A new character arrives on Coronation Street on Monday night in the form of Curtis Delamere - and he was instantly turning heads.
Actor Sam Retford has taken on the role of dashing newcomer Curtis, who has caught the eye of hairdresser Emma (Alexandra Mardell) upon arrival in Weatherfield to apply for a new job in the Bistro.
And he may seem rather familiar to many viewers - as actor Sam had a high profile role in hit Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge as Cory Wilson.
In his new Corrie role, we can expect to see plenty of drama after he becomes involved with Emma.
Not least when Emma's dad, Steve McDonald, meets him and immediately identifies him as the 'hooligan' who knocked him off his bike and caused him to come last in his charity fundraiser.
Who is Sam Retford and where is he from?
Sam, who is 21, was actually born and raised in Gosford, Australia, but his family moved to the UK when he was still a child to settle in Crewe, Cheshire.
He attended Brine Leas School in Nantwich where his love for drama was first spotted, he says, from "always being the loudest" and he went on to take acting classes at The Lowry theatre in Salford (pictured above).
He won his first TV role at the age of just 15 to appear in Hollyoaks spin off Later in Tom's Story and then got his big TV break starring as Cory in Channel 4's coming-of-age school drama, Ackley Bridge, since 2017.
He appeared in series 1-3 of the drama, set in a school in the fictional Yorkshire town of Ackley Bridge, but has not returned for the most recent series 4.
Sam has long had a passion for theatre and his won acclaim for roles on Manchester's fringe theatre scene, including making his musical theatre debut at The Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats in their 2018 production of Closets alongisde former Corrie star Hayley Tamaddon.
And he starred in The Newspaper Boy at 53Two theatre, an acclaimed drama penned by another former Corrie actor Chris Hoyle.
Is Sam on social media?
Sam has a personal, verified instagram account @samretford which he uses to post some stunning photos of his adventures out walking and enjoying the great outdoors.
He also has a passion for wild water swimming - even boldly taking a dip in the chilly winter months, including pictured below in the Peak District in December.
Brave lad!
