Coronation Street actor Graeme Hawley has admitted that he was nervous about having to kiss his 17-year-old co-star Helen Flanagan.
Hawley, 32, plays schoolteacher John Stape, who embarks on an affair with Helen's character Rosie Webster in the ITV1 soap's latest controversial storyline.
"I was very aware that I was in a room with 30 cast and crew looking at me and I'd got to kiss a 17-year-old," Graeme told the Sunday Mirror.
"I have a 16-year-old nephew and he's just a kid to me, so it did feel weird. I know it's only acting, but at the same time I was thinking: 'God, I hope people don't think this is what I'm like in real life.' But Helen, who plays Rosie, was very professional and helped me a lot."
Graeme has insisted that John should be condemned for cheating on his girlfriend Fiz Brown, rather than for the age difference between he and Rosie.
"I know there are some instances where teachers take advantage of girls but John isn't an evil predator who has groomed Rosie," he explained. "She very much leads John on and he quickly finds himself out of his depth. She's completely in control. His biggest mistake is that he doesn't say no, but he gets carried away. Before he knows it, he's having an affair with a 17-year-old girl.
"Personally, I have more of a problem with the fact he's cheating on his girlfriend than the difference in their ages."
Nope bumpy fits the bill. I rem when it was Martin and that other girl, whats her name as odd as it was with the age diff the 2 of them seemed good together.
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Originally posted by bingette: Nope bumpy fits the bill. I rem when it was Martin and that other girl, whats her name as odd as it was with the age diff the 2 of them seemed good together.
You're thinking of Sarah's friend Katy Harris. Yes, it was odd, but Katy was slightly older (I think) - if not in years in mental maturity and both actors could ACT!
Couldn't agree with you more! 
