Burnley teen actor in ‘Coronation Street’

Karlâ¬"s a bundle of nerves, fearing it's only a matter of time before Craig Tinker reveals his secret, especially as the lads Craig's wrongly accused of bullying him are now on his back.

Bailey Pearson (13) plays a bully called Connor who torments teenager Craig Tinker, played by Colson Smith, who believes he was responsible for burning down the pub, the Rovers Return.

And Corrie viewers could be seeing a lot more of Bailey as the show’s producers were so impressed with him they have asked him to audition again for a future role.

Bailey’s mum, Mrs Clare Harrison, said: “There are a couple of new families being introduced into the show and they would like Bailey to try out for one of the roles.”

In the gripping storyline that has been running for months, Craig wrongly believes he was responsible for setting fire to the Rovers Return and killing Sunita. But, in fact, it was landlord Karl, played by John Michie.

Bailey beat off competition from 150 other boys who auditoned for the role and he spent three days filming at Granada in Manchester in June. A talented dancer, Bailey, of Stainton Drive, Burnley, started attending the Carol Godby Theatre School, Bury, a year ago and it was Carol who spotted his potential as an actor. Since then Bailey has appeared in a string of children’s televsion shows and also a film soon to be released in cinemas called 71.

Among those watching Bailey’s debut in Corrie were his great grandma Olga Doe (80) who has watched the soap since it started.