What would Liz say? Ex Corrie star Nicholas Cochrane looks worlds apart from his Andy McDonald character… 33 years after first playing role
He first found fame in 1989, starring as Steve McDonald’s twin brother Andy on Coronation Street.
And 33 years after first stepping foot on the cobbles, Nicholas Cochrane was still flashing that same cheeky smile as he stepped out in Leeds on Friday.
The actor, 48, cut a dapper figure in a pale blue shirt during the his low-key outing in the city.
What would Liz say? Ex Corrie star Nicholas Cochrane looked worlds apart from his Andy McDonald character when he stepped out in Leeds on Friday… 33 years after first playing role
Nicolas finished off his look with dark blue trousers and black trainers, while at one point he was seen carrying a second outfit consisting of a blue checked shirt and tan trousers.
The TV personality appeared in great spirits as he flashed a broad grin and a friendly thumbs up.
Nicolas starred in Coronation Street as the son of Jim and Liz McDonald for eight years before his character was axed in 1997.
Way back when: Nicolas first found fame in 1989, starring as Steve McDonald’s twin brother Andy on Coronation Street (pictured in 1995)
However he’s since made a few cameos, cropping up in 2000, 2004 and 2009 where he attended Steve’s wedding to Becky Granger.
Nicolas went on to to make TV appearances in the likes of Doctors and Heartbeat, while he also dabbled in theatre and presenting.
But Nicolas’ heart lies with Corrie and in 2020 he spoke of the idea of returning to the famous street.
Then and now: Nicolas gave a warm smile during his outing in Leeds (L), which came 25 years after he said goodbye to Weatherfield (pictured left as character Andy in 1997)
Looking good: The actor, 48, cut a dapper figure in a pale blue shirt during the his low-key outing in the city
He told the Distinct Nostalgia podcast: ‘It would be good if the boys got back in touch and Andy ends up back in Weatherfield
‘It would be good if Steve needed an organ [transplant] or there were some reason why one of us stays and one goes.
‘That would be best for me … it would be a good storyline.’
He also noted during the interview that he wished he ‘pushed’ his character further at the time.
Style: Nicolas finished off his look with dark blue trousers and black trainers, while at one point he was seen carrying a second outfit consisting of a blue checked shirt and tan trousers
Good mood: The TV personality appeared in great spirits as he flashed a broad grin and a friendly thumbs up
Child star: Nicolas starred in Coronation Street as the son of Jim and Liz McDonald for eight years before his character was axed in 1997 (pictured with Charles Lawson and Beverley Callard in 1993)
The soap star added that he also ‘dreaded’ his character being recast, adding: ‘What I dread is either getting a text or a phone call – or watching it myself – and Andy comes back and it’s not me.
‘Because, let’s be honest, that could happen. I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.’
On his character’s potential, Nicolas suggested that Andy was under-used by soap bosses and that they could have done ‘more’ with the character.
He explained: ‘I don’t know why they’ve never used Andy a little bit more, really. There are things that only twins or brothers can do, and I think they might have missed a little bit of a trick.’
Family: Nicolas’ heart lies with Corrie and in 2020 he spoke of the idea of returning to the famous street (pictured with onscreen family Liz, Jim and twin Steve in 1989)