Fans of ITV’s Vera have fallen in love with the detective’s sidekick and friend, DS Aiden Healy. They love the sweet gesture as he kneels to put on his boss’ shoe covers at a crime scene and laugh when he doesn’t complain after she steals his lunch.
But he wasn’t always a trusty sidekick and up-and-coming detective, as actor Kenny Doughty would easily have you believe. Instead, the actor started with small films and TV and you may occasionally see him popping up in some of your favourite reruns.
Perhaps our favourite is Kenny’s brief appearance on the cobbles in Manchester in 2009. He made quite the entrance, interrupting Michelle Connor’s bath and having to climb through her window while she stands in nothing but a towel, and a potential romance was on the cards.
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Kenny took on the role of Jake Harman, a roofer, who comes to the street to do some work for Dev. After interrupting Michelle’s bath, smooth-taking Jake tries to flirt his way to a date before planting a, very unwanted, smacker on the barmaid.
A meeting with the police and some time spent in a cell a while later results in a saucy scene where Jake turns up in the Rovers wearing nothing but a towel. In an attempt to “return the favour”, he tells Michelle that he’ll drop the towel unless she agrees to a date.
Speaking of the newcomer at the time, in an interview Kym Marsh said: “Michelle can't believe the cheek of the guy! She was so embarrassed when he saw her naked but no sooner has she put her clothes on than he grabs her and kisses her. She's speechless and sends him packing."
Doughty added: "He really fancies Michelle, he's a cheeky charmer and he soon gets his way and she agrees to go on the date."
Kenny appeared on screens as Jake for around a month at the end of 2009, pursuing a brief relationship with Michelle. It seemed it wasn’t to be, though, as before long, his character was disappearing off to a roofing job in Glasgow and Michelle chose to remain behind on the Street.
Classic Coronation Street hasn’t quite reached his entrance yet, with a few years worth of episodes still to plough through. However, if ITV 3 is on in the background, keep an ear out for our favourite detective sergeant.
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