AN ACTOR who decided to pursue his dream nine years ago enjoyed the "brilliant experience" of appearing in Coronation Street.

Keith Hyland, from Eccleston, portrayed a hospital porter in the ITV soap, and the character hit TV screens on Monday evening this week, January 24.

As regular Corrie character Tim Metcalfe underwent open heart surgery, Keith performed in scenes in the hospital, taking him to surgery and exchanging dialogue on the ward before and after his operation.

Keith, 49, began pursuing his acting dream nine years ago after giving up his estate agency and financial services business, starting off by doing some extra work.

He has since done work on stage, in television and film as he continues to develop his career and has recently began a three-year Filmmaking Degree at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

"It was a brilliant experience, they treated me like family," said Keith.

"My agent put me forward for it, I had to do a self-tape and sent that to the casting team at Corrie.

"I thought I hadn't got it because it had been several days but I got a nice email to say I'd been accepted.

"I got the script through the post, that was a nice exciting moment getting the script."

Keith's performance has won some praise from viewers.

St Helens Star:

Keith in Coronation Street

"They said he had a lot of character, he was quite a 'charcaterful' porter. Things are going in the right direction, it was one of the boxes to do Coronation Street!"

Previous projects Keith has worked on has included being in Elite World Cops with ex-Manchester United player Lee Sharpe. He has also had 'walk-on' roles in Peaky Blinders and previously in Corrie as a service supervisor for character David Platt.

Dad-of-six Keith added: "I enjoy being on set but I wanted to be more than an extra in the background.

"I started to go out of my comfort zone, I did theatre, a play called King of the World, because it scared me, I wanted to have nowhere to hide.

"I was bitten by the bug. It has not been easy, it's not something that's happened overnight. I kept trying to find different challenges for myself and work hard.

"I kept progressing from extra to non-feature roles to being casted in feature films and TV programmes. I wanted more dialogue and bigger and better things to put food on the table and provide for my family.

"It's something I enjoy doing, and they say if you do something you enjoy you never work a day in your life.

"I'd like to thank my agent Atius Management, they have been great."

Keith has two feature films due out this year, J1S, a sci-fi movie and Billy Smith, in which he portrays an Arkansas sheriff.

For anyone wanting to be an actor or pursue a personal dream, Keith message is: "You're never too old, that's my motto.

"Dream big and you never know."

Rugby league fan Keith also hosts an online show about the sport, called The Dockhouse Rugby Show, alongside childhood friend David Pye.