Havers toa ppear in Corrie

Nigel Havers is set to join ‘Coronation Street’ as a male escort.

The actor’s character is to enter the soap just before Christmas, where he will be introduced in an episode where Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) is forced to attend a ball with Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden).

Audrey becomes jealous when she sees suave Lewis, Nigel’s character, with her old friend Claudia - played by guest star Rula Lenska.

She finds out that Lewis is an escort and decides to book his services herself for the next event she attends.

Bosses at the soap are keen to stress their relationship is purely platonic, however.

A source at the soap said: "There is no suggestion Lewis is anything more than a companion escort for his clients."

As the storyline develops, Audrey’s affections quickly spiral out of control, with the potential for disastrous consequences.

Nigel will make his appearance in the soap on December 18 and appear in the soap until “well into 2010," according to the source.

Nigel has a distinguished acting career, appearing in films including ‘Chariots of Fire’, ‘Empire of the Sun’ and, more recently, ‘Penelope’.