Coronation Street newcomer Idris Nazir is set to cause disruption in Weatherfield. Alya Nazir's cousin, played by Junade Khan, arrives unexpectedly and catches the eye of Leanne Battersby. However, this is not Junade's first appearance on the cobbles. He previously played Saj, the romantic interest of Rosie Webster, 18 years ago during the John Stape storyline.
Who is Junade Khan?
Junade Khan is perhaps best known for his role as Ash Roy in Hollyoaks from 2008 to 2009, appearing in over 80 episodes. He has also featured in Game of Thrones, Better, The Last House, and Emmerdale. Before landing his Corrie role, he drove buses for eight years while taking small acting jobs.
In an interview with ITV, Junade said: "I've been driving buses for eight years while doing little acting jobs here and there, so to be able to give that up, it was unbelievable. I even had a Coronation Street magnet on my fridge for years."
What can fans expect from Idris?
Junade described his character as "multi-layered and incredibly ambitious." He added: "As a child, he suffered a lot of hardship and neglect, so he's had to overcome those obstacles entirely on his own. He's a lone wolf - the black sheep of the family who has made a name for himself. He's addicted to success and the finer things in life, but there's a real vulnerability there, too."
Junade Khan's famous family
Junade is not the only famous member of his household. His wife, Gem Khan, is a presenter, singer, and owner of PopGems Academy. Their daughter, Alara-Star Khan, is an actress who has starred alongside Angelina Jolie in Anxious People, featured in Ridley Scott's The Dog Stars, and played Poppy in The Serial Killer's Wife. Their son, Pacino Khan, has roles in a Marvel production and Waffle the Wonder Dog.
Coronation Street airs weeknights on ITV1 at 8.30pm and is available to stream from 7am on ITVX.
