Stape upsets teachers

DS wrote: Coronation Street star Graeme Hawley has revealed that teachers have confronted him over his character John Stape.

The actor admitted that his controversial plot has caused offence among real-life members of the profession, who haven't been afraid to share their views when they meet him in the street.

Hawley's schoolteacher character John started an affair with pupil Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan) shortly after he joined the show last year. Meanwhile, Stape was still keeping up a romance with old flame Fiz Brown, played by Jennie McAlpine.

"I have bumped into a few [teachers] who haven't been happy with me," Graeme told the Daily Record. "They say, 'You know, we are not all like that.' And my answer to that is, 'I know at least three teachers who had affairs with their students when I was at school. You might not have done it, but don't tell me it doesn't happen.' "

Commenting on his character's new job as a cabbie, he added: "I'll probably upset a nation of taxi drivers. Maybe I'll find them more forgiving than teachers."

Hawley confirmed that the negative responses to his role on the show have been outweighed by the many compliments he has received from fans.

"Mostly, the public reaction has been fantastic," he explained. "People come up a lot and go, 'Oh you horrible git. You are a bad lad, you are.' But then they go on to say they love the storyline and the great character. Since I've been back, it's been, 'It's brilliant to see you back on the Street.' It feels like I'm doing my job properly.