Weatherfield newbie Michael Bailey could prove a bubbly addition to the Street after he takes a dip in a jacuzzi with some of Corrie’s most prominent residents.
Michael, played by former CBeebies presenter Ryan Russell, will end up in hot water in episodes due to air later this summer after clambering into an outside tub with Liz McDonald, Sally Metcalfe and Tracy Barlow – and he certainly seems pretty pleased about it.
Student Michael will be seen by viewers joining the ITV soap’s cast of characters alongside the rest of the Bailey family in the next few weeks.
But it looks like he wastes little time settling going by the eye-opening preview snap shared by the show’s Twitter account in which Michael – wearing swimming goggles in the hot tub – cheekily smiles for the camera.
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Liz looks unconcerned as she holds a glass of fizz in the background of the in-character image. But how will the familiar faces and the newcomer be brought together for such an intimate set up so shortly after his arrival?
Michael is set to to make their bow on the cobbles within weeks along with his brother James and parents Ed and Aggie following the departure of Norris Cole.
The family buy up Number 3 from the former Kabin owner but – according to the Sun’s website – dad Ed (played by Trevor Michael Georges) soon clashes with new neighbours Ken Barlow after a case of mistaken identity.
Ken apparently assumes Ed is a builder rather than the new owner of the terrace when he sees him clearing out the house.
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But Ed soon gets one over Ken and fellow resident Chesney Brown in the Rovers as he makes out their incoming neighbours are a huge family that includes 10 children and a menagerie of pets – leaving busybody Ken threatening to take action.
A ‘secret’ sister character to Michael and James called Diana is also expected to be introduced to the soap later in 2019.
Ryan hinted to ITV.com in a new interview that sibling rivalry is likely to rear up between Michael and his sister.
He said: “I think that he feels he has something to prove to his parents as she has done so well, that is one of the reasons behind his ambition to come up with a get rich quick scheme.
“They are so full of praise for Diana and he feels a bit inferior.”
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV.
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