Richard Hawley lives with his ‘Coronation Street’ co-star Connor McIntyre.
The 61-year-old actor – who portrays factory boss Johnny Connor in the long-running soap – is "really good mates" with his co-star, who plays bad boy builder Pat Phelan, and has temporarily moved in with him in Manchester so he’s closer to set when he’s asked to shoot his scenes.
He explained: "I live with Connor McIntyre when I’m up here, so we do a lot together. We’re very much the odd couple! He’s a painter and an artist as well as an actor, so we do the odd gallery together, go watch operas – and have quite a cultured time. It completely baffles people when they see us out together but we’re really good mates."
And, although he’s on set to work, Richard and his co-stars have a great time shooting scenes in the knicker factory, which his alter ego owns.
He said: "The factory is full of funny moments – because it’s full of comedians, generally speaking. Someones one of the crew will dangle a pair of knickers off the lighting man’s trousers. Yeah, there’s usually somebody with a bra or a pair of pants hanging off them."
Richard’s character has only just taken control of the factory but he’s hoping Dolly Rose Campbell – who plays loud mouth Gemma Winter – will become an employee soon because he thinks she’s the "perfect fit."
Speaking to Inside Soap magazine, he said: "I love Dolly Rose Campbell, who plays Gemma. I think she’d fit in brilliantly. The other person is Liam [Bairstow, who plays Alex Warner] who’s lovely. I haven’t done much with him yet but he has a fantastic presence."
Richard Hawley lives with Connor McIntyre
