INTERVIEW: Steven Arnold on Corrie, starting out in a BAFTA-winning film with his brother and the Sir Thomas Boteler teacher who made it all possible

But Steven Arnold's life changed in an instant when he and his brother got the leading parts in a BAFTA-winning short film.

Years before Coronation Street, the then 16-year-old and his brother Kevin Arnold were selected from all the students at Sir Thomas Boteler CE High School for This Boy's Story.

The film is about two young boys who sneak off to Liverpool to see George Best play.

Drama teacher Mr Bell had already seen Steven's potential and encouraged him to go for a part.

But until then the biggest performance he had been involved with had just been the high school's production of Cinderella Rockefeller.

"I just turned up for school one day and he asked me to get to the assembly hall for 10.30am," Steven told Weekend.

"There were about 50 other kids there and my brother was sat in the room.

"There was a producer from America and a director from London and they just said we’re auditioning for two young boys to appear in a film about George Best.

"My brother and I got the two leading parts and the film went on to become a success. We won best short film at the BAFTAs and the Student Academy Awards.

"It was just amazing. One minute you’re at school, the next you’ve got six months off to be on a film set.

"George Best was my dad’s idol so to meet George and work with him and hear him do interviews was just fantastic for me and all the family.

"Working with my brother as well, I just felt like king of the world. It was an unbelievable experience. After that I’ve just never stopped working.

"Mr Bell was just such a great teacher. I was always acting at school and he’d always put me in the plays and give me parts.

"I’ve got a lot to thank him for because I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today if it wasn’t for him."

After This Boy's Story, Steven thought his life would return but it was just the beginning.

The former Fearnhead resident added: "We thought that would be it but my mum said an agent had been on the phone and wanted to sign us both up.

"I’ve been with that same agent for 27 years now."

A year later Steven was in ITV's Medics which Sue Johnston starred in at the time.

The 41-year-old did not get any scenes with Warrington-born Sue but later met her when discovered he used to walk his dog past her house.

Steven, a patron of the Shannon Bradshaw Trust, said: "I know Sue and really look up to her as an actor. She’s done fantastically well.

"When she lived in Warrington I used to nip around and have a cup of tea with her from time to time. I’ve got a lot of nice memories of my time with Sue."

Steven is still best known for Coronation Street though which he described as life changing.

He stepped on to the cobbles as Weatherfield's butcher Ashley Peacock in 1995 and stayed with the soap before his character's death in a tram crash in December 2010.

The dramatic scenes were filmed as part of Coronation Street's 50th birthday episode.

"You don’t realise how powerful that programme until you’re actually in it," he added.

"I did Children’s Ward so I got recognised now and again but when I did the Street it was unbelievable.

"It was getting close to 20 million viewers per episode at the time. The 15 and a half years I was there I just loved.

"I had some great storylines. My first serious one was when Ashley found out that Fred was his dad. That was great to do and John Savident had such a wealth of experience."

Steven's latest acting job has been touring the country for Chaplin: The Charlie Chaplin Story.

He will be performing at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The musical chronicles Charlie Chaplin's life from his troubled early days to becoming the first British icon of cinema.

Steven previously worked with the director Stuart Price on a show called Concrete Boots.

"I fell in love with it as soon as I read it," he said.

"It’s such a great piece. We’ve got six actors that play more than 20 characters between them.

"That challenge of playing multiple characters was really appealing to me. When I left Coronation Street I wanted to do as much stage work as possible.

"I’ve had a lot of opportunities since I left. I’ve been very fortunate."

Steven's main character in the play is 'king of comedy' Mack Sennett.

He was founder of Keystone Studios where Charlie Chaplain made his name.

Steven added: "All of the characters have different accents and different postures and there is a lot of throwing jackets and hats on. It keeps you on your toes.

"I didn’t know much about Charlie Chaplain before this and discovered he had a hard life as a kid.

"He was close to starvation at times. He was separated from his mother and his brother and he was sent to a workhouse.

"By the time he was 14 he’d lived in 15 different homes. He just joined this team of actors and got picked out by Mack Sennett and ended up in America becoming the biggest movie star of his time.

"He was the Robert De Niro of his day."

These days, the stage is a more familiar home for Steven than TV and he said he has enjoyed the transition.

Next on the horizon are two plays called Broken Strings and Thick as Thieves and a film about a bare-knuckle fighter called Bare.

"I wanted to do something out of my comfort zone," he said.

"I’ve learnt so much working with good actors on stage. I’ve done a lot of films since I’ve left the Street as well. I’ve not stopped

"Whether I’m on TV, on a film set or on a stage I still get a buzz from it."