Joe Layton has opened up about his new role in the long-running show as he made his official debut on the cobbles as Mick Michaelis

Coronation Street newcomer Joe Layton has opened up about his new role in the long-running show as he made his official debut on the cobbles as Mick Michaelis.

The actor’s first scenes as Mick featured in Friday night’s (February 14) episode of the ITV soap and come after Mick’s wife Lou, played by Farrel Hegarty, made her first appearance earlier in the week.

It was previously announced the character and her husband Mick will be Weatherfield’s new ‘nightmare neighbours’ following on from the iconic Battersby clan back in 1997. The couple will move into Mawdsley Street at the back of Chesney and Gemma Winter-Brown’s house, which will be the first time ever Corrie have extended the serial drama across the ginnel.

During Lou’s first appearance on the street, she didn’t hold back as she was seen giving Aadi Alahan grief over a purchase in the shop. She was also seen immediately sparking up a friendship with Gemma, recognising each other from Bessie Street School, where Gemma’s quads and Lou’s two young daughters attend, before sharing a drink in the Rovers Return.

Mick has now also appeared in Weatherfield for the first time. Chesney returned home with some Valentine’s cakes for Gemma and told her that he’s convinced he spotted the silver van again. Gemma then was heard telling Chesney that Lou and her husband Mick are moving into Mawdsley Street and she’s arranged for them to meet for a drink later.

But fans have been shocked to realise Mick’s true identity – the man with the silver van who has been harassing Chesney for months, and he’s none the wiser.

Speaking about getting the role of Mick, Joe said: “I initially had to do a self-tape which I did down in London and then I got a call maybe a week or two later saying they’d love for me to come in for a screen test which was really exciting. When I came in and read it, I was reading with a couple of people and Farrel was the last person and the chemistry we had was evident from the off.

“It was one of those moments where I got the train afterwards back to London and thought to myself, if I don’t get the part, I’ve done everything I could have and given my best version of Mick, so when I got the part it felt surreal.”

Joe was also quizzed on her experience before joining Corrie, to which he shared: “I graduated about 10 or so years ago from drama school. The first acting job I got was New Worlds with Jamie Dornan, who is such a lovely guy. I’ve done quite a bit of TV and theatre.

“I lived in the US for six years and did Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, which is a Marvel TV show over there. I have worked on a bunch of Netflix and BBC shows and I also worked on an ITV show called The Trouble with Maggie Cole with Dawn French. I also worked with Jodie Comer on Thirteen, who’s really great. Most recently, I’ve worked on a show called Lockerbie – which isn’t the Colin Firth one! I’ve been getting so many texts from friends saying they are about to start it but there’s two – and I think this one will come out later this year. It may well be out while Corrie’s on too which would definitely confuse the public because I have an American accent in Lockerbie.”

And while it’s different to what he’s previously worked on, Joe is loving his time on the famous street so far. He said: “I absolutely love it! Everyone’s really welcoming. It really is everything I’d hoped it would be. When I did the screen test, I got a really good vibe from the whole set and everyone there and it’s just carried on getting better and better.”