Corrie viewers will watch vicar Billy Mayhew deliver his final sermon after 11 years guiding his Weatherfield flock — but actor Daniel Brocklebank says they won’t be seeing him in the I’m A Celeb jungle.
Corrie star Daniel Brocklebank has ruled out a stint on I’m A Celebrity after filming his final scene as Weatherfield vicar Billy Mayhew, insisting: “I’ve no interest in chewing on a kangaroo’s b*****k in the jungle!”
The actor appeared emotional as he shot his dramatic exit scenes last week, wrapping up more than ten years on the iconic soap. Yet just 40 minutes later, he was already at a Manchester theatre, diving into rehearsals for his next project — the cult comedy classic Young Frankenstein.
He explained that he accepted the part in the musical comedy horror, based on the 1974 Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder film, because he wanted something “a bit leftfield” after leaving Coronation Street.
He said: “Most people leave a soap and head straight into panto or dabble in reality TV, but I’ve no desire to go off and chew a kangaroo’s b******k in the jungle. I wanted something that would scare me a bit and really push me — and Young Frankenstein is doing exactly that.
“It’s quirky and great fun. My character literally puts a brain into a 7ft green monster. The script is a bit cheeky — proper old-school humour, which I adore — and it’s packed with brilliant songs and tap dancing.
“It’s been wonderful meeting a whole new company of people, and part of the excitement is that this role is worlds apart from Billy. When you play one character for so long, you end up being associated with them, even though I’m nothing like Billy in real life.”
His Corrie exit was confirmed over the summer, but he revealed he had actually been considering it for a year. The details of how and when Billy will leave Weatherfield remain under wraps, but Daniel says he couldn’t be happier with the scripts.
He told the Mirror: “As an actor, I thrive on being challenged, and I’d been pretty quiet during my last year on the show. After the Motor Neurone Disease storyline — probably the thing I’m proudest of — I found myself wondering what else there was for Billy.
“He’d been a drug addict, adopted a child, got married, taken part in the show’s first-ever same-sex wedding and then lost his husband. It’s not like he hadn’t lived a full life — it’s been a very colourful 11 years.”
“I was in a show at the Palladium earlier this year, and it reminded me that there’s a whole world outside the Weatherfield bubble.
“Billy’s exit feels right for a character who spent so much of his time at the heart of the show, and I’m genuinely happy with it. My final scene was filmed on the street, and around 150 people came out to wave me off and give me a hug.
“Harriet Bibby, who plays my daughter Summer, was especially emotional. It really is emotional — you’re saying goodbye to a whole chapter of your life.”
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