Star Gazey!

loveable rogue . . . character Graeme Proctor played by Craig Gazey

Celebrate Coronation Street’s 50th year with stories of the local stars who help to make it great
Tonight: Craig Gazey

WE first met Craig’s character Graeme Proctor when he shared a prison cell with David Platt, but it’s safe to say we’ve all grown fond of the loveable rogue.

The window cleaner turned butcher — played by Oldham actor Craig Gazey, first appeared on “Coronation Street” in April, 2008 and fast became one of the most popular characters.

Craig, a former pupil at Our Lady’s RC High in Royton, caught the acting bug when he joined Oldham Theatre Workshop, aged eight.

The 28-year-old later joined Bryn Heywood’s Oldham Saturday School before heading off to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.

Craig has picked up numerous Best Newcomer awards and also bagged the Best Comedy Performance gong at the British Soap Awards 2010 and the Funniest Performance prize at the Inside Soap Awards 2010.

Graeme is now happily loved up with Street siren Tina McIntyre — the ex girlfriend of his best mate David Platt — but he has also taken a shine to Rosie Webster and hairdresser Natasha Blakeman in the past.

Although he displayed his serious and sensitive side as he helped Tina to cope with the death of her father Joe, Graeme is notorious for lightening the mood with his witty one-liners.

He brings light relief to the street as he cycles up and down on his push bike with a bench attached to the back.

He also raised a laugh when he attended a Vicars and Tarts party at the Rovers dressed as landlady Liz McDonald.

Following his release from jail, the reformed bad lad stole a sports car and helped David and Tina destroy and set fire to the Windass’s family kitchen but he finally seems to be settling into an honest way of life.




The most enduring marriage was that of Jack and Vera Duckworth who celebrated their golden wedding anniversary a few months before Vera’s death in January, 2008.






The shortest marriage was that of Mike Baldwin and Jackie Ingram — it lasted for seven days in 1991.






Wednesday: Meet sexy specs, Deidre Barlow