'He Has Nothing To Lose'

Corrie star Connor McIntyre on how phelan’s five-year reign of terror is about to come to a gripping climax…

- Claire Crick

Coronation Street

HOLIDAY MON-FRI / ITV / 9PM

Playing one of Coronation Street’s most notorious villains was never part of Connor McIntyre’s plan. When the nation first met Pat Phelan in 2013, he was just a builder with a bit of a dodgy side. However, fast forward five years and here we are, staring down the barrel of Phelan’s last stand.

‘I had no idea what Phelan would become,’ reveals Connor, 57, a loveable bear of a man who couldn’t be further removed from his twisted alter ego. ‘I was cast for just four episodes and was in the middle of doing a BA degree in fine art. I assumed I’d do a short stint and get back to studying.

‘I’m not sure the idea of Phelan becoming a serial killer was even mentioned in the early days. The character’s been built up over the years. Initially, viewers thought “He’s wrong in many ways, but even he is not capable of murder.” But then we caught a glimpse of what he would become as he walked away from a dying Michael Rodwell.’

Even after Phelan left for Dubai in 2014, after raping Anna Windass, Connor had no idea that his character would be back.