Johnny dreams of Hollywood
Family life is right up Johnny's street. He may be 71-years-old but Coronation Street actor Johnny Briggs says he hasn't given up on acting - or his dream of being in a Hollywood film.
Family life is right up Johnny's street. He may be 71-years-old but Coronation Street actor Johnny Briggs says he hasn't given up on acting - or his dream of being in a Hollywood film.
Famous for playing womanising Mike Baldwin in Coronation Street, Johnny still had that mischievous twinkle in his eye yesterday when he opened the Nock Deighton Estate Agents in Kidderminster - where his 26-year-old son, Mike, works.
"I'm here for my son - and this estate agents is a lot nicer than Underworld on Coronation Street," said the veteran actor laughing.
Despite rumours of a new love in his life, after splitting from his second wife Christine, Johnny added: "There is no-one in my life at the moment - I'm just concentrating on my family.
"All my children have done well achieving degrees and getting good jobs - I'm proud of them."
Until recently Johnny lived in a £650,000 five-bedroomed home near Stourbridge but now says he is living at his flat in Salford.
"Salford is where all my friends are," he says. "I did look at buying a flat opposite the golf course in Stourbridge but it was too expensive. My flat in Salford is opposite Manchester United football ground - sadly I'm not a fan.
"I'm still in contact with people from Coronation Street but mainly with the technicians because they were there the longest, whereas the cast would come and go. However, it is like one big happy family and I'm glad I'm still a part of that.
"I still come back to Stourbridge to play golf at the course, where I'm nicknamed The Bandit."
Despite leaving Coronation Street Johnny says he is only in semi-retirement. "I was in Holby City earlier this week, which was great because everyone was fantastic - the conclusion of the story will be next week.
"In April I'm playing a baddie in Miss Marple when I will be working with George Cole.
"The last time I worked with George was in 1948 when we did a film called Quartet. I said to him that we shouldn't leave it so long next time.
"I'm looking forward to going to Buckingham Palace next month to collect my MBE. It was announced on New Years Day but I was in America so didn't know about it.
Johnny's son Mike says he is proud of his father but found it difficult getting used to his father's fame.
"It has always been strange having a famous father and I have never got used to it - and you soon find out who your friends are," he says.
"Your friends are the ones that are always there for you, not just the ones who want to talk to you because of who your dad is.
"A lot of people ask me if I was named Mike after my father's character Mike Baldwin. But I was named after my mum's brother."
Johnny added:"I'm happy with the ending Mike had in Coronation Street because they said I could disappear or go with a bang - but I wanted something that would draw attention to a charity that we could help.
"Every family is affected by Alzheimers but there is no cure."
So what about the future? "My agent is working on getting me into a film - which I am really keen to do.
