Wisdom comes to Corrie

Sir Norman Wisdom is set to join the cast of Coronation Street.

10:46 06 May 2004

Sir Norman Wisdom is set to join the cast of Coronation Street.

"It is an honour to have Sir Norman on the show and his cameo will be great fun," a Corrie spokeswoman said.

Wisdom is equally made-up about the move: "I'm thrilled to be on Coronation Street," he said.

"It is one of my favourite shows and I'm very much looking forward to playing the sporty cheeky chappie with a twinkle in his eye."

The veteran comic, 89, will play a sprightly pensioner who buys an exercise bike from Jack Duckworth.

But the bike has arguably a bigger role than Wisdom.

It comes to the street as part of a fitness regime designed by Fred Elliot - so he will look good for his Thai bride.

But decades in the meat industry have left the butcher with too many sausages to shift and he sells the bike on to Jack.

A spokeswoman for the Street explained: "Vera is determined to get Jack fit and devises a gruelling exercise regime for him.

"But Jack would much rather be in the pub than pedalling so he puts it up for sale."

Enter Wisdom.

Jack meets the comic's character, Ernie Crabbe, at the bowling club - Ernie buys the bike from Jack.

Wisdom's casting adds to the recent explosion of comic cameos on Corrie.

Phoenix Nights star Peter Kay had a brief role in the soap as Eric Gartside; comedian Bradley Walsh has also recently appeared in Weatherfield; Roy Hudd, who played undertaker Archie Shuttleworth, also acted in the show.