Remind yourself of all the soap drama that was happening in Corrie, Emmerdale, EastEnders and Hollyoaks 10 years ago this week!

Emmerdale

Even though Carl King (Tom Lister) had warned DCI Grace Barraclough (Glynis Barber) not to fall for him, he couldn’t stay away from her. And she couldn’t keep her hands off him. Carl knew he was bad news; he had killed his father, Tom. Detective Grace hadn’t yet worked that out, though. She asked Carl outright whodunit but he wouldn’t tell her. Then her boss found out about their affair and told her to choose between Carl and her job. So Carl was dumped. Drunk and liable to talk too much, Carl was bundled into one of the King family’s haulage trucks bound for Europe by his brothers, Jimmy and Matthew, and sent overseas. But he wouldn’t be gone for long…

Oh, dear… There was Jimmy King (Nick Miles), all oiled up for a massage when, instead, he walked in on his fiancée Kelly Windsor (Adele Silva) getting a tongue-lashing from Carrie Nicholls (Linda Lusardi). Carrie had discovered that her schoolgirl daughter, Scarlett, had accompanied Kelly to an abortion clinic. Kelly had terminated her pregnancy to save her modelling career. But that was also terminated. Kelly begged Carrie not to tell Jimmy about the abortion and she didn’t. But Jimmy would find out eventually…

Coronation Street

Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) was desperate to keep his near-sexual holiday adventure with transvestite Shania a secret, especially from Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) who was (at that time) the woman of his dreams. But his best mate, joker Lloyd Mullaney (Craig Charles), had a photo of Steve kissing Shania and Michelle saw it… And she humiliated Steve by showing it to everyone in the Rovers. They did kiss and make up, though.

Ashley Peacock’s (Steven Arnold) friends had clocked the constant presence of crazy Casey Carswell (Zoe Henry) at No4 Coronation Street and were getting worried for him. Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) bobbed round to ask Ashley to go for a drink and was shocked to see Casey in a dressing-gown. But Ashley angrily told Kevin to mind his own business. And when Audrey Roberts tried to talk some sense into Ashley, Casey went to see her and lied that Ashley’s wife Claire knew they were having an affair and that she was Ashley’s family now.

EastEnders

Awkward! This time 10 years ago, Stacey Branning (as she was then) was having an affair with her father-in-law Max Branning (Jake Wood), whose wife, Tanya (Jo Joyner), was pregnant. Tanya had a health scare and it was Stacey (Lacey Turner) who went to hospital with her. By the time Max got to Tanya’s bedside, she and Stacey had bonded over the experience – which made it all that much harder for Stacey to sit and watch Max and Tanya together.

Ten years ago, Max Branning had no thought of destroying Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and hadn’t looked twice at his daughter, Lucy. At that time, Ian was horrified to discover that his 13-year-old daughter was secretly dating 18-year-old Craig Dixon (Rory Jennings) and was desperate to stop them. Max drove Ian to Craig’s house and they burst in to find Craig half-naked and Lucy in his bed. Max warned Craig to stay away, while Ian got Lucy out of the flat and reported Craig to the police. But that didn’t stop him…

Hollyoaks

Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard) had to grieve in secret when Jacqui McQueen miscarried his baby, because Jacqui had married Albanian immigrant Aleksander Malota (Jon Lolis) so he could stay in the country. But it was all too much for Tony after he discovered Jacqui would never be able to have children and then saw Aleks getting all the sympathy because people thought he was the father of the baby she had lost. Tony was outraged and attacked Aleks, then announced to everyone that the baby had been his, not Aleks’.

John Paul McQueen (James Sutton) found heartbroken Carmel McQueen (Gemma Merna) all packed and ready to leave Hollyoaks after her secret lover, Aleksander, had been forced to leave by Tony. Her plan was to try to find Aleks but John Paul convinced her to stay in the village.

John Paul had less luck with his own secret lover, Craig, who didn’t want anyone to know about his gay relationship with John Paul.

Troubled teen Bethany wants out of the Platts and the Street, but will she leave with nasty Nathan? Or will she have a change of heart?

It's hard to keep up with all the goings-on in the Street right now, what with Bethany being encouraged by Nathan to start a new life far away together and Billy and Todd about to get a new lodger in young Summer.

Meanwhile, Anna and Kevin have been having relationship woes. Kevin would like more passion, but will he look elsewhere for it? While teen love isn't running smoothly with Faye and Seb, especially when Anna finds!

And when Roy walks in on Brian and Cathy, will he finally twig that his best pal is dating his ex-fiancée?!

Bethany is all set to run away with abuser Nathan, but will worried Mary make her see sense and stop her from leaving?

Bethany is all set to run away with abuser Nathan, but will worried Mary make her see sense and stop her from leaving?

Anna makes a scene in the street when she spies Faye and Seb stealing a kiss, but will Faye listen to her when she's told to stay well away?!

As Billy and Todd meet with young Summer for lunch, will Todd warm to the youngster?

There's sad news about Summer's dad, Drew, when her gran turns up to tell her…

....that her dad Drew has died. What does the future hold now for the bereaved schoolgirl?

Geraldine coldly tells Billy and Todd to stay away from Summer… for good! Have the devastated couple lost out on a future with the youngster, which is what her dad wanted?

Tyrone gets jealous when Fiz chats to antiques specialist Kim and he suggests she looks at doing an antiques course herself…

When Anna discovers Faye is still seeing Seb, she rants about the situation with Kevin and Tim... Kevin doesn't help matters, but Tim has other ideas!

When fuming Tim decides to haul a frightened Seb into the cab office, what will he say to the youngster?

Kevin is in the dog house after upsetting Anna and Erica's moaning about Dev forgetting her birthday...

As the pair cosy up, dejected Erica leans in for a kiss! Will Kevin respond?

When Brian hears that Roy is going out for the evening, he decides to spend time together with Cathy in the flat...

WK25-Coronation-Street-The-Week-In-Pictures13

So when Roy goes straight home, Brian tries to throw him off the scent and hides Cathy in the bathroom! What will Roy say when he discovers the truth? Watch Coronation Street on ITV from Monday, June 19

When the Webster sisters fly into Weatherfield from Miami, trouble is not very far behind

Having spent the past few months in Miami with her sister Rosie, Sophie returns to Corrie with Rosie in tow!

Kevin is taken aback to see his eldest daughter – who left the Street in 2012 – while poor Anna is stunned by her whirlwind of an arrival. Rosie is weighed down with numerous suitcases, but it appears she has brought other, more suspicious, 'baggage' back from the States, too... as it's not long before the police come calling!

The Webster girls are back on Coronation Street – but what sort of trouble have they got themselves into?

The Webster girls are back on Coronation Street – but what sort of trouble have they got themselves into?

Kevin is delighted when Sophie returns from Miami and rushes out to greet her

As the pair hug, Sophie announces that she has brought back a surprise…

At that point Rosie emerges from the taxi and jumps into a speechless Kevin's arms

Both Kevin and Anna are staggered to see the amount of luggage Rosie has with her

When Rosie's around, there's never a dull moment – but why do the police pay the Websters a call shortly after her arrival home?

The detectives believe there are illegal drugs in the house and search the girls' cases. Meanwhile, young Jack is left totally bemused

Could Rosie be about to pay the price for mixing with the wrong crowd in Miami? Watch Coronation Street from Monday, February 6

Kevin Webster’s business is crumbling and he can only think of one way to get some money… But it means Anna has to relive her nightmare, says star Michael Le Vell

Kevin Webster’s garage business was doing well, then daughter Sophie got sick in America and Kevin had to pay her medical bills. He just about managed that, but then Pat Phelan set out to destroy him.

“Then there was the theft of Kevin’s new truck which has cost him 15 grand and, of course, the garage burning down which the insurance company are refusing to pay for because they say it was arson,” said Michael Le Vell, who plays the desperate mechanic.

And it was arson but Kevin didn’t do it and doesn’t know Phelan was behind it. In desperation, Kevin turns to his partner Anna for help...

 How can Anna help solve Kevin’s money worries? “He comes up with the idea to go after David [Jack P Shepherd] for compensation for Anna’s injuries. Kevin overhears a conversation in the Rovers and thinks it’s what Anna [Debbie Rush] is due. It’s not so much he is going after David, he’s going after what Anna should have been paid out for a very serious accident.”

How does Anna feel about it? “Anna doesn’t want to relive the horrors of it all and she shouldn’t have to really, if it’s just an insurance claim. But she doesn’t want to relive it all in her own head… What she went through was very traumatic.”

Has the accident put a massive strain on their relationship? “The accident and the financial mess they’re in have both put a strain on the relationship. Anna’s still in a fragile state of mind and is feeling vulnerable. I think they’ll get through it, though.”

Kevin and Tyrone’s friendship is also suffering because of the garage problems, isn’t it? “Yes. Kevin’s had to dip into the business funds to pay Sophie’s medical bill. Tyrone [Alan Halsall] and his family are already struggling, now everyone is feeling the knock-on effect from it all and Kevin’s talking about laying off Freddie [Derek Griffiths] or Luke [Dean Fagan]. He thinks it should be Freddie as he was last in, but Tyrone thinks the mess is all Kevin’s doing so he should get rid of Sophie.”

The mess is really all Phelan’s doing…Are you looking forward to Kevin finding that out? “Yeah – he has to find out at some point, it just depends what else Phelan [Connor McIntyre] has done in the meantime and what he gets away with. He knows Phelan’s a nasty piece of work, but he doesn’t think he’s so devious as to steal the truck and torch the garage. Kevin doesn’t know how bad Phelan is and just what’s he’s capable of!"

Coronation Street, ITV

Has the evil builder finally got his comeuppance after both Kevin and Andy attack him and he's left for dead

Anna's still in a fragile state after her accident, and after Phelan menacingly confronts her about sending the poisonous pen letters he's been receiving, Kevin is furious and flies at him in rage. But he's not the only one with a grudge against Phelan, as Andy suspects he had something to do with his father, Michael's death.

Out for revenge, Andy attacks Phelan in the cover of darkness, leaving him in a bad way. Kevin becomes the prime suspect, but will Phelan regain consciousness to reveal the truth, or will it be murder Kevin is suspected of?

As Phelan locks up the builders' yard, a shadowy figure creeps up on him and knocks him out cold with a brick

Earlier, Phelan finds out that he's been getting hate mail from disgruntled customers who have lost money on his development scheme

Meanwhile, Kevin discovers that Phelan has put the frighteners on Anna as she was the one sending the letters, and is determined he will pay for making her suffer

A seething Kevin accuses Phelan of setting out to destroy Anna

In true Phelan fashion, he mocks Kevin, who then lashes out at him

Luke steps in to break it up. Phelan's had a lucky escape… for now

This isn't the end of the matter…

Phelan gets the feeling he's being watched when he locks up later

A shadowy figure is definitely lurking…

He's behind you!

Take that! Andy thinks that Kevin will get the blame for attacking Phelan, now that he's found out from Luke that Kevin is gunning for Phelan, too

Not 'phelan' so great now, eh?

Not 'phelan' so great now, eh?

With Phelan unconscious in hospital, rumours spread that Kevin was responsible

As the police arrive to question Kevin, will Andy get away scot-free, or even worse, will Kevin end up being found guilty of murder? Find out in Coronation Street on ITV from Monday, December 12

Jenny’s back in Coronation Street – and then Kevin’s son Jack disappears. Has Jenny taken him again? Michael Le Vell tells Soaplife the answer…

Bad penny Jenny Bradley has returned to the Street and hasn’t been welcomed with open arms. But Kevin Webster isn’t as upset as some expected him to be.

“Kevin was extremely shocked to see Jenny again, but then he realised he could cope with having her close by and that she deserves a second chance,” says Michael. 

Until it looks like Jenny has snatched his son Jack… again.

First thing’s first, does Jenny’s return affect Kevin’s relationship with Anna?

“Well, things are a bit bit up and down with them, anyway. Kevin knows there’s something Anna [Debbie Rush] is not telling him about Phelan [Connor McIntyre] and they’ve had a few rows about this. She needs to be honest with Kevin if they are to have any kind of future together. As for Jenny [Sally Ann Matthews]: Kevin’s prepared to move on.”

Until Jack wanders off – and is found with Jenny…

“Kevin thinks the worst and doesn’t give her any chance to explain. He shouts at her in the street and shows her up. Sally [Sally Dynevor] and Sophie [Brooke Vincent] stick their oar in so Jenny doesn’t get chance to explain her side of the story.”

So how does the truth come out?

“It comes from Jack. He tells Kevin what really happened – he went to see Jenny on his own. Then Kevin realises he has made a terrible mistake and he apologises to Jenny.”

Where do Kevin and Jenny go from here?

“I think they can be friends again. They have lots in common and have known each other for years. If the relationship with Kevin and Anna hadn’t started then who knows what could have happened? He does tell Jenny that he cared a lot about her and that they had something special. If she had only opened up to him at the time, things could have been very different.”

Coronation Street, ITV

The cast of Coronation Street have revealed what's in store for the Weatherfield residents this Christmas and the most surprising revelation is a possible romance between Anna Windass and Kevin Webster!

Debbie Rush, who plays Anna Windass, revealed that her character will be getting more than she bargained for when she pops round to Sally and Tim’s house over the festive season.

Debbie Rush plays Anna Windass who’ll find romance this Christmas (ITV)

“She will start out by having a Christmas that is very dull but it turns out to be very merry, when an unexpected invitation to Sally and Tim’s house leads to a close encounter with Kevin Webster!” she revealed.

Eva Price is single after splitting from Jason (ITV)

Meanwhile, things look up on the love front for Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley) when she gets into the festive spirit when the flirty to-ing and fro-ing with boss Aidan Connor steps up a gear.

“I think the thought of Christmas depresses her a little bit because she’s single and she doesn’t know what she’s going to do. But actually things take a bit of a positive turn and there’ll be a lot of heavy flirting between Eva and Aidan,” she revealed.

Elsewhere in Weatherfield, however, secrets and lies will see love put to the test.

Tracy might not be smiling so much come Christmas (ITV)

Kate Ford confessed that her character Tracy Barlow could see her blossoming relationship in jeopardy as Rob Donovan plots revenge on her boyfriend Robert.

“She thinks she’s going to be having a very merry Christmas when she finds an engagement ring that Robert is hiding.

“She spends all Christmas day waiting for him to propose, but then Tracy’s been visiting Rob in prison behind Robert’s back so maybe it won’t go quite as well as she’d hoped,” she hinted.

Coronation Street’s Kevin is stunned and feels guilty when his ex-wife, Sally, kisses him, Michael Le Vell tells Soaplife.

Kevin Webster’s delighted that his ex-wife Sally is now engaged to his new best mate, Tim, so he’s in shock when, out of the blue, she kisses him. “It happens after Kevin’s agreed to help Sally try and buy Underworld,” Michael says. “But passion is the last thing on his mind.”

Sally’s impressed by Kevin’s business expansion. Does he realise this?

“Of course. She’s always liked Kevin in a suit. Sally’s always aspired to better herself or to be with a more successful man, so I think it comes as a bit of a shock for Sally [Sally Dynevor] to see Kevin in this new light.”

She’s certainly made clear she wishes Tim was more successful...

“Yeah, she rubs his nose in it, all right. Kevin’s laughed about it, saying to Tim, ‘She’s your problem now’. Kevin’s turned into the man Sally always wanted him to be and now she's putting pressure on Tim to be more ambitious and successful. You’ve got to feel a bit sorry for Tim [Joe Duttine].”

How does Kevin feel about Sally?

“They were together for a long time, but Kevin’s happy with the way things are now. He thinks Sally and Tim make a great couple, plus he’s got a new best mate in Tim.”

So he doesn’t encourage Sally’s kiss?

“For a second he responds, but he very quickly realises it’s wrong. Sally’s mortified by what she’s done and he knows, deep down, she didn’t mean it – it was a spur of the moment thing and didn’t mean anything. They were married for 20 years but that doesn’t make it OK. They’re both full of remorse – even though it was Sally who pounced not Kevin.”

They agree to keep the kiss a secret. Will it get out?

“I’m sure it will! I’m not sure how, but Sophie [Brooke Vincent] is quite suspicious. If Tim finds out, he’s not going to be happy and the wedding may be in jeopardy. Tim would be left doubting Sally’s true motives for marrying him. It would bring out a lot of insecurities in Tim.”

Should Sally be with Kevin or Tim?

“Tim! But when I’m out and about, I get the most comments about the Kevin and Tim ‘bromance’. The viewers really seem to like it.”

Coronation Street, ITV.

Like Ken and Deirdre before them, Sally and Kevin are one of those couples who are destined to be together – so it’s no surprise that a romantic reunion could be in the offing… 

Coronation Street's Sally and Kevin first got married in 1986, but divorced in 1999 after Sally discovered her husband was having a fling with the Natalie Horrocks (Denise Welch), the mother of his business partner, Tony. Three years later, in 2002, they remarried but separated eight years later when Sally discovered Kevin had done the dirty on her again, this time with the much younger Molly Dobbs, the wife of his new business partner Tyrone. Not only that but Sally discovered that he was the father of Molly’s son, Jack, who Tyrone thought was his.

Sally is in currently in a chalk-and-cheese relationship with window cleaner Tim, while Kevin’s foray into the world of online dating led him to have a romance with former Street resident Jenny Bradley, but it ended when she tried to kidnap little Jack.

Now, however, it looks like a reunion is on the cards for Kev and Sal when the twice-divorced pair have a cheeky snog.

But it was just a matter of time before Kevin had done the dirty again with Molly Dobbs - played by Vicky Binns.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "You’d think that two divorces would put you off trying a third time, but it becomes clear that there are still feelings there. The question is, will it go any further? If the past is anything to go by they could be set for a wedding hat-trick.”

Coronation Street fans have received an apology after the soap made a mistake in the recent storyline surrounding Maddie’s funeral.

“It must be hard burying one of your kids,” Kevin (Michael Le Vell) said, following Maddie’s death.

But, of course, Kevin would know just how hard it is… Fifteen years ago, he and his then-wife, Alison, lost their baby, Jake, who died of an infection shortly after his birth.

And that became a double tragedy when heartbroken Alison (Naomi Radcliffe) then killed herself, throwing herself under the wheels of a lorry.

“I’d like to thank viewers who spotted our mistake,” Corrie boss Stuart Blackburn told The Sun.

“Our episodes go through many drafts and are scrutinised by many people, but on this occasion we did make a mistake.”

Coronation Street continues on ITV, Monday, 15 June, 7.30pm.

Coronation Street’s Sally Dynevor has revealed she doesn’t think Sally and Kevin Webster should ever get back together.

The couple – who have been married twice – have been on and off since their first wedding in 1986. But Sally is currently in a relationship with Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine), who has become best mates with her ex, Kevin (Michael Le Vell).

And despite Sally and Kevin’s history, the actress likes things the way they are.

Corrie’s Kevin and Sally are still friends (ITV)

She told the Daily Star: “If you put Sally and Kevin together again what can you do with them?

“I like the modern family thing, and I think it’s more interesting.”

Joe Duttine plays Corrie’s Tim Metcalfe (ITV)

And the 51-year-old actress – who has been in Coronation Street for 29 years – also confessed she hates love scenes.

She revealed: “Every time I get a little scene where she's a bit frisky I’m like, ‘Oh no’. I don’t like being raunchy.

“Then when I go on the school run with my little girl, all the mums are going, ‘Ooh, err, I saw Sally last night’, nudge nudge kind of thing. I think my older kids are very embarrassed.”

Michael Le Vell’s personal hell continues as his former girlfriend claims that the actor “snorted cocaine during a threesome with her and one of his friends”.

Speaking to the Sun on Sunday, Blanca Fouche, 32, rubbished the 49-year-old Coronation Street star’s claim that he has only taken the illegal substance on two occasions.

Ms Flouche was dumped by the actor after supporting him while he was cleared of charges during his child-sex abuse trial.

She also said that she regularly saw the actor with white powder on his nose and that she suspected that he used the drug on a frequent basis during their seven-month relationship.

The actor has recently returned to his role as mechanic Kevin Webster but has been written out of the soap from the end of April, to give him time to address his personal problems.

It is not known when the star will return.

The mechanic returns to the Street and soon causes a stir...

Despite their best intentions, Marcus and Maria's relationship in Coronation Street has always been makeshift – and this week it falls apart, with help from Todd Grimshaw.

Maria tells Todd she's going to surprise Marcus at a showhouse, which gives him a devious idea. Soon Maria and Audrey arrive and walk in on Todd and Marcus snogging!

Is it curtains for the mismatched couple?

Watch the scoop on this and Kev's return in Coronation Street:

Coronation Street's Michael Le Vell reveals to Soaplife that Kevin gets some surprises when he returns to Weatherfield...

Does Kevin tell anyone he’s coming back home?

“Sophie - but there’s not much of a gap between him telling her and arriving in Weatherfield. He comes back to all kinds of traumas. He has his bag stolen by Maddie, finds out about Tim's living with Sally, and then discovers that the garage is in a mess. But he’s really glad to be home.”

How were things with Sally before he left?

“He definitely thought there was a chance of them getting back together. But that was 10 months ago and life goes on. He was the one who went away so he only has himself to blame. He doesn’t know what to expect now.”

Not Tim, that’s for sure!

“Kevin wasn’t expecting Sally to be living with another man already! He’s shocked and his nose is put out of joint.”

What’s his first reaction when he comes face to face with Tim?

“Kevin thinks Tim is an intruder because nobody has mentioned that he’s Sally’s new boyfriend. He thinks he’s is trying to steal Sally’s TV. He manhandles Tim out of the house in a headlock and that’s when Sophie tells Kevin who he is.”

How does Kevin feel when Tim tells him not to report Maddie to the police for nicking his bags?

“He feels a bit undermined and put out… mainly because Tim knows who Maddie is and seems to have more of a handle on Sophie’s life than Kevin does. He asks Sophie and Maddie what’s going on and gets a straight answer and Kevin, being Kevin, decides to support them.”

What happens when Kevin goes to the garage?

“He discovers Tyrone has run it into the ground. He’s got tax demands, bills all over the place and the main supplier has moved on so there’s so much work to do.”

Will he try to get Sally back?

“Kevin will never lose his feelings for Sally – there’s still a spark between them. But If anything, Tim will feel more jealous of Kevin than the other way round because he can clearly see that they have so much history and a parental bond he’s not part of.”

Having just returned to Coronation Street, Michael Le Vell is to take a break while 'seeking professional help' following his admission he used cocaine in the lead up to last year's child rape trial.

According to the Daily Mirror, the 49-year-old actor, who plays Kevin Webster in Coronation Street, confessed to the Sunday Mirror he took the drug in 'a moment of weakness' while awaiting trial on rape and other charges, from which he was cleared.

Following a meeting with Coronation Street producers on Tuesday, Le Vell will take another break, having been back filming on the street for seven weeks.

An ITV statement said: "Coronation Street and Michael Le Vell have mutually agreed that he will take a break from the programme while he seeks professional help for personal issues."

The mother of a girl who claims Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell raped her broke down in tears as she described the moment her daughter told her about the alleged abuse, a court heard.

Le Vell, 48, who plays car mechanic Kevin Webster in Coronation Street, is facing 12 charges in all - five counts of rape, three of indecent assault, two counts of sexual activity with a child and two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

The victim's mother sobbed as she relived the moment when she heard about the allegations for the first time. She told Eleanor Laws QC, prosecuting, that her daughter said: "I just remember all the times he (Le Vell) raped me."

She said her daughter spoke about the alleged abuse after attending a self-help conference and that her daughter was 'very calm' and told her that she remembered the alleged attacks 'all the time'.

The woman, who cannot be identified, broke down in the witness box and shakily took a drink of water before carrying on.

Asked by Ms Laws what she thinks happened to her daughter, she replied: "I believe he (Le Vell) had molested and abused her on a regular basis and there have been a number of rapes."

The girl's mother described how she went to Le Vell and confronted him after her daughter told her of the alleged abuse. She told the court she said to Le Vell: "She's made an accusation. You raped her when she was younger."

She told the court: "Before I finished that sentence he said, 'Oh you are joking! This is a joke! It's a joke! You are having a laugh!'... He never asked what she said."

She said her daughter later told her how Le Vell used a teddy bear against her mouth while raping her and he would force the girl to give him oral sex.

The witness said: "In the car she said, 'It's happened a lot more than I'm making out Mummy. It's a lot worse.'

She said, Mummy, you don't want to know.'"

Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell raped a young girl as she clutched a teddy bear, a court has been told.

The actor, 48, who plays Kevin Webster in the ITV soap, is facing 12 charges - five counts of rape, three of indecent assault, two counts of sexual activity with a child and two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Le Vell, on trial at Manchester Crown Court under his real name Michael Turner, denies the offences.

Judge Michael Henshell warned the jury: "The man on trial is Michael Turner, not the character he plays."

Eleanor Laws QC, prosecuting, then began the opening address, telling the jury Le Vell was a 'heavy drinker'.

Ms Laws said the abuse began when Le Vell slipped his hand under the girl's clothing. The abuse progressed to Le Vell allegedly forcing the girl to touch him, with her 'too frightened' to do anything, the court heard.

The first time he raped the girl, she clutched one teddy bear while Le Vell put another teddy bear over her mouth, it's alleged. "It's OK. I'm making the evil stop once and for all now. It'll be fine," he allegedly told her. He then raped the youngster, kissed her on the cheek and left, the court heard. The jury heard that on another occasion Le Vell raped the girl orally.

The girl was 'scared' and did not understand what was going on during the abuse, the jury was told.

Le Vell allegedly told her: "It's our little secret, no one needs to know otherwise... you'll die and the evil will come over you."

Ms Laws said Le Vell would speak to another adult, who cannot be named for legal reasons, about his problems and referred to a 'secret' he had and said the adult would 'not believe what was inside his head'.

The prosecutor added: "On another occasion he stated that he was 'unforgivable' but would not say what he had done."

he girl later broke down in tears and police were called.

Le Vell, who lives in Hale, Cheshire, was initially arrested in September 2011, but the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to proceed. But after a review of the evidence Le Vell was re-arrested and charged in February 2013.

At his first arrest he answered all the questions put to him, Ms Laws said. "In summary he denied the allegations made. He said that she was a fantasist and an attention seeker."

After his arrest the second time he declined to answer any further questions and provided police with a prepared statement, again denying all the allegations.

ITV has said Le Vell will not be appearing in any further episodes of Coronation Street pending the outcome of legal proceedings. The trial continues.