Coronation Street star, David Neilson, who has played Roy Cropper on the soap for years,
was denied access to the soap set by security guards, who didnāt recognise him out of character
Coronation Street star, David Neilson, couldnāt be more different from Roy Cropper in real life.
The actor, 75, has played the eccentric yet compassionate cafĆ© owner, who has weathered a number of storms in Weatherfield, for almost 30 years. However, despite his impressive tenure on the show, David was recently turned away from the Corrie set in Granada Studios because security guards didnāt recognise him out of character.
Reacting on Instagram to a video of the soap legend trying to gain access to his place of work, who had to explain: āIām Roy Cropperā ā while signing autographs ā one person replied: āThe security guard probably didnāt recognise him after he had a shave and a bath.ā
Off screen, dad-of-one David enjoys spending time with his family in his second home in Barcelona ā where he says heās glad no-one recognises him.
So, as we wait to see Roy rock up in Royās Rolls again, hereās a look at the man behind the apron, including Davidās humble beginnings flogging ice creamā¦
Ice cream salesman
Loughborough-born David trained as an actor at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama, which includes Dame Judi Dench as a former student.
He is now a household name on Corrie playing the revered Roy. However, while making a name for himself, David worked a number of different jobs, including as a gas fitter, plumber, barman and ice cream salesman.
Before landing a part in theĀ ITVĀ soap, the actor also enjoyed a number of impressive theatre jobs, including writing and directing plays and teaching drama at Rose Bruford. He also appeared in two Mike Leigh films ā Life Is Sweet and Secrets and Lies.
Married for 50 years
Roy and former wife Hayley Cropper were one of the most iconicĀ Coronation StreetĀ couples of all time. Fans were bereft when Hayley made the decision to die on her own terms following her terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
Off screen, David has been married to wife Jane Neilson for more than 50 years, and she has played a huge part in helping shape Roy into the curiously complex character he is today.
Speaking with theĀ MirrorĀ in 2009, David revealed how heād chosen to play Roy as autistic, crediting special needs teacher Jane for her expertise.
David explained: āRoy was a psychopath. He was stalking Deirdre and was a bit scary. Itās nice to play psychos but they donāt stay around too long. My wife is a special needs teacher and she worked with people with autism. She said Roy could have Aspergerās syndrome, making him socially inept, rather than menacing. Nobody really knew what Aspergerās was back in 1995, so itās my wife I owe it to.ā Jane and David have a son, Daniel, and are now proud grandparents to two young granddaughters.
David has a second home in Spain where he says heās glad no-one recognises him
Touching tribute to late mum
Sadly Davidās mum, Phyllis, died just before he bagged the part of Roy, but she provided him with one of his signature props on the Cobbles ā his iconic shopping bag! The bag David uses on set is the same one Phyllis used to do her shopping around Loughborough for years.
In a previous interview with The Mirror, David revealed: āThat bag went round Loughborough market for many years! My mother died just before I joined the show so I was chucking stuff out and thought it would be good for Roy. He was always knocking on Deirdreās door, asking if she needed a bit of shopping and initially they gave me a carrier bag. But you see guys standing at bus stops with bags like that and I thought Iād introduce it. Itās also very handy to carry my scripts round in!ā
Barcelona bolthole
After years working in relative anonymity, David admits he found his sudden rise to fame a bit of a shock. To get away from the spotlight, he decided to buy a place in Spain, where he escapes to with his wife, Jane, when he is not on the Cobbles.
Opening up about his Barcelona bolthole, which he bought in 2002, the actor told us: āI need to get away from Roy and be myself and they donāt know Roy in Barcelona. If Iām in Spain for a few days I forget what I do for a living, which is the important thing. It means when I come back and someone shouts āRoyā, for a moment I forget theyāre actually talking to me.ā