Flintshire’s Ian Puleston-Davies is enjoying life on the famous cobbles. Here he talks about the street and his latest role as a host for Age Concern North East Wales’ mid-summer charity dinner dance

A CORONATION Street actor has no doubt who is responsible for setting him on the road to a hugely successful stage and screen career – an inspirational Flint High School teacher.

Ian Puleston-Davies, who plays builder Owen Armstrong in Britain’s longest-running and most popular soap, says he owes a great deal to drama teacher Chris Nichols who inspired him when he was a pupil at the school in the early 1970s.

Speaking after he agreed to host Age Concern North East Wales’ mid-summer charity dinner dance on Friday, June 22, at the Village Hotel, Ewloe (formerly St David’s Park Hotel), Ian says he has no doubt he owes his career to that one inspirational teacher.

He said: “Absolutely, Mr Nichols gave me so much confidence and was so influential that I just thought if that is what drama is all about I want some myself. I never looked back I don’t suppose. I guess if Mr Nichols had been a chemistry teacher I might have been a chemist!

“However, mine was the traditional way into acting. Thanks to Mr Nichols I enjoyed drama so much in school I joined a drama club, then Clwyd Youth Theatre before going on to study at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

“I was lucky enough to land some theatre work after I graduated and I have been pretty busy, touch wood, ever since to be perfectly honest.”

And Ian’s stage and screen credits pay testament to both his acting ability and penchant for hard work and being prepared to tackle any role.

Ian has performed on the stage of most major UK theatres from Bristol’s Old Vic to Manchester’s Royal Exchange in plays as varied as She Stoops to Conquer and Everyone Loves a Winner.

He said: “I have been an actor for more than 30 years and initially was really happy with theatre work. You don’t get a second chance on stage, there’s no one to shout ‘cut’ if you mess up. It’s a different buzz really, a different way of working and you need to be spot on every minute you are on that stage.

“However, I landed a few television roles in the early 80s including Brookside and Boon and thought I really like this medium. Ever since I have been lucky enough to work mostly in television although I still jump at the chance to get back on stage whenever I can.”

And Ian’s television credits are certainly impressive having appeared in series such as Grange Hill, EastEnders, The Bill, Life on Mars and Waterloo Road before becoming Corrie’s Owen Armstrong in 2010.

Ian said: “I have been very lucky to have been so busy for so long I suppose. I do enjoy soaps which are obviously so very different to costume dramas such as Tess of the D’Urbervilles, a 2008 four-part drama in which I played the role of John Durbeyfield.

“I am thoroughly enjoying Coronation Street and it’s great to be involved in such a national institution. The programme is part of the British way of life almost although there’s a lighter side to it and plenty of humour.

“I also think it plays an important role in opening up debate by examining issues that otherwise might not necessarily be openly discussed.”

And Ian has just witnessed the impact a storyline can have on the nation after his character slapped his adopted daughter across the back of her legs as a punishment.

The storyline was front-page news in some tabloid newspapers while the debate over corporal punishment raged across the nation for weeks.

Ian said: “It was an extraordinary reaction and really opened up the debate on discipline and was is acceptable and what isn’t. I had people coming up to me in the street saying what Owen did was justified and the right thing to do while others were very certainly not at all in favour.

“Personally I would never smack my own children but I was surprised when even members of my own family, people I thought would never agree with what Owen did, came out and said it was the right thing to do in the circumstances he found himself in.”

He added: “It was an amazing reaction to a storyline and really brought it home to me the role that Coronation Street has in bringing important issues to the fore and opening up debates.

“I was warned before I joined Coronation Street as a regular cast member that the attention I would get from the public would be in a different league to what I was used to and, believe me, they were right.

“I was used to the odd tap on the shoulder in a supermarket and being asked for an autograph or to pose for a mobile phone picture. However, nothing prepares you for the attention you get as a Coronation Street character!”

However, Ian says it’s all positive and he enjoys interacting with the legions of Coronation Street fans.

He said: “How could you get tired of people when they are so polite and clearly love what you do? I have no problems whatsoever with Corrie fans approaching me.”

He added: “I now live in Chester with my partner Sue and our two children, Maggie, who is five and Charlie, our son, who is not quite one. I really enjoy it, having moved back north. I lived in London for more than 30 years but feel so much more relaxed now we are in Chester.”

He added: “Mum and dad still live in Oakenholt and most of the family still live in and around Flintshire so it was definitely like coming home when we moved to the North West. I certainly have no desire to return to London if I am honest.”

And Ian says he was only to happy to support Age Concern North East Wales by acting as host for their June mid-summer charity dinner dance.

He said: “I was approached by the chief executive officer Margaret Hanson and had no hesitation in saying yes. I do get asked to do a lot and to be honest, very often I just have to say no as you only have so much time available.

“However, Age Concern North East Wales is a charity I feel we should all really support if we are to tackle social exclusion and support older people in times of austerity.

“My role is to meet and greet guests on the night and to act as a host while the guest speaker is Katie Hopkins who shot to fame on The Apprentice after becoming the only contestant to ever dare to say no to Sir Alan. I know she is a fabulous and very humorous after dinner speaker.

“And with a big auction of some fabulous lots and a big raffle on the night it promises to be a wonderful evening of entertainment. I will see you there!”

And Mrs Hanson says she is delighted Ian Puleston-Davies agreed to host the evening.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Ian, who is of course proud to be ‘off’ Flint, has agreed to support us. We are really looking forward to what will be a very special night.

“Ian is absolutely right when he says Age Concern North East Wales needs support if we are to tackle social exclusion and support older people during these difficult economic times and beyond.

“We would love to see companies support us by buying whole tables although we are also happy to support small groups or even individual people requiring tickets.”

Tickets are available at £400 for a table of 10 or individually at £40 each. The dress code for men is lounge suits and smart evening wear for ladies.