VETERAN actor Jim Whelan has been blessed with a central role in Coronation Street as the storyline of Steve and Karen McDonald's wedding reaches an explosive climax next week.

Jim (61) plays the vicar as the couple prepare to tie the knot. But he soon has to act as referee as vengeful Tracy Barlow drops a bombshell which threatens the ceremony.

But the actor is keeping mum about whether or not Steve and Karen eventually get hitched. He's been sworn to secrecy and viewers will have to tune in on Monday to discover if Corrie's young couple go through with the wedding.

Jim, of West Drive, Bury, has been acting for more than 40 years. He has numerous TV, theatre, film and radio credits to his name and in the past has played a postman in Corrie.

He's been seen in such television favourites as Emmerdale, Heartbeat, City Central, Brookside and Last of the Summer Wine while his appearances on the big screen include There's Only One Jimmy Grimble and Velvet Goldmine.

Jim has played in pantomime in Oldham and Manchester, taken part in several BBC radio plays and also been involved in TV commercials for British Telecom and Birds Eye.

Commenting on his latest role as the vicar caught in the middle, he said: "The wedding scene was filmed over three weeks but my involvement amounted to five days. I am in ten scenes and I'm quite chuffed. It was good to be there with virtually the whole cast.

"The wedding turns out to be a fiasco. Tracy Barlow comes into the ceremony and there's lots of screaming and shouting about her baby. But it calms down and Steve and Karen say they still love each other. I tell them that I'm not at all sure if they are the right people to get married. But I can't say if the wedding actually goes ahead.

"The scenes were shot at Arley Hall, near Warrington, which has a beautiful 15th-century chapel. I was very pleased to be involved in what is a high profile role," added Jim.

The Bury actor was also able to renew acquaintances with Barbara Knox and Anne Kirkbride who play Rita Sullivan and Deirdre Rashid respectively. "I'd worked with Rita in Oldham 30 years ago and with Anne at Oldham Rep.

"We're old friends and it was nice to see them again and to have a chat," he said.