Paul makes leap from stage to screen

And his latest plan sees him set her up on a dastardly date with a character played by Paul David Gough, whose first taste of the limelight was as a teenager on the stage in Wolverhampton.

Paul, who hails from Penn, has swapped the theatre for the small screen as he appears in the nation's favourite soap.

The 40-year-old plays the role of musician James Dean (nicknamed JD) – an old friend of barmaid Michelle, played by Kym Marsh.

He first appeared on the cobbles briefly in the summer, but his character returns to Weatherfield over the festive season in a high-profile storyline involving Michelle and Coronation Street bad boy Steve, played by Simon Gregson. Paul stars in the Christmas Eve edition of the soap tomorrow night before returning for several episodes in the first few weeks of January.

Corrie's Steve is having an affair with Becky Grainger and comes up with a shocking plan to get out of his engagement to Michelle – by tricking her into cheating on him.

So he tells JD – Paul's character – that she has a crush on him and encourages him to make a move. The former pupil of Highfields School in Penn said he was thrilled to be returning to the Street.

"I've had such a great time in the soap," said Paul, who is now based in Oldham but returns to his home city regularly to visit his family and the Molineux, as he is a big Wolves fan.

"Coronation Street is such an iconic piece of British television and it's fantastic to be part of it," he added. "It's a good juicy storyline and the cast have been very welcoming and very down to earth. Both Simon and Kym have been fantastic to worth with."

Paul has yet to hear whether he will be a permanent fixture on the cobbles, but he is keeping his fingers crossed for another return to our screens.

The actor first discovered his passion for drama when he was a child in Wolverhampton.

His mother Pat, who still lives in Penn, used to take him to see shows at the city's Grand Theatre. He appeared in several productions at the theatre from the age of 15 to 19 during the 1980s, including the Mikado, and was pictured on the front page of the Express & Star.

"The Grand is my personal mecca and my old stomping ground," said Paul.

"I'd love to appear in a production on its stage in the future. This is where it all started for me," he added.