As fans of Corrie will know, Carla Connor’s ex-jailbird – and generally apparently no good – brother Rob Donovan is headed to the cobbles…

He’s played by actor Marc Baylis, whose former TV credits include starring in My Uncle Silas, Sirens, The Bill, EastEnders, Doctors and Hollyoaks, and according to Catherine Tyldesley who plays Eva Price, her character and Rob are set to get “steamy” when an instant spark of chemistry ignites between them.

Of Rob – who we’ll see for the first time on July 9th – and Eva’s romance, Catherine said, “I don’t want to give away too much, but Rob is going to be the fresh meat on the Street.

“Eva is certainly attracted to him because he does have charm and power…

“There’s definitely something about him. He’s very, very charming!”

During the interview with Digital Spy, Catherine added, “Marc is brilliant to work with, he’s such a laugh.

“We get on really well, which has made things a lot easier.

“When you’re doing intimate scenes, or you’ve got to pair up with somebody, it does help when you get on with them in real life. It’s been great.”

As part of Rob’s storylines, we’re set to see him taking over his sister Carla’s (Alison King) role at Underworld after she and lover Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) leave Weatherfield temporarily as they try to put the anguish of the past year behind them.

Coronation Street’s producer Phil Collinson recently said of the new character, “Carla’s brother Rob is the latest in a long line of handsome Corrie charmers and is sure to set hearts fluttering in Weatherfield from the minute he arrives.

“The audience can expect thrills and a few broken hearts when this handsome bad boy hits town.”

We’re also set to see Sol Heras playing the role of Michelle Connor’s son Ryan in forthcoming episodes. It has of course been rumoured that Ryan – who was formerly played by Ben Thompson – will be heavily involved in drugs when he returns to Weatherfield, and will get Sophie Webster addicted to crack cocaine.