Shayne Ward is desperate to land a role in a period drama.
The 'Coronation Street' star is set to bow out of the long-running soap, in which he plays knicker-stitcher boss Aidan Connor, in just a few months' time and he's so serious about expanding his resume that he's been getting his tattoos removed from his arms because he thinks clear skin will open up more doors on screen for him.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Shayne is taking his bid to go into serious dramas very seriously. He's hoping that getting rid of the tattoos on both arms and will help with castings and open the door to more work. 'Coronation Street' has been an amazing opportunity but he's ready to try new things."
And his decision to get his body art lasered off won't come as too much of a surprise to fans as Shayne has made no secret of the fact he wishes he could "start again" with his tattoos because he got them done when he was a "clueless" teenager.
Asked what he would change about his body, he said at the time: "It would be to have no tattoos. I'd like a blank canvas to start again.
"I now know what I want, whereas as a teenager I didn't have a clue."
And, although he's still filming for 'Coronation Street', the 33-year-old actor is hoping he can bag a role alongside Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy in 'Peaky Blinders'.
He said: "I'm not nervous about leaving 'Corrie' I'm excited by the challenge. I can go on to other things now. I've always wanted to do something a bit more serious.
"'Peaky Blinders' is the kind of show I want to head towards. Things like that stuff that involves gangs and prison."
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