Fans pack shop as Coronation Street stars open Dudley butchers
They're more accustomed to butchers in Weatherfield but two stars of Coronation Street got behind a meat counter in the Black Country during their latest visit to the region.
Steven Arnold who bowed out as Ashley Peacock in 2010 and Andy Whyment, better known as Kirk Sutherland in the soap, were opening Black Country Butchers in Birdcage Walk, Dudley.
Both favourites, who worked in the Street's butcher's, joked they love coming to the region because they get treated like the boy band One Direction.
Arnold, aged 38, whose character was killed off in a tram crash, said: "We've done a few openings around the Midlands and the people are great – we always get a good reception.
"I think because we were both likeable characters it makes us quite approachable. I do get the odd 'can you get us a pound of sausages please Ashley?' it's all good fun."
Whyment, aged 32, added: "We've done previous openings in Bilston and Wednesbury – all the sights. It's good to see Corrie is still well liked. We get 11 million viewers watch us. Me and Steven were in the window waving at everyone. You'd think it was One Direction the way people behaved."
Arnold, who has just finished filming a show about the comedian Les Dawson, joked: "We're thinking of starting a band called 'Take This'."
Owner of the business Gary Walker, aged 35, from Bushbury, Wolverhampton said: "When you open a business you have to get people's attention. We've got a few shops in the Midlands and a couple in the north west. Steven is a friend of mine and I know Andy through him."
