(Image: Mike Simmonds)
A Coronation Street legend has spoken about his next role where he will play a "charming, conniving and cut-throat" villain.
Ryan Thomas, who played Jason in the ITV soap for decades, will play Captain Hook in this year's The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan at the Alhambra Theatre.
The actor says he is already familiar with Bradford, regularly visiting friends in the area and naming Mezza in Legrams Mill as one of his favourite local restaurants.
He will play the role for the third time and revealed how he once accidentally took to the stage without his character's trademark hook.
Billy Pearce and Ryan Thomas outside the Alhambra Theatre for The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan, which opens in December. (Image: Mike Simmonds)
'We've got no hook'
Thomas admitted there was one performance where he made it all the way to the side of the stage before realising something was missing.
He said: "I've actually got to the side of the stage and realised I've not got my hook, so I've had to put my hand behind my back and just walk on and improvise."
The actor joked that despite the mishap, you "can't be Hook without the hook", making the moment even more memorable.
Returning to one of his favourite roles
Thomas said he had no hesitation about returning to play the iconic pantomime villain when he was offered the role again.
"I've played Captain Hook before, so when they asked me to play Hook again, I was like, yes," he said.
"I get to play my favourite panto villain."
Ryan Thomas brings the villainous Captain Hook to life (Image: Mike Simmonds)
Inspired by a Hollywood classic
The former soap star revealed he has taken inspiration from Dustin Hoffman's portrayal of Hook in Steven Spielberg's 1991 film Hook.
"I always compare the Captain Hook I'm going to play to Dustin Hoffman's version," he said.
"That's one of my favourite films and I still watch it with my kids now."
Thomas added that one of his children is such a fan of the character that they actually prefer Hook to Peter Pan.
Why he loves playing the villain
While many actors dream of playing the hero, Thomas said there is far more fun to be had on the darker side.
He said: "I think playing the bad guy is so different from anything else and you can experiment so much more, you can have a bit of comedy in there, you can be a little bit evil, you can be a little bit nasty and get away with it. It's not something you can do in everyday life."
Thomas also said audience interaction is one of the highlights of pantomime, explaining that the louder the boos, the better.
Looking forward to Bradford debut
This year's production marks Thomas's first appearance at the Alhambra Theatre.
Although he had yet to step inside the venue at the time of speaking, he said he had heard glowing reviews from friends.
"I've been told it's incredible," he said.
"I'm looking forward to actually getting in there and being a part of the Alhambra because it's so well known."
The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan opens at the Alhambra Theatre on December 5 and runs until January 17.