British Soap Awards: Coronation Street’s Sean Ward goes from barman to bad boy

“A year ago I was working in a bar in Manchester, selling rum to wild kids”

In just a year Sean Ward has gone from barman and tarmacking roads to the British Soap Awards.

And next Saturday will be the birthday bash to beat them all as he turns 27 while hoping to pick up a dream double.

Sean, who plays bad boy Callum Logan in Coronation Street, is up for both the Villain and Newcomer gongs.

It’s an astonishing turnaround in fortunes for Sean, who had given up on the business before a life-changing break.

“A year ago I was working in a bar in Manchester, selling rum to wild kids,” he smiles as we catch up with him as he steps off the cobbles.

“So the more people talk about me being up for awards I just think, ‘What the heck has happened in the world?’

“It’s just crazy.”

Sean’s fortunes had reached such a low point he had vanished off the acting radar. He had no agent and was no longer listed on Spotlight, the key casting site.

But, out of the blue, he was tracked down and offered a role in BBC1 drama Our Girl, alongside EastEnder Lacey Turner.

“In this game you lose confidence and getting that gave me a boost,” he confides.

“I got an agent and the third audition he sent me up for was Corrie.

“I didn’t want to go back into the bar industry because it’s so anti-social and I was about to go to Birmingham to start tarmacking.

“Then my agent called to say I was the new bad guy in Corrie.”

Callum has made a massively destructive impact in Weatherfield, with his drug dealing wrecking the life of Paula Lane’s Kylie. And he’s doing his utmost to break David (Jack P. Shepherd).

Sean recalls how he at least determined to make a big impression at the audition, drilling his eyes so intently into Paula Lane she “bottled it and looked away.”

That intensity has continued on screen, with his bad boy performance so convincing it earned him both the Soap Award nod and some off-screen notoriety.

“It’s split between Team Callum and Team David,” he explains.

“People either want me to knock David out or leave him alone.

“Generally, people have been nice, which is good as I thought I was going to get battered in supermarkets when I started.

“Mind you, I was in a supermarket the other day and a group of elderly women came up and asked if they could touch me.

“They stroked my little cheeks, told me I was gorgeous and walked away. I don’t know about making their week, but it made mine.”

Sean, who’s affably good company, can’t help but smile as he recalls the mad encounter.

Not all of the madness is quite as entertaining.

He talks about getting out of bar work not just because of the late hours but the drink-fuelled culture. And boozy fans can be on the pushy side, to put it mildly.

“When people have had a drink they feel like they have a bit more of an ownership,” he confides.

“People drag you over for a photo without even asking.”

Recent speculation has had Sean dating former co-star Georgia May Foote.

The 24-year-old stunner, who recently quit her role as Katy Armstrong, was spotted out on the town with Sean, with insiders talking of a burgeoning relationship. But Sean insists keeping a lower profile is his aim.

“I really don’t feed into it. I don’t Google my name and I don’t like being a celebrity.

“There are places I don’t go because I know you get papped and think if you want a private life you can easily have one.”

Sean still has his feet firmly on the ground, remembering how he used to serve cocktails to Corrie actors Antony Cotton and Mikey North.

He’ll be alongside them next Saturday.

“With it being my birthday it’s going to be one of the most special nights I’ve ever experienced,” he smiles.

Cast your vote at britishsoapawards.tv/vote.