Ian McKellen Drawn Back To Corrie

Sir Ian McKellen is "strongly drawn" to making a return to 'Coronation Street'.

The veteran actor - who played novelist Mel Hutchwright for two months in 2005 - admits he loved his brief stint on the soap so much, he is thinking about asking for his character to be reintroduced.

He said: "I had a ball playing Mel.

"There's a part of me which is strongly drawn to the idea of returning and making it a job that simply goes on and on."

The 70-year-old 'Lord of the Rings' star admitted he would expect criticism if he reprised his role, but insists he doesn't care.

He added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "I know it wouldn't be a universally popular decision - there is still a bit of snobbery about appearing on a soap.

"You know the kind of thing, 'Surely McKellen should stick to doing posh plays rather than doing soap opera' but it's water off a duck's back as far as I'm concerned.

"I loved 'Coronation Street' last time and I'm sure I would again."