Timothy West has revealed that his Coronation Street alter-ego Eric will soon approach Eva Price with a proposition.
The carpet salesman, played by the TV veteran, will arrive on the Corrie cobbles on the arm of fiancee Gloria Price (Sue Johnston), but soon turns his attentions from grandmother to granddaughter (Catherine Tyldesley).
"He is drawn to Eva as he realises that she is unhappy and he thinks she is a lost soul like he has been in his life. He sees vulnerability in her that others don't, he doesn't really see the harder side of her," he told the soap's official website.
Eric decides to invite Eva to travel with him, but Timothy explained that he has no sinister intentions towards the younger woman.
"It is certainly a genuine offer, something that he thinks would benefit them both. He doesn't want to have a sexual relationship with her at all, he is far too old for one thing. But he does think they might have some fun together seeing the world. She is funny and intelligent," he continued.
"He is quite good at judging people and he sees something underneath it all, she is having a hard time with the family, and it helps that she is very beautiful."
The 78-year-old star of stage and screen is married to Fawlty Towers actress Prunella Scales, who appeared on Coronation Street in 1961.
"She asked me to give her love to anyone who is still in it, but I pointed out that as she was in episode four (as Eileen Hughes) and we are now on episode 8,044 that doesn't leave too many people, possibly just William Roache!" he joked.
Timothy's first scenes on the Street will be shown on February 18.
