AS Stephen Beckett prepares to take to the stage in what he calls his dream role, there's a nagging question to which he needs an answer.

"Does anyone know if I'm a father or not," he asks with a laugh to the cast of Private Lives during a break in rehearsals."Apparently I am but I haven't been watching."

Stephen's role in the Noel Coward classic, which opens at Bolton's Octagon Theatre next week, is far removed from his days as Matthew Ramsden, the GP with the ultimate bedside manner in Coronation Street, but he couldn't be happier.

"This has always been one of those parts I've wanted to do. Invariably my character Elyot, is cast as being a lot older and I just jumped at the chance when I was offered it," he said.

As to the question of impending fatherhood, it's all to do with his on-screen affair with Maxine, played by Tracy Shaw, in Britain's favourite soap. Recent episodes have shown him to be the father of baby Joshua.

Having appeared in both the Street and the Bill, doesn't Stephen get a little fed-up to see his name forever being associated with shows he is no longer part of?

"That's the nature of the business these days," he says. "You can't pretend that you weren't in a particular show. It may be that a lot of people will come to the theatre for the first time because of that and if they enjoy the show the chances are they may come to further productions."

In Private Lives, Stephen is part of a small cast getting to grips with the subtleties of Noel Coward's writing.

"We are keeping it set in the '30s because if you take it out of its period, the play really doesn't work too well," he said. "It is such a magnificent play with some of the funniest lines every written. But as an actor you can't set out to try and make them funny. There's a golden rule in comedy that if you act for laughs you won't get them.

"It's all about trusting the dialogue and keeping the pace going. It does require a lot of concentration on the part of the cast but it promises to be a fabulous production."

Private Lives marks a welcome return to the Octagon for Stephen. He last appeared in the Blue Room in 2000 where he met his future wife, Emmerdale actress Anna Brecon.

"It's such a great theatre space which has a lovely intimacy about it," he said.

Private Lives opens on Thursday night and runs until Saturday, April 5. For details contact the box office on 01204 520661.