped off evil loan shark Rick Neelan (Greg Wood), and Mikey has teased his alter-ego's "increasingly calculated side" will come out soon.

He added to RadioTimes.com: "Saying that he has become more calculated because he's had to, although he hasn't killed in cold blood so far.

"With the factory roof he wasn't intending to kill, it was financial desperation. Then Rick was trying to kill him so he defended himself.

"That increasingly calculated side to Gary will come out."

Mikey recently admitted he feels "blessed" to have worked alongside soap villains Neelan and Phelan, who Gary took on last year and his mum Anna Windass (Debbie Rush) ended up stabbing the builder to death.

He said: "It's a challenge but it's been great. I've been blessed in working with two great villains, Phelan and now Rick which has been really enjoyable.

"Gary has often tried to bully people, like Seb down the years, but when he comes up against people like Rick, he realises he's not so good at it after all."