McKellen hoping for soap opera hat-trick

The Da Vinci Code actor Ian McKellen is hoping to star in two more British soap operas after wowing TV fans with his star turn in Coronation Street last year.

The 67-year-old realised a life-long ambition when he played artist Mel Hutchwright in nine episodes of Coronation Street - and now he wants to play the same character in rival shows Eastenders and Emmerdale.

Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton, who befriended McKellen during his stint on the soap, says: "He wants to appear in all the major soaps as Mel - right down to the dodgy hat.

"Ian is a brilliant actor and he just loved working on (Coronation Street)."