MARTIN Walsh must be doing something right on the set of Coronation Street.

For every time he has appeared on the soap he has been given a ‘promotion’.

The Stockton Heath actor first appeared on the ITV series as a thief in 2003. He ‘changed his ways’ by playing a police officer in 2008, a detective in 2009 and then a detective sergeant last year.

“Last time I was in it I was arresting Callum during the live episode,” said Martin.

“Coronation Street is an institution especially in the north west and especially in my family. We all grew up on it.

“It’s so slick, everyone there is so nice and it’s on my doorstep. It’s pretty much perfect as a job and to see the newly rebuilt set and studio facility at Trafford Park is a joy.”

Corrie is just one highlight of Martin’s distinguished acting career which dates back 20 years. The 45-year-old has also appeared on the likes of Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey and Shameless.

But now he is branching out into musical theatre with the first UK tour of Billy Elliot. Martin plays Billy’s dad in the hit story about a youngster with a passion for ballet set against the backdrop of the 1980s miners’ strike.

The former Cardinal Newman RC High School pupil said: “It’s the first musical I’ve done. I’ve mostly done straight plays and TV so it was a left turn for me and one I’m particularly enjoying

“It’s a different experience travelling around to all these massive venues in major cities. I’ve always enjoyed singing in school, church and youth theatres but I’d not done it for years and had never done it professionally.

“It’s a bit surreal doing in front of these massive audiences. We’ve done it about 270 times now. It doesn’t feel normal but I’m getting used to it.

“I’ve always described it as good nerves and bad nerves. It’s good nerves now – it’s nerves that heighten you, keep you on your toes and keep you going. Not nerves that will destroy you or shake you to your core.”

So why does Martin think the story of Billy Elliot still resonates with people today?

He added: “There’s a thing referred to now called the ‘Billy Elliot effect’ which last year saw more boys attend the Royal Ballet School than girls. It has opened up avenues for boys to do these things.

“I also see political echoes today. Maybe the coal industry is now the steel industry. Maybe it’s the NHS. There are things and livelihoods under attack.

“It’s relevant to the politics of today with the cutbacks that seem to be attacking the poor and lowly. The miners went on strike not for more money but just to protect the industry, to protect jobs

“It’s also harking back to community – people pulling together and looking after each other. They are things I was brought up on.

“It’s not gone but people used to look in on their neighbours, now they’ll tune into Emmerdale. That’s who they think their neighbours are.”

Martin is doing eight performances a week and by the end of his run he will have done a staggering 500 shows.

‘I’ve worked with many famous actors and many great actors and I’ve always found them to be the nicest people because they’re not threatened – they want you to be as good as you can be’

He told Weekend he misses his wife Helen and kids Ana, six, and Zac, two while he is travelling. But the big bonus is that the production is at Manchester over Christmas.

He is only getting two days off during the festive period but he gets to return to his Stockton Heath home every night.

In a way, Martin has come full circle as he started out singing as a youngster in the likes of Christmas nativity plays at school and productions for Warrington Youth Theatre.

But it was actually getting home from St Augustine’s RC Primary School and switching on the TV that inspired him. His favourite shows were Starsky and Hutch, The Professionals and Dempsey and Makepeace.

“Boys’ shows really,” he said.

“All high action, running around and shooting everything up but in a really innocent way.

“I didn’t even know you could do act for a living back then. I only saw TV in the evening so that was the only time I thought it existed.”

After school Martin attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow and never looked back.

He first appeared on the BBC Two hospital drama, Cardiac Arrest, and his first big show was A Touch of Frost.

“When I worked with David Jason I was fresh out of drama school and very young,” added Martin.

“He was so inspirational. He just wanted me to be relaxed and to help get the best out of me.

“I’ve worked with many famous actors and many great actors and I’ve always found them to be the nicest people because they’re not threatened – they want you to be as good as you can be.”

One of Martin’s smallest roles was also one of his most exciting – he played an innkeeper in the first episode of season four of HBO’s epic fantasy drama, Game of Thrones.

Martin said: “I was on location but I saw Titanic Studios in Belfast and it was vast. It’s a juggernaut of a show. It’s huge. It’s probably one of the most watched things at the moment.

“As a character it was probably one of my smallest roles but, like with Downton Abbey, you just want to be a part of these kind of things.

“It was shot like a film so it was very slow. We did one massive scene where there was a big fight and it took three and a half days just to do that. It was fun. It wasn’t like real work.

“My mantra has always been I’d rather have a small part in something good than a big part in something bad.

“I’ve stayed true to that and have been fortunate to have had support roles or guest lead roles in episodes of pretty much everything I’ve wanted to do.

But of all his work, Martin told Weekend that BBC Three’s The Crash is what he is most proud of.

The dad-of-two added: “It’s about kids who are driving home with two cars and one makes a silly mistake and goes for an overtake at the wrong moment.

“It was about how that unfolded and how it reflected on the families. I played a man whose daughter died in the crash.

“That’s probably what I am most proud of because of the message it had. It was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA because we filmed it up there.”

Martin also urged young people to give acting a go because of the many benefits.

He said: “You can see another person’s point of view by playing a character. Even if someone was not to pursue a career in acting it’s a great thing to teach a child when you’re trying to get them to share and understand what’s going on in the world.

“I think it helps people grow and if they have to do any public speaking in their job it helps with that too. But on a really simple level it helps people understand others and be more tolerant.”

DAVID MORGAN