Vic Reeves lands Coronation Street role as the cobbles' new shopkeeper

Vic Reeves is set to join the cast of ‘Coronation Street’ and the unexpected move is a dream come true for the 58-year-old comedian.

Vic will follow in the footsteps of Peter Kay, Norman Wisdom and Sir Ian McKellen, after he snapped up the offer to play a shopkeeper on the cobbles for at least 20 episodes.

“Vic‘s over the moon. It’s his favourite show and it’s always been his dream to act in it one day. He’s made up and can’t wait to get stuck in. He always said he would prefer not to do a cameo role playing himself so to get an actual part is just amazing. It’s just what he wanted,” a source told The Sun newspaper.

Vic even begged ITV producers to give him a part in the soap two years ago, and pitched the idea that he could portray the long-lost son of newsagent’s boss Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden). However, until now, he was never offered the role.

He said at the time: “I have watched ‘Coronation Street’ since I was little and have never ever missed an episode. For me it’s the greatest TV. I’d love to be on ‘Coronation Street’, it would make my life complete.”

Not much else is known about his character – including his name – but sources close to the long-running soap say Vic will start shooting his scenes over the next few weeks.

The news comes just a week after Vic and his comedy partner Bob Mortimer revealed they’re making a one-off special of ‘Big Night Out’ for the BBC.

The pair – whose show was based on their stand-up gigs at Goldsmiths Tavern in South London – said: “This is the show we wanted to perform back in the 1980s. Now the time is right. We will be increasing our respective heights in order to perform some of the more intricate and challenging moments.”

The half-hour special will include cameos from new stars as well as old fan favourites.

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