Simpson seals role in Coronation Street

Despite his disappointment last Saturday night in Newcastle when he lost to Commonwealth Featherweight Champion John Simpson, Manchester star Stephen Bell has been lifted with a guest role in Coronation Street. The Ashton-under-Lyne fighter, who has also appeared in Shameless and was a gay bare knuckle boxer in a film, will play the part of soldier in the hit soap. Bell, 34, started filming on Monday in Manchester, only a couple of days after his loss to Scotsman Simpson on Amir Khan's world title undercard at the Metro Radio Arena. In Corrie, Bell will feature in a new Army storyline involving Gary Windass (Mikey North) and it is expected to be screened in February. He said, "I got a few funny looks turning up on set with a big shiner for the first day of filming and the make up artist had to do a bit of work on me but it's all been great fun," "Obviously it was a gutter losing to Simpson in my first big title challenge, but I'm really into the acting and this is a perfect role for me," "I'll have a rest from the boxing over Christmas and see what happens in the New Year, but for now I'm concentrating on Corrie."