A former Coronation Street star from Blackburn said he would return to the ITV soap “in a heartbeat” and says he is excited for his upcoming pantomime performance in his hometown.

Alex Bain, who played Simon Barlow on Coronation Street, is preparing to swap the Corrie cobbles for the stage as he is set to appear in the Cinderella pantomime at King George’s Hall.

In an interview with the Lancashire Telegraph Alex said the pantomime holds a special place in his heart, dating back to his early days as a performer.

“I’ve done panto in the past, and when my agent asked if I was interested, I immediately said yes,” he said.

Alex will tread the boards at King George's HallAlex will tread the boards at King George's Hall (Image: Kate McDonald)

Alex is set to play Dandini in the show, which begins in December, and rehearsals start at the end of the month.

“There’s something magical about panto,” Alex said. “It’s very different from being on screen. The energy of a live audience is exhilarating, and you can gauge how they’re feeling in real-time.”

Alex, aged 22, said he went to many pantomimes with his family as a child. It is a tradition he has maintained with his five-year-old daughter Lydia-Rose.

He said: “I went to quite a few pantos when I was a child. Christmas is very important to me and my family. We used to always go to panto and we’d make a thing of it.

“Now I am a dad, I have taken my daughter with me and my family which has been nice and I understand the importance of [the experience] even more as a parent.

“She has seen the odd scene of me here and there when I was on Corrie and she knows her daddy does acting so I think it will be nice for her to see me here on stage.”

The former Griffin Park Primary School pupil said his Blackburn hometown means a lot to him.

Born and raised in the northern town, he still lives there and takes pride in representing its hardworking community. “Blackburn is such a crucial town to the north,” he said. “There are so many love people and sometimes it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, so if I can help put it on the map, that’s a wonderful thing.

“I have a lot of great memories being in Blackburn. I learned how to dance here and started my acting training at Bernese School Of Theatre Dance and Drama, where I still go and do the occasional class at. My daughter goes here too.

“My hometown is very important to me. I am very proud of where I am from and I always have been proud of where I am from.

“My family always taught me to remember where you come from no matter how far you go in this industry.

 “When I found out where the pantomime was I was like ‘absolutely give me that panto’.

“I love that I will be on stage again but to be on stage doing panto in my hometown is a lovely feeling.”

Earlier this year, Alex left ITV soap Coronation Street after 15 years on the show. His character, Simon, left Weatherfield to join his dad, Peter Barlow, on a yacht.

Alex, who won Best Young Performance at the 2011 British Soap Awards, said he decided to leave the show but said he would “return in a heartbeat” if the producers asked him to.

He said: “I don‘t think any chapter is closed with a show like that. If they were to offer me the opportunity to go back I’d take that job with a heartbeat.

“It was my decision to leave the show, the time was right to go off and do other things.

"But later down the line in 10 to 20 years, if they were to offer me to go back I think I would take it.

“It was an incredible part of making the career I have and It is important to me. I adore that show with every fiber of my being.”

Alex, a former Walton-le-Dale high school pupil, said he is still close with other actors and staff on the show.

“They are all like family to me,” he said.

“I watched a few episodes here and there and spoke to the cast. It’s strange to not be there as I spent so much time there but it is really nice to step back at watch it as an external person. I have no idea what is happening with the storyline anymore.”

Beyond the pantomime, Alex said he has been busy with auditions after spending a few months taking time off in Blackburn with family.

Alex said his dream future acting role would be as an iconic horror movie villain. He says he would also jump at the chance to enter the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here jungle.

He said: “I have always said I would love to play something like the Joker, or Hannibal, later in life. I’d love to be a classic movie villain.

“I would find it interesting to learn about how that character thinks, learning about their intentions and subtle complexities.

“I would also love to have a comedy role as I have a dry sense of humour. I would also love to have my own travel show. I was lucky to travel a lot when I was younger and my family tried to get me on holiday as much as possible.

"There are quite quite a few things I have on my bucket list.”

Cinderella will be on at King George’s Hall from December 5 until December 31.

Chloe Carrington will play Cinderella, Callum Arnott will play Buttons, Luke Attwood and Brandon Nicholson star as the ugly Sisters, and West End star Shelley Anne Rivers will play the fairy godmother.

Ticket prices start from £12 and can be purchased online at: www.bwdvenues.com.