Veteran actor Sir Derek Jacobi hits out at Corrie for ditching older stars

Veteran actor Sir Derek Jacobi has slammed Coronation Street for getting rid of all its best older characters.

The 81-year-old, who is a founding member of the Royal National Theatre, made the criticism after once appearing in a small non-speaking role, after he was invited on a tour of the show's set

"When it started, Corrie was all about the older generation – lovely Annie Walker behind the bar, Elsie Tanner, all of them.

"There are only token oldies in it now," he said, adding: "And it lacks a texture that it had."

He continued: "It's still good. I still watch it, but it's not as rich as it was, not as layered as it was, and it's very plot-driven whereas it used to be character-driven."

Other known faces who have enjoyed non-speaking extra roles on the classic British soap include Prince Charles, Sir Cliff Richard, 79 and Sir Ian McKellen.

However, in the interview with The Times , he was clear that he still felt a love for soaps and called them "an amazing training ground". He said:"Soaps are great if you are starting out, as it's an amazing training ground, or if you are later on in your career and guaranteed work for 10 years or so.

The couple also have two daughters.

The legendary actor, who has been with his partner Richard for over 40 years, admitted he would have struggled in Phillip's position, describing it as "torture".

He said: "My own reaction was, ‘How do you do that for so long?’ If I were to marry, knowing I was gay, produce children, I couldn’t do

it.

Elsie Tanner was played by Pat Phoenix (Granada)

"In a sense I admire him very much. He must have been tortured by it."

Last year Sir Derek portrayed the Duke of Windsor in The Crown season 3, taking over the role from Alex Jennings.

The acting legend appeared opposite fellow veteran performer Geraldine Chaplin as Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, who takes over form actress Lia Williams in the first two seasons.

Sir Derek said it must have been 'torture' for Phillip Schofield who came out publicly as gay (ITV)

The pair portrayed the controversial couple in episodes of the third run, which saw them share scenes with Olivia Colman as The Queen and Josh O'Connor as Prince Charles, Prince of Wales.

The Duke of Windsor famously abdicated his role as King Edward VIII to marry his lover Wallis Simpson, who he had been blocked from marrying due to her status as a commoner and American divorcee.

The result of this also saw his brother become King George VI and his niece become heir to the throne and the eventual Queen Elizabeth II.

Sir Derek who recently return to TV screens in Last Tango in Halifax, has also spoken on This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield recently coming out publicly as gay, after being married to wife Stephanie for 27 years.