Jimmi Harkishin is regarded as one of Coronation Street's most famous figures.
The 57-year-old soap star has played Dev Alahan on the Cobbles for almost 24 years. The actor's iconic portrayal has taken Dev through some of the programme's most explosive storylines, including a turbulent romance with Deidre Barlow.
Fans got the chance to see Jimmi in an unfamiliar role as he appeared on an edition of Celebrity Catchphrase. The actor competed against Charlie Brooks and Siobhan McSweeney on the popular ITV game show.
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Jimmi revealed a surprising change made to Dev after he landed the role. He said: "When you got the breakdown of the character, it said he was born and brought up in Birmingham."
Jimmi showcased his Brummie accent before he revealed why show bosses eventually changed the character's origins. He said: "I can do it but it's not sexy."
The shop owner's importance to Corrie is showing no signs of slowing down and he has previously spoken about why he has no plans of leaving the soap. He told Mirror Online: "I just love it. I’m an actor and I get to act every week.
"Coronation Street is just this brilliant, brilliant programme, to work for. It feels like home and I never forget how fortunate I am to do something I love. I think to myself, ‘Is there anything I’d really like to go out there and do more than I like doing Corrie?’ The answer to that is, ‘No’. If there was, I’d do it."
Jimmi has been a near constant on the Cobbles - aside from two well-publicised breaks. Back in 2004, Jimmi temporarily exited the cobbles - after he was granted indefinite leave to sort out "problems" in his private life.
A spokesperson for Granada said: "Both Granada and Jimmi recognise he has some problems that he needs to sort out. He will be taking a break from the show while he seeks help to deal with these issues.
"This is with the full support of the Company, Coronation Street and his colleagues."
Jimmi had already filmed five weeks' worth of scenes in advance and storylines were re-written to explain his absence. The soap stalwart was forced to take another break in April 2014 as he was understood to be exhausted from the busy filming schedule.
Show officials confirmed the actor was planning to take the time off after making a formal request with producers, but insisted he would definitely return.
A Corrie spokesperson said: "It was agreed way in advance, and other actors who have been on the show a long time have done the same thing from time to time and taken a sabbatical."
During his time away, Jimmi planned to go travelling with his daughter before she went off to university.
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