A new trailer gives viewers a sneak peek of what to expect when the newest member of the Nazir family, Idris Nazir, played by Junade Kahn, arrives on Corrie next week.
Welcome to the Street! You’re playing Idris, Alya’s cousin, but this isn’t actually your first time on the Cobbles. Can you talk us through that history?
Yeah, it was back in 2008! I joined Corrie for a very short stint as a love interest for Rosie Webster. She’d been kidnapped by John Stape, and we met in a nightclub. My character was called Saj, though Helen Flanagan called me ‘Sarge’ which was funny! I remember being in the Rovers with Sally, Gail and Carla. Coming back now, I saw Alison King and said, ‘I’ve seen you before!’ It’s a bit surreal, but it feels right to be back.
The path back to Weatherfield sounds like quite the journey. What was the casting process like for Idris, and how did you feel when you got the part?
It started with a self-tape, then a screen test with Sair (Alya), and eventually a screen test with Jane Danson. When the news finally came, I was in the living room with my kids. My agent rang – and he never rings, he usually just emails! He said, ‘I’ve got bad news, you have to move to Manchester’ I just couldn’t stop smiling. I’ve been driving buses for eight years while doing little acting jobs here and there, so to be able to give that up… it was unbelievable.
I even had a Coronation Street magnet on my fridge for years. I’d bought it after a failed audition for the role of Imran years ago. I was working in a call center then and was so desperate for a way out. I remember looking at the magnet after my audition. It feels like a total full-circle moment as if it was all meant to be.
Your family must be over the moon, what was their reaction?
My mum and mother-in-law watch Coronation Street avidly, so they’re very excited. And my kids are actually on screen more than me! My daughter worked with Angelina Jolie in a film called Anxious People and did a Ridley Scott film, and my little boy has done a Marvel film and Waffle the Wonder Dog. So now there’s me in Corrie – it’s all good!
Let’s talk about Idris. How would you describe him?
He’s multi-layered and incredibly ambitious. As a child, he suffered a lot of hardship and neglect, so he’s had to overcome those obstacles entirely on his own. He’s a lone wolf – the black sheep of the family who has made a name for himself. He’s addicted to success and the finer things in life, but there’s a real vulnerability there, too. It’s the first time I’ve played a character where I can show that side, which is a great gift for an actor.
He certainly makes an impression on Leanne Battersby right away. What can you tell us about their chemistry and that first meeting?
They actually recognise each other from a family wedding where they sat at the same table. The connection is instant. He likes Leanne because she’s ‘real.’ He’s used to flashy people, but when he sees Leanne fending off a group of guys who aren’t paying their bill, he sees a strength in her that he admires. It reminds him of his own mother, who raised him as a single parent. He sees a strength in Leanne that he probably wishes he’d had in his own life. Working with Jane Danson has been amazing; even on her day off, she came in to meet me. She’s really made this experience special.
It sounds like he’s a bit of an alpha male, which usually means trouble on the street. Who does he end up clashing with?
Oh, he definitely butts heads with the other men! He has a run-in with Adam Barlow almost immediately. Because Adam is a solicitor and Idris is in property – and maybe doing some ‘unethical’ things – they don’t see eye-to-eye. He takes a dig at Adam for not stepping in during that Bistro trouble, and it just continues from there. Idris is a bit ‘Marmite’ you’re either going to love him or hate him. He’s not a villain, but there are definitely flashes of darkness.
What are you enjoying most about being at Coronation Street?
It sounds like a cliché, but it really is the friendliest place. That’s brilliant for an actor because it gives you the confidence to take risks. Just yesterday, I had eight scenes in a row with heavy dialogue. It was challenging, but you don’t feel under pressure because everyone wants the best for you. It’s the perfect environment to do your best work. I’m just really excited for everyone to see where Idris goes next as he connects the dots, meets more neighbours and makes a few more enemies along the way!
Corrie’s producer Kate Brooks has teased his arrival, stating: “He is very, very charming; the charm oozes out of every pore of this guy. He’s a savvy kind of business guy, he’s got a bit of a ruthless streak, he is prepared to get his hands slightly dirty, and he can charm the birds from the trees.”
“He’s a new love interest for Leanne. The attraction is instantaneous. It kind of gives Leanne a new lease of life. She’s been harbouring a deep-rooted resentment towards Toyah and Nick, because that’s the life she had. This guy comes along, he’s got it all, he makes her laugh. He’s funny, he’s handsome, and he ruffles a lot of feathers, but he’s not without an edge. He’s not soft, and he’s certainly no pushover. He butts heads with some of our more alpha kind of characters quite early on.”
Having met Idris previously at a Nazir family gathering, Leanne Battersby is under his spell pretty quickly and fans can expect a fiery romance to develop.
Catch up on ITVX, and for classic visits to Corrie, these episodes air weekdays on ITV3 as well as on YouTube. Corrie airs at 8.30pm on ITV1