NOT many actors can put their first film appearance down to the fact that they once broke into a car with the director.

The Vauxhall Astra did belong to one of them, but it was smashing the car window that led to Graeme Sawley meeting Blackburn director Paul Simpson, creator of the new film Blackburn, which sees its premiere on Monday.

“He’s one of my best friends and we’ve worked together a lot in the theatre over the last 12 years since we met,” said Graeme, who stars as the film’s main character, a Blackburn film producer.

“I met Paul at an audition for a corporate video. I’d locked my keys inside and when I went back in the room and asked if anybody knew how to break into an Astra.

"Paul volunteered and that was the formation of a long lasting friendship,” said Graeme who is currently filming a big Coronation Street storyline surrounding his double life as ex-con John Stape and teacher Colin Fishwick.

Despite serving time in jail for kidnapping his former pupil Rosie Webster, Corrie’s John Stape remains one of the Street’s most popular characters.

Graeme, 36, said: “John is essentially a good guy. He just makes some really bad decisions.

"He’s not some evil kind of character. He just gets himself into these situations.

“My next big storyline kicks off in the next few weeks, which is very exciting. The small cracks that are starting to show in John’s lies will become big gaping holes soon enough.

“Storylines like these are the stuff you live for,” he added.

But off-screen Graeme regularly has to defend his character.

On a recent night out in Manchester a man put the actor in a headlock over the Rosie Webster storyline.

Graeme said: “It’s a constant issue, having people give you their opinions on your character.

"It comes with the job. And to be honest, I don’t tend to go out very much in bars and pubs because you become a target.

"I stayed away from pubs during the World Cup, I thought if England lose it would become my fault,” he laughed.

“Most of the time people are lovely, though, and the reason they take the show so seriously is because people feel it’s their show and it’s so loved by the public.

“It’s a real privilege to be in involved in Corrie when it’s coming up to the 50th anniversary.

"It’s great for the North West. London have got the Underground, we’ve got Corrie. I know which I’d rather have.”

Coventry-born Graeme has been an adoptive northerner since moving to the area to study at Manchester School of Theatre, based at the Metropolitan University.

He still lives in the city with his wife Elianne Byrne — who also stars in Blackburn as Graeme’s on-screen wife — and their one-year-old daughter Audrey (not named after Mrs Roberts, before you ask).

Other famous faces from the cast for Blackburn include John Henshaw, who appeared in Early Doors and Born and Bred, Noreen Kershaw of Life on Mars fame, and Ted Robbins also makes a cameo appearance.

The film, which was shot in and around Blackburn, including scenes at the railway station, Corporation Park and Whalley Range, is about growing up in a multi-cultural society.

Penned by Holby City writer Chris O’Connell and directed by Blackburn-based actor turned director Paul Simpson, the film attempts to put a stop to the area’s perceived cultural segregation.

Inspired by young persons' workshops held across the borough, the 34-minute screenplay was created with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's Youth Offending Team, and features 90 local actors.

The plot follows a young Asian man, Adeel, played by local actor Zulf Patel, 20, and his school friend, Nathan, played by Alex McCormack, 18, who embark on a mission to unite the communities of their town.

Corrie's Shobna Gulati, who returned to the cobbles last year as Sunita Alahan, is to open the film’s launch evening at King George's Hall, Blackburn, on Monday.

Graeme said: “I’m really proud of this piece of work. It is, I hope, the start of us all working together on a lot of projects.

"It’s always been part of the masterplan to be in films.

“The film makes a really important point and, most of all, it's a lovely story that things don't have to be the way they are.

"Just the fact that the film got made is a massive statement.

“I hope people from Blackburn who come to watch it will be proud of it.”

l The premiere of Blackburn is at the town's King George's Hall on Monday, July 5 at 7pm. To book a place contact 01254 666995.