As we reported recently, former Coronation Street and The Bill actor Andrew Lancel – who real surname is Watkinson – was arrested after allegations of historic child sex offences were leveled against him.

And today, it’s been reported that Andrew has been summoned to appear before Liverpool Crown Court on April 15 next year to answer to the charges. It’s expected that he will plead not guilty.

Merseyside Police confirmed that Andrew has been charged under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, but he denies any wrongdoing and has vowed to clear his name.

As we also reported, he had been due to play the role of Carabose the Wicked Wizard in panto at the ECHO arena over Christmas, however, the accusations prompted him to withdraw from the show. Read more & comment »

As we reported recently, former Coronation Street star Andrew Lancel – who played Frank Foster – was arrested and charged with five counts of sexually assaulting a child which relate to an “historic” allegation.

And today, it’s been reported by The Sun that Andrew’s role in a Christmas panto is now in doubt – he was set to play the Wicked Wizard in the Echo Arena’s production of Sleeping Beauty – after the theatre’s boss has said, “A number of children are involved in the show.”

The pantomime’s producer David Lee said. “We’re in talks with Andrew’s management. A number of children are involved in the show.”

Yesterday The Sun revealed that Lancel, whose real name is Andrew Watkinson, is due to answer the charges in court on December 19.

His solicitor, Stuart Nolan said yesterday, “He strenuously denies the allegations and is confident that his innocence will be established in the fullness of time.” Read more & comment »

Former Coronation Street and The Bill star Andrew Lancel – who played rapist Frank Foster in Corrie – has reportedly been arrested and charged with five counts of sexually abusing a child.

The Sun reports, “Married Lancel was bailed by Merseyside police to face court this month.

“Yesterday the former star of The Bill refused to comment.

“He was tightlipped as he took his dogs for a walk — hours after being charged.”

Lancel is set to appear in court just days before Christmas to answer to charges that have been described as “historic” offences that are believed to date back decades before he found fame in TV roles. He was charged under his real name, Andrew Watkinson. Read more & comment »

Fans of Coronation Street will of course recall the harrowing rape storyline which saw Carla Connor (Alison King) sexually assaulted by her former fiancé Frank Foster (Andrew Lancel).

Many viewers complained that the plotline was too graphic to be depicted on the pre-watershed soap, however, it’s been revealed today that the storyline “helped put a child sex attacker behind bars”.

What’s On TV report that Daniel Bird, who’s 24 and a former resident of Sale, Greater Manchester, was found guilty of four counts of rape and was jailed for four years at Manchester Crown Court yesterday, and during the trial, it became apparent that his victim came forward having been “inspired” to do so by the plotline.

The court heard the unnamed victim say, “I just decided to tell somebody and get it off my chest.

“It had been on my mind all those years and finally I had the courage to tell someone. The emotions that Carla was going through reminded me of how I felt… Read more & comment »

Among an assortment of Corrie cast news today is the report that former star Andrew Lancel – who of course played villain Frank Foster – is to star in panto this Christmas in Liverpool, and an article in the Manchester Evening News which states that former star Phillip Middlemiss, who played Des Barnes, had been declared bankrupt.

More on that in a moment, but first, of Andrew landing a role in panto, he revealed the news yesterday while appearing on Matthew Wright’s Channel 5 talk show, The Wright Stuff.

He said, “I will be doing a panto, yes. There’s lots of rumours about it – I’m going to be doing one in Liverpool, I’m proud to say.

“I’m going home for Christmas and it’s in association with the Echo Arena. It’s going to be quite an event!”

He didn’t reveal what role he would be playing, but it pretty much has to be a baddie doesn’t it? Read more & comment »

Coronation Street star Sally Dynevor – who plays Sally Webster – has told Lorraine viewers this morning that her co-star Andrew Lancel deserves to win Villain of the Year at the forthcoming British Soap Awards.

As fans will know, tonight’s the night when Frank Foster will be murdered, and of course, one of the prime suspects is Dynevor’s character Sally.

Digital Spy report that Sally said of Andrew, and of the Frank Foster plotline, “It’s been a great storyline. Frank Foster’s been such an amazing character.

“He’s been so dark and sinister, and it’s been such fun to do.”

And of Andrew’s nomination for Villain of the Year, Sally enthused, “He’s got to win that, because he really is such a great villain.

“I think he’ll definitely win that!” Read more & comment »

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article – which you can read here – that suggested that our top soaps, and specifically in this instance Coronation Street, were potentially promoting a form of vigilantism that could, possibly, have very real consequences.

And just like Corrie’s rape storyline, which saw Frank Foster found not guilty when we know he did commit the crime, Emmerdale’s Judgement Day plot featured Zak Dingle beating his son Cain almost to death, and so far, going unpunished in any legal sense for it.

So today, I was interested to see that Coronation Street actor Andrew Lancel had told the Daily Star that he thinks his character, Frank Foster, “deserves” to be murdered.

Andrew made his remarks while discussing his departure from the show. He said, “I’ll certainly miss everyone at Corrie, it really has been the best year of my life, but I won’t miss Frank.

“He had it coming and, as everyone will see, he gets what he deserves…” Read more & comment »

As fans of Corrie will know, the storyline which began with Frank Foster raping his then fiancé Carla Connor, and which featured him being found not guilty by a jury, will come to a climax when the character is murdered next month.

However, inevitably, there were raised eyebrows and out and out complaints about how the popular soap handled such a contentious issue, with many claiming that the fact Frank (Andrew Lancel) was found not guilty could have put real life rape victims off reporting the crime.

It was also claimed that some of the scenes, in particular those in which Frank menaced Carla (Alison King) outside the court before and during the trial, inaccurately reflected the procedures that an accused person must adhere to with regard to contacting alleged victims.

However, while addressing the annual conference of St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester, the show’s executive producer, Phil Collinson, said, “I do agree that there were some procedural things in the court that we did get wrong…” Read more & comment »

As fans of Coronation Street will know, evil Frank Foster is about to face his maker when he’s murdered…

And of course, there will be no shortage of suspects since he’s made an enemy of many of the Street’s residents, and he’s about to make one more when he warns Sally Webster (Sally Dynevor) not to meddle in his affairs.

Sally’s love affair with Frank turns sour when she suspects he’s seeing someone else, and she’s right, he is. He’s dating Jenny Sumner, the buyer we saw last week refusing to work with Carla (Alison King) because of the tension between her and Frank.

However, it seems she’s not only about to become Frank’s bit on the side, she’s also going to help him overthrow Carla so that he can get her out of Underworld… Read more & comment »

It’s been reported by the Daily Star that whoever kills rapist Frank Foster may go on to murder two other people in order to silence them when they find out he/she is a killer.

And, the paper has also revealed the names of six suspects, and one of them WILL turn out to be the killer!

As this post contains spoilers, click ‘Read more’ only if you want to know! Read more & comment »

When evil rapist Frank Foster is murdered, there will be no shortage of suspects, given how many people he’s upset during his time in Weatherfield…

However, his current girlfriend, Sally Webster, will become the prime suspect in his murder when she’s discovered standing over his dead body!

The end of Frank’s reign of terror begins when Sally – who’s played by Sally Dynevor – finally realizes that Carla Connor (Alison King) was telling the truth about Frank (Andrew Lancel) all along after he tries to rape her.

Gullible Sally has of course stood by Frank throughout the police investigation and trial – in which he was found not guilty of raping Carla – so could the revelation that he is in fact the violent monster that Carla said he was tip Sally over the edge? Read more & comment »

The focus of Corrie recently has of course been on Frank Foster’s not guilty verdict at the end of the rape trial, and Alison King, who plays his victim Carla Connor, has revealed that Frank hasn’t done tormenting Carla yet.

Speaking to ITV about what happens in the aftermath of the trial, and of course, the disclosure of Carla’s affair with Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne), Alison said, “Carla’s feeling devastated straight after the trial…

“But she really just wants to move on, get back into the factory and get back into the swing of things.

“She’s got Peter to lean on and he’s helping her do that, but there’s complications.

“Frank’s still about and making trouble. She arrives back to her factory raring to go, to discover that he’s moved in there… Read more & comment »

Coronation Street star Andrew Lancel – who plays rapist Frank Foster – has revealed that although his character still loves Carla Connor (Alison King) he doesn’t love her enough to plead guilty to attacking her.

As fans of the show will know, next week, Frank goes on trial, and in order to keep up the suspense, two endings have been filmed; one in which he’s found not guilty, and another in which he’s convicted and goes to prison.

Speaking to Soaplife about the drama, and about Frank’s feelings for Carla, Andrew said, “We know Frank still loves Carla deep down, but if he is forced to choose between Carla’s tears and saving his own skin he will go for self-preservation every time.

“Frank will go to any lengths to get off this charge and stay out of prison.

“He is twisted enough to believe he has done nothing wrong, and he’ll lie, cheat and manipulate to make everyone believe his version of events… Read more & comment »

Coronation Street actor Andrew Lancel – who’s also starred in The Bill, City Central, Bad Girls and Queer as Folk – has revealed that he loved filming scenes for his character’s rape trial.

As fans of Corrie will of course know, Andrew plays Frank Foster, who we’ll see on trial next week for raping Carla Connor (Alison King).

Of filming the dramatic courtroom scenes, Andrew said, “It was brilliant. I have always wanted to do a big court room drama.

“I did hundreds of trial-y things in The Bill but I’ve never been in the dock before. But it was great.”

And of the fact that the show’s bosses ordered two different outcomes to be filmed – one guilty verdict, one not guilty – Andrew said, “You literally had to switch from guilty and not guilty.

“Not just the words but what happens afterwards. So it was very exciting… Read more & comment »

And who’s going to murder Frank?

The Daily Mail today reports that in order to keep fans of Corrie guessing about the outcome of Frank Foster’s rape trial, the show’s bosses have filmed two alternate endings.

One will see Frank – who’s played by Andrew Lancel – found guilty of raping Carla Connor (Alison King) and subsequently being sent to prison, as in the picture below, while the other sees him cleared of all charges and jubilantly leaving court with his mum Anne (Gwen Taylor) and new girlfriend Sally Webster (Sally Dynevor) as per the above pic.

We’ll get to find out which one airs in February, but we want to know which outcome you would prefer to see? Guilty or not guilty?

There has of course been much press speculation that Frank will be found not guilty, but if he is, as is the wont of soaps, he’ll nonetheless get his comeuppance – and more – when he’s murdered later on this year… Read more & comment »