Coronation Street: Calderdale actor and comedian and Britain's Got Talent star Jack Carroll lands prime-time soap role

Jack Carroll, who shot to fame as a teenager when he appeared on Britain’s Got Talent, will play Carla Barlow’s nephew, Bobby.

His character is the son of Carla’s brother Rob Donovan, who is serving life in prison for the murder of Tina McIntyre and was unaware he had a son until recently – and had not managed to let Carla know.

Bobby turns up out of the blue having fallen out with his mum and looking for a place to stay.

The makers of Coronation Street have described Jack’s character as “A livewire chip off the old block, with the gift of the gab and an eye for the ladies.

"Bobby runs rings round his Aunty Carla and it soon becomes evident that he plans on sticking around."

Jack was 14 when he was the runner up on the seventh series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2014.

His stand up comedy routine was a hit with the judges and viewers alike and he went on to appear on Saturday Night at the London Palladium, Jason Manford’s Funny Old Week and Live At the Apollo, as well as completing his first national live tour

He has also acted in Ministry of Curious Stuff on CBBC, Trollied, Doctors and in 2019 he played the role of Pete in the feature film Eaten By Lions.

Most recently, he has written and starred in his own comedy short Mobility.

Jack, now 25, said: “I’m delighted and honoured to be playing a part in the history of the cultural institution that is Coronation Street.

"I hope Bobby brings viewers a lot of laughs in the vein of some of the street’s classic comedy characters”.

Jack will make his debut on the famous cobbles soon after Christmas.

Last year, Jack was one of the contestants on ITV’s The Chase Celebrity Special and beat the Chaser to win an impressive £8,000 for Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

Jack is an ambassador for the charity, which supports children with life-limiting illnesses and their families all over West Yorkshire.