Lorraine : Now Coronation Street’s scheming Greg Kelly is back on the scene, causing huge troubles to Mike Baldwin – but – Stephen Billington, who plays the character is nothing like Greg Kelly are you?

Stephen : No – of course I’m not

Lorraine: Nothing at all

Stephen: No I wear jumpers ! I was a bit cold earlier on as I had my short sleeves on so I thought I’d better put this (jumper) on.

Lorraine: Well, it’s a great character to play isn’t it

Stephen: Yes – it’s fantastic and a fantastic challenge for me in many ways

Lorraine : Did you expect to come back so soon ?

Stephen: I didn’t to be honest, in fact I didn’t expect to come back at all but occasionally you get these little surprises which is fantastic – all part of the job

Lorriane: I was wondering, when that whole storyline started with Julia going out with Mike Baldwin, I thought, it looked like she really did fancy him and I thought – what ? And then it all became clear

Stephen: I had people coming up to me in the street saying "it’s you isn’t it" – "it’s you that’s behind that Julia"

Lorraine: I think people twigged. So you go the call to come back and he’s even worse wouldn’t you say ?!

Stephen: Hhhmmm – oh I don’t know. It was pretty heavy New Year’s Day – I don’t know if you remember ?

Lorraine: Didn’t they have to cut some scenes out of that ?

Stephen: Well we had to reshoot the final scene because it was too violent but I have to say that Sally Whittaker and I both enjoyed doing it

Lorraine: Well it is good fun playing a baddie isn’t it ?! I mean you can really go for it

Stephen: Absolutely,

Lorraine: So we’ll see you tonight on Coronation Street but we will also see you in a show called Soap Secrets

Stephen: That’s right

Lorraine: Have you had a look at this yet ?

Stephen: No – I haven’t seen it

Lorraine: You’re in the compilation of all the baddies – and for me, it’s going to be soap heaven, I shall be sitting there watching it, of course I will. I often thought/was surprised that Greg Kelly’s character didn’t’ chat up Natalie ? I’d have thought Natalie and him would have made quite a good pair

Stephen : That would be the obvious choice wouldn’t it. Yeah cause when I first started at the Street I knew I was going to have an affair with a married woman but I didn’t’ know who it was going to be. I thought Natalie ……..

Lorraine: Yes you would but Sally was so unlikely – lovely Mrs Housewife. She certainly changed

Stephen: She certainly did

Lorraine: Talking about Natalie – tonight on Soap Secrets there’s going to be a clip of all the landladies that have been in the Rovers Return. Have a look at this (shows clip)

Lorraine: Bet’s hair is huge !Now there’s going to be Soap Awards on Saturday and you’re up for an award as what ?

Stephen: Villain of the Year

Lorraine: I think you’ve got a very very good chance

Stephen: Well I hope so but I’m up against some stiff competition.

Lorraine: Yes Martin Kemp in Eastenders

Stephen: That’s right

Lorraine: Well at least you didn’t murder anyone !

Stephen: And also Ross Kemp as well

Lorraine: Oh yes of course, for goodness sake, there’s everybody in there. So, now we saw you in Braveheart being thrown out of the window. I remember, very very well. What role would you really love to do now ? If you had the choice, is there a part that you’re dying to play or a particular person that you want to work with ?

Stephen : Well, I’d love to play more Shakespeare – I’ve been away from it quite a while. I’d love to get my teeth into something like Macbeth – you know what I mean. Umm, well we’re allowed to say that here, it’s a TV studio

Lorraine: That’s right – the Scottish Play – it’s OK

Stephen: Other than that I’d really like to do some gritty drama, some new drama either on stage or on screen. I’ve got a couple of options I’m thinking about at the moment.

Lorraine: Are you a baddie in them ?

Stephen: One of them’s a baddie and one of them isn’t but I’m not sure where’s that’s going at the moment so I’m kind of keeping my options open really and at offers and quite exciting about it.

Lorraine: Meanwhile, we’ll be watching you tonight on Corrie – here’s a sneak preview (shows clip)

Lorraine: Oh you are mean but he (Baldwin) did deserve it

Stephen: Well I was stood in a puddle for 2 hours shooting that so that’s where it came from

Lorraine: It’s all that anger, the wet feet. I’ll be watching tonight …….. it’s lovely to see you, thank you very much indeed.

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