Jacobi to cameo on Corrie cobbles

Sir Derek Jacobi has tread where many esteemed actors have - on Coronation Street.

The 73-year-old star of stage and screen has filmed a cameo on the ITV1 soap, where he appears as a punter at the Rovers Return.

A Coronation Street spokesperson told the Daily Mirror: "We have tried for years to try and sort out a role in the show for Sir Derek, but we have never quite managed it.

"We are as big a fan of his work as he is of ours. He is an Equity member, so there was no problem getting him on set. It is highly unlikely viewers would spot him, but we hope it made his day."

Sir Derek - who was last seen in My Week With Marilyn and TV drama The Borgias - has made no secret of his desire to appear on the show, and even tried to get his former Old Curiosity Shop co-star Bradley Walsh (who played factory worker Danny Baldwin) to put in a good word for him.

The episode featuring his cameo will be shown later this year.