When Coronation Street needed a suave and charming con artist to stir up drama in Weatherfield, Nigel Havers was the perfect fit. Already a well-known actor,

his arrival as the smooth-talking Lewis Archer in 2009 turned heads and left a lasting impact on the show. Reflecting on his time on the cobbles more

than five years after his last appearance, Nigel shares what drew him to Britain’s most beloved soap. “Lewis had similarities to a role I played years ago in The Charmer,”

he explained. “The idea was to bring that type of character into Coronation Street, and I couldn’t resist. I grew up watching the show and always loved its humor. Villains are the most exciting characters to play, and Lewis certainly fit that mold.”

Lewis was first introduced as a male escort, appearing on the arm of the glamorous Claudia Colby. However, it was Audrey Roberts who truly caught his eye, and she soon became smitten with his charm. Their romance blossomed, and at one point, they planned to leave Weatherfield together. But Lewis’s true nature was eventually exposed—he was secretly deceiving the locals and, once discovered, he fled.

Despite his betrayal, Lewis made multiple comebacks over the next decade, always finding a way to win back Audrey’s heart while scheming behind the scenes. Nigel reveals that his recurring stints were due to prior commitments, but Coronation Street always welcomed him back with exciting storylines.

Among his most memorable exits was in 2013, when Lewis manipulated Audrey’s daughter, Gail, into believing they were running away together, only to con her out of a fortune. “People would stop me in supermarkets and tell me I owed Gail 40 grand!” Nigel laughed. “I’d joke that I was working hard to pay her back. That exit was fantastic—Lewis left a DVD message revealing his entire revenge plot with a dramatic monologue. It was a brilliant way to go!”

Beyond Coronation Street, Nigel’s career spans five decades, from Oscar-winning films like Chariots of Fire to hit TV series and reality shows. Now, he’s taking his stories to the stage with his first one-man show.

“I kept saying I was too young for a solo show, but then I realized I’d better do it before it’s too late!” he quipped. “It’s been great to put it all together and share the adventures of my career.”

Nigel’s time on Coronation Street came to an end in 2019 when Lewis suffered a fatal heart attack just as he was about to prove his devotion to Audrey. “It felt like the right time for him to go. He couldn’t keep coming back forever. I have huge admiration for soap actors—it’s a tough job, with so many lines to learn in such a fast-paced environment.”

Despite leaving the show, Nigel remains in touch with some of his former co-stars, including Helen Worth, who plays Audrey. He fondly recalls a humorous moment when his wife, spotting Helen in a queue at the butchers, jokingly called out, ‘You snogged my husband!’ The two have since become friends.