As Todd Grimshaw returns to Coronation Street, actor Bruno Langley reveals why Weatherfield still feels like home to him.

There can be few faces bride-to-be Sarah Platt would less like to see on her wedding day than that of her gay ex-fiance, Todd Grimshaw - well, except perhaps her twisted brother David's! And it's thanks to the teen tearaway's meddling that Todd arrives back in Weatherfield this week, convinced that bygones are bygones as far as his and Sarah's painful past is concerned. However, he soon learns that Sarah and her hubby-to-be - his brother Jason - weren't expecting him at all. Thankfully, there were no such red-faced reunions for Bruno Langley (Todd) when the actor set foot on the cobbles after a three-year absence.

"Everyone was pleased to see me," grins the 24-year-old. "It was really strange being back on set at first, but after I'd said hello to everyone and filmed my first two scenes, it was as though I'd never been away."

However, much has changed for Bruno in the time he's spent away from the Street. He's worked extensively in the theatre and on TV, and had a baby son, Freddie, with his partner of three years, Victoria. And despite still being a young man, Bruno claims he's much more mature than he used to be.

"When I started out as an actor, I was a bit of a child," he admits. "I was too scared to do things differently, to take chances. But I'm not frightened any more, and I don't take it all quite so seriously. I've grown up a lot since I left Corrie - as has Todd."

When Todd moved to London in 2004, he couldn't have departed on worse terms. Having come out as gay to pregnant Sarah, the couple endured the tragic loss of their premature son, Billy. And in the aftermath of this heartbreak, Todd had to contend with homophobia from his neighbours, and was horrified to catch Sarah in bed with his older brother. On his return, Todd's now more comfortable in his own skin, and wants nothing but the best for Sarah and Jason. So, will they be willing to forgive and forget, too?

"No one's pleased to see Todd at first -except his mum, Eileen," Bruno sighs. "He makes his intentions clear straight away, though. He loves his brother and wants to be close to him again. If Sarah makes Jason happy, Todd's okay with that."

Of course, Sarah finds it much harder to put the past behind her. But she manages to clear the air during a heart-to-heart with the man she was once devoted to.

"Todd sits Sarah down and tells her that he feels bad about the way he treated her" says Bruno. "He insists that since he's been gone, he's missed everyone, especially her. It's not as if he just dumped her and ran, though - he was hurting too. Todd also apologises for kissing Sarah's brother, Nick Tilsley. He's sick of being the bad guy."

As Todd heads out on Jason's stag night, it seems his unplanned return to the fold will only fuel David's fury all the more, as the lad's hopes of making Sarah miserable in the lead-up to her nuptials are quashed. But while poisonous David's neighbours are disturbed by his increasingly deranged actions, Bruno's a huge fan of the character's evil evolution.

"I'm so proud of Jack P Shepherd [David]," he smiles. "When I left the Street. Jack was just a boy - now he's a man. He's very serious about his acting. He was always good, but now he's amazing."

Jack's work on Coronation Street is undoubtedly one of the key reasons behind the show's recent success - including, of course, its triumph in the Best Soap category at the 2007 Inside Soap Awards. So, despite enjoying roles in Doctor Who, The League Of Gentlemen's Apocalypse and Dalziel & Pascoe, it's not difficult to understand why Bruno's heart remains in Weatherfield. Would he reprise the role of Todd again after this latest stint?

"If the producers want me to come back for longer, I'll say yes, simply because it’s been so good this time around," he beams. "I'm good friends with Antony Cotton [Sean] and Jennie McAlpine [Fiz], and I loved filming scenes with the Grimshaws again. I've had so much fun."

As things stand, however, Bruno has nothing lined up for the immediate future - and that's just the way he likes it.

"I'm not a planner," he laughs. "I haven't had a chance to go to auditions, because I've been so busy here. Me and my agent will put our heads together, though. And Victoria's starting work soon, so I guess 'II be a house husband until my next job comes up. I'm really looking forward to it."

And what if that next job happens to be an offer to join Emmerdale or EastEnders would Bruno accept?

"Oh, I couldn't!" he asserts, loyally. Once you've done the best, you can't do anything else, can you?"

© Inside Soap Magazine, 9/10/07

<< back