[Scarlett.]

Former Vicar of Dibley star James Fleet has joined the ranks of Coronation Street as Tony Gordon's new henchman.

The 50-something actor - who played hapless Hugo Horton in the long-running BBC sitcom - will take on the role of Robbie, Tony's (Gray O'Brien) cellmate who is due to be released from prison.

Since his incarceration at the end of last year, Tony has been plotting his prison break and a timely revenge on his nearest and dearest. Realising that he needed help, Tony quickly enlisted Robbie and plans to use him as his eyes and ears on the Street.

Tony is currently spending time at Her Majesty's pleasure for the killing of Liam Connor and the attempted murder of Roy Cropper (David Neilson) after turning himself in to the police. In real life, O'Brien took a short break from the soap for the panto season, but agreed to return for the climax to Tony's story arc.

Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy earlier this year, Corrie producer Kim Crowther said of Tony's swansong: "We'll see that while he's been locked up he's gone through quite a lot psychologically."

She continued: "Has he had a breakdown in the period since we last saw him? He's certainly got a plan again. He doesn't settle for things when he's not in control of them so you put Tony Gordon in a corner and he comes out with a plan."

Fleet is due to begin filming at Corrie's home in Manchester within the next couple of weeks and will make his screen debut at the end of May.

His previous acting credits over the years include Four Weddings and a Funeral, Brotherly Love, Little Dorrit and more recently Hotel Babylon.

Digital Spy