EastEnders fans will no doubt remember him as one of the most vile villains in Walford’s history, but now actor Aidan O’Callaghan is swapping Albert Square for Coronation Street in a much different role.
Aidan played evil Lewis in EastEnders, who raped Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) before then traumatising him with gaslighting and threats.
It left Ben in a dark place but Lewis was eventually arrested when he bravely came forward.
Corrie fans will soon see him playing a character called Alan who, while only appearing in a single episode, will have an impact on the Driscoll family.
Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley) recently returned to take over the Rovers, only for Pauline McLynn’s Maggie to announce she funded it, so she owns it.
And Eva’s partner Ben (Aaron McCusker), is caught in the middle between his girlfriend and his mum.
The Driscolls are going down a storm with fans and their past is set to be explored in a special flashback episode focusing on Ben’s younger years with his brother.
That’s where Aidan – aka Alan – comes into play.
A source told The Sun: ‘He is in one episode in flashback scenes, where we find out some of the family history from way back when Ben and his brother were children.
‘He’s just a guest artist but it’s a really unique episode.’
The role will see Aidan complete the set of the three mainline soaps, having appeared in Emmerdale as a guest part a few years back.
He flirted with Robert Sugden who almost succumbed to temptation but eventually stopped himself.
Meanwhile, Pauline said of her arrival as Maggie in Weatherfield: ‘I’m just bewildered, really! I didn’t see this one coming down the line.
‘I’m not one of those actors who has goals – or even ambition, really, if I’m honest. I tend to stagger from one thing to the next, depending on who wants me.
I certainly didn’t have this on a list – I don’t have a list! So this was huge. It was like, “What? Wait! Who? Say that again. Coronation Street are interested?”
‘I get a proper go at playing one of those stalwart sorts of women who’ve made the series as brilliant as it is.’
