Coronation Street alumni Charlie De Melo has landed a huge role in an iconic BBC show after leaving the ITV soap.
The 34 year old actor played Imran Habeeb on the Cobbles from 2017 until 2022 – when his character was killed off in a dramatic car crash storyline. In a huge twist, it emerged Toyah Battersby – played by Georgia Taylor – caused Imran’s death but she was later cleared of murder in court.
Now Charlie has delighted his fans and his former Corrie co-stars after revealing he has landed the role of Charles Banerjee in BBC's Doctor Who for the upcoming 60th anniversary episodes, joining the cast alongside the likes of David Tennant and Catherine Tate. The news was announced from the show’s official X/Twitter account in a post that was retweeted by Charlie.
The tweet read: "#DoctorWho 60TH CASTING! Welcome to the #Whoniverse, @CharlieDemelo! Charlie De Melo joins #DoctorWho as Charles Banerjee!"
Charlie wrote: "Keeping this quiet has been a minor torture. Very excited to be a cog in this magnificent machine. Two 60th Anniversaries on two titans of British television. It's a niche feather in my cap, but I shall wear it with pride."
Celebs, Charlie's former co-stars and soap fans were quick to share their messages of congratulations in response to the news. Ex co-star Millie Gibson, who played Kelly Neelan on the Cobbles and has herself landed a main role in Doctor Who as Ruby Sunday, posted a series of excited emojis.
Tony Maudsley, who plays Corrie’s George Shuttleworth, wrote: "WooWhooooooo!! YES Charlie!!" Meanwhile, TV presenter Rylan Clark simply said: “Amazing!”
Elsewhere, a fan wrote: "Charlie and Millie reunited how exciting congrats." Another added: "This is wonderful news. I love it as a fan of #Imran!"
A third posted: "Quite excited about this! Loved you and Millie Gibson in corrie!!"
Last year, Charlie reflected on his five years on Coronation Street in a touching message on Twitter after he left the show and was inundated by messages of support from fans.
He wrote: "It's been an absolute joy reading through all of your messages tonight. It's been a strange day for me, one that's been hanging over my head for a long time.
"But for my time [on Coronation Street] to have made an impact and mattered *at all* to so many of you, is… Warming, it's humbling, it's so very, very lovely."
Charlie added that he was "proud" to be joining the ‘ranks of Corrie’s alumni’.
He said: "I have too many to thank and too little time (in this or any life) to adequately do so, but for what it's worth, I'm so grateful for you all. I am proud to now join the ranks of the alumni. I'm in extraordinary company."
Meanwhile, Doctor Who returns later this month with three special episodes to coincide with the legendary show’s 60th anniversary, with David Tennant returning to star as the Fourteenth Doctor. Ncuti Gatwa's first episode as the Fifteenth Doctor will air over the festive period.
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