MARTIN Walsh must be doing something right on the set of Coronation Street.

For every time he has appeared on the soap he has been given a ‘promotion’.

The actor first appeared on the ITV series as a thief in 2003. He ‘changed his ways’ by playing a police officer in 2008, a detective in 2009 and then a detective sergeant last year.

“Last time I was in it I was arresting Callum during the live episode,” said Martin.

“Coronation Street is an institution, especially in the north west and especially in my family. We all grew up on it.

“It’s so slick, everyone there is so nice and it’s on my doorstep. It’s pretty much perfect as a job and to see the newly rebuilt set and studio facility at Trafford Park is a joy.”

Corrie is just one highlight of Martin’s distinguished acting career which dates back 20 years. The 45-year-old has also appeared on the likes of Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey and Shameless.

But now he is branching out into musical theatre with the first UK tour of Billy Elliot, the big Christmas show at Manchester’s Palace Theatre.

Martin plays Billy’s dad in the hit story about a youngster with a passion for ballet set against the backdrop of the 1980s miners’ strike.

He said: “It’s the first musical I’ve done. I’ve mostly done straight plays and TV so it was a left turn for me and one I’m particularly enjoying

“It’s a different experience travelling around to all these massive venues in major cities.

“I’ve always enjoyed singing in school, church and youth theatres but I’d not done it for years and had never done it professionally.

“It’s a bit surreal doing in front of these massive audiences. We’ve done it about 270 times now. It doesn’t feel normal but I’m getting used to it.

“I’ve always described it as good nerves and bad nerves. It’s good nerves now – it’s nerves that heighten you, keep you on your toes and keep you going. Not nerves that will destroy you or shake you to your core.”

So why does Martin think the story of Billy Elliot still resonates with audiences today?

He added: “There’s a thing referred to now called the ‘Billy Elliot effect’ which last year saw more boys attend the Royal Ballet School than girls. It has opened up avenues for boys to do these things.

“I also see political echoes today. Maybe the coal industry is now the steel industry. Maybe it’s the NHS. There are things and livelihoods under attack.

“It’s relevant to the politics of today with the cutbacks that seem to be attacking the poor and lowly. The miners went on strike not for more money but just to protect the industry, to protect jobs.

“It’s also harking back to community – people pulling together and looking after each other. They are things I was brought up on.

“It’s not gone but people used to look in on their neighbours, now they will tune into Emmerdale. That’s who they think their neighbours are.”

Martin is doing eight performances a week and by the end of his run he will have done a staggering 500 shows.

‘I’ve worked with many famous actors and many great actors and I have always found them to be the nicest people because they’re not threatened – they want you to be as good as you can be’

On tour he misses his wife Helen and kids Ana, six, and Zac, two while he is travelling.

“But the big bonus is that the production is in Manchester over Christmas which means he can go home to the family at this special time of year.

One of Martin’s smallest roles was also one of his most exciting – he played an innkeeper in the first episode of season four of HBO’s epic fantasy drama, Game of Thrones.

Martin said: “t’s a juggernaut of a show. It’s huge. It’s probably one of the most watched things at the moment.

“As a character it was probably one of my smallest roles but, like with Downton Abbey, you just want to be a part of these kind of things.

“It was shot like a film so it was very slow. We did one massive scene where there was a big fight and it took three-and-a-half days just to do that. It was fun. It wasn’t like real work.

“My mantra has always been I’d rather have a small part in something good than a big part in something bad.

“I’ve stayed true to that and have been fortunate to have had support roles or guest lead roles in episodes of pretty much everything I’ve wanted to do.”

But of all his work, Martin told Weekend that BBC Three’s The Crash is what he is most proud of.

The dad-of-two added: “It’s about kids who are driving home with two cars and one makes a silly mistake and goes to overtake at the wrong moment.

“It was about how that unfolded and how it reflected on the families. I played a man whose daughter died in the crash.

“That’s probably what I am most proud of because of the message it had. It was nominated for a Scottish Bafta because we filmed it up there.”

Billy Elliot the Musical, is at the palace Theatre, Manchester until Saturday, January 28. Details from 0844 871 3019