Coronation Street's Jim McDonald star goes for real life "glow up" as he teases return

He is famous for playing one of Coronation Street's toughest tough guys for the past 35 years. But in real life Jim McDonald actor Charlie Lawson was heading for more relaxing pursuits at the weekend.

For the soap's legendary hard man was looking for soft skin as he placed himself in the hands of beauticians at a new salon in Macclesfield in Cheshire.

Charlie was happy to go for a glow up at the Beyond Beauty salon on Water Street which has just been launched by his friend Danielle Owens. Although the treatment he went for was firmly in keeping with his Irish roots.

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For he opted for a Sphagnum moss facial - a treatment that uses the peat moss he fondly remembers from his days growing up in Northern Ireland.

Charlie said: "I know all about Sphagnum moss, it’s very common where I come from on the peat bogs, you can filter water through it. Ancient Celts have used it for thousands of years it's wonderful stuff."

So he was more than happy for salon owner Danielle to slather the moss all over his face for a treatment aimed at softening the skin. The "De-lux" organic face mask is said to: "restore youthful tone and texture".

But Charlie was not tempted by any of the more intensive aesthetic treatments that the one-stop-beauty salon offers - including fillers and botox. He says he's never been required to look anything less than rough and ready in his acting career.

He says: "I tend to play guys who don’t wear makeup, I’ve never played any weird kind of character really so I very seldom wear any make-up for filming. They put anti shine on me and that's about it. I only ever had blood on Corrie!"

Charlie is now 64 and says: "I've got my bus pass now, and my train pass. It's very handy, half price fares to London."

He last returned to Corrie in 2018, with a dastardly plot to con his long-suffering wife Liz McDonald, played by Bev Callard.

Charlie first joined Corrie as fiery patriarch Jim McDonald in 1989 - moving onto the cobbles with his wife Liz and their twin sons Andy and Steve McDonald. Trouble was soon to follow the character at almost every turn.

He has been embroiled in all kinds of drama as Jim on the soap - officially first leaving in 2000 when he was sent to prison for the manslaughter of Corrie villain Jez Quigley. But he has gone on to return to the soap to cause plenty more chaos in the years since.

And he says he'd never rule out a future return either.

Charlie says: "I’m the most returned character in the history of soap - I’ve been back 7 or so times now." And he added: "The last time was 2019 so I’m overdue a return if anyone is listening over there."

His last departure from Weatherfield saw Liz unmask the ultimate betrayal from Jim - who claimed "Hannah" the woman he arrived with was their long-lost daughter. She was actually his conwoman sidekick who he was having an affair with.

They have been mentioned in passing on the cobbles since his departure, paving the way for a possible return one day. Although Liz also left the street in 2020 having started a new life in Spain.

Jim's son Steve McDonald, played by Simon Gregson, remains an active part of the street though and is embroiled in some major storylines on the soap at present after his latest marriage breakdown.

Charlie has been keeping busy in recent months by penning his autobiography. And it's due to hit the shelves later this year in what sounds like a real page turner.

He says: "I’ve really spent the last year doing my autobiography, and in fact the contract was signed this morning. We start the edit next week and it will be out in time for Christmas."

Will it contain any big revelations from his years in showbiz? Charlie teased: "Put it this way I’m having to have an independent legal reading of it. I’ve had a bit of a life.

"I come from Northern Ireland so I grew up in the bad times. I have plenty of stories, some are pretty, some aren't pretty."

As for the Corrie years, Charlie adds: "There's no one I didn’t get on with at Corrie, so there's no horribleness there. But there will be honesty."

Charlie and wife Debbie are pals with salon owner Danielle and her husband David, who runs CH Maintenance Services. Danielle took on the salon at Christmas and the couple have spent the time since then extending and completely refurbishing the salon with a glamorous new look.

It was unveiled at the weekend at a launch party attended by family, friends and customers, including Charlie who took the opportunity for the facial ahead of the event.

Charlie said: "I'm very proud of this young lady here, she's a lovely friend. "

Danielle, 36, from Tytherington has been working in the beauty world since leaving school, and now offers treatments including anti-wrinkle facials, fillers, laminated brows and lash treatments at the Beyond Beauty salon on Water Street.

She says while her client base is mostly female, more and more men are taking up beauty treatments. She said: "There's a lash perm we do that's very popular with men because it looks completely natural, it just looks like you have nice dark eye lashes."