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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Katie Fitzpatrick

Former Corrie star on being recognised by fans while working as a Tesco delivery driver

Former Corrie star Bill Ward says he was recognised by fans while working as a delivery driver for Tesco.

Bill, who played villain Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street, opened up about his time working for the supermarket chain on the This Morning sofa.

The actor, who also played James Barton in Emmerdale, said he enjoyed his job which he took on at the end of May last year after the TV and theatre industry was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.

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"I was a delivery driver for Tesco for certainly a number of months over the summer and a little bit over the winter as well," he told hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford.

Bill is also an accomplished photographer (Newcastle Chronicle)

"I loved it, it was great fun."

Asked if customers recognised him he replied: "Yeah a little but I had my mask on most of the time but, yeah, certainly."

He added: "I really enjoyed it. For me it was a window on the pandemic.

"You just get to chat about the pandemic to people and see how different people are facing up to it."

Bill as villain Charlie in Corrie (ITV)

Bill, is best known for playing cheating builder Charlie in Coronation Street.

He joined the cast in 2003 until 2007 when his character was killed by Tracy Barlow who clobbered him with an ornament following a steamy lap dance after he cheated on her with Maria Sutherland.

Bill, who is also an accomplished photographer, has also starred in Eastenders, The Bill, and Ricky Gervais' Netflix hit Afterlife as Simon, the love rival to Ricky's character Tony Johnson.

He has also starred in numerous theatre productions including Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and The Glee Club.

Tracy killed Charlie (ITV)

Bill was in the early stages of touring with The Glee Club when the first national lockdown was announced.

"Towards the end of May it started to become clear that the pandemic wasn't going away, and if anything it was going to get worse," Bill previously told Bristol Live.

"That's when you look at the rest of the year ahead and think 'okay, I need to make a living this year; how are we going to do that as a family?'

"My partner and I started doing things we wouldn't normally be able to do as much of, and for me one of those things has been giving photography talks to camera clubs over Zoom.

"I've also taught in drama schools and film schools, written for photography magazines and done a few bits of voiceover work for Channel Five.

"But on top of that you need some kind of regular income, so I've been a delivery driver for Tesco since the end of May, doing around 30 hours a week."

Bill, 54, is now returning to the stage in a new touring theatre production alongside former Coronation Street star Wendi Peters who played Cilla Battersby-Brown.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow will open in Bromley next month and it comes to the Oldham Coliseum from Tuesday October 26 to Sat October 30.

Washington Irving's classic, which tells the story of the famous Headless Horseman, has been adapted for the stage by Philip Meeks.

Earlier this year Bill starred in the acclaimed Channel Four six part drama Before We Die.

He also voiced the four part documentary series Natural History Museum – World of Wonders for Channel Five.

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