Brian Capron thought Coronation Street’s Pat Phelan storyline was "a bit harsh".
The 71-year-old star played one of the ITV soap’s most notorious killers Richard Hillman – who carried out a reign of terror from 2001 to 2003 – and while he thought Connor McIntyre (Phelan) did a "great job" on the show, Brian believes the plot was unpleasantly rough at times.
He said: "I met him at the Soap Awards and he’s done really well and done a great job with the storyline. But it [the Phelan storyline] was a bit harsh."
Brian admits humour tended to play a part in Richard’s evil crimes, which saw the character famously dubbed "Norman Bates with a briefcase" by his wife Gail Platt (Helen Worth).
He is quoted by the Manchester Evening News as saying: "Richard was interrupted from trying to kill Emily on Christmas Day and it was funny at the same time with a little wink to the audience."
Brian recently claimed Richard would have defeated Phelan if there was ever a battle between the two ‘Corrie’ serial killers.
He said: "It’s mad Richard still gets mentioned in ‘Corrie’ but they’ve just had another famous murderer, Phelan, so perhaps he takes my mantle now.
"Richard’s deviousness might have got to Phelan in the end! He’d be up against Phelan’s brutality but maybe Richard would’ve come up with a plan that wrong-footed him.
"I’ve still got that briefcase. Gail’s line calling him ‘Norman Bates with a briefcase’ was classic."
And he is always amazed that people still recognise him for playing the chilling part.
He said: "I feel grateful for playing Richard because that story was special with so many twists.
"It’s lovely having a little place in soap history."
Brian Capron on Coronation Street’s ‘harsh’ storyline
