Tom Wisdom may be best known for his TV stints on Coronation Street and Mile High, but now he's carving a name for himself in serious drama. JENNY SCOTT spoke to the actor about his latest role in World War One play Journey's End. . .

WITH work experience as a camp hairdresser and a frisky air steward to his name, Tom Wisdom's CV sounds like a resume John Inman would have been proud of.

But the former Coronation Street actor, whose family roots are in Blackburn, has also done his fair share of serious drama - particularly in the theatre.

And his latest stage production - the highly-charged World War One play Journey's End - has proved a major hit in the West End and is set to arrive at the Lowry next week.

"The houses have been fantastic - nearly full every night," said the 31-year-old, who plays the emotionally scarred Captain Stanhope.

"It's on the school syllabus now, so we've had lots of school kids in. There's been lots of cheering and laughter in the wrong places.

"But people are also very moved. The reception we've had has been quite amazing."

The play is set in 1918 - just before the biggest German attack of the First World War. It details the day-to-day existence of five officers and a cook, all living in the same trench, and is based on the writer R.C. Sherriff's own experiences.

Tom said: "It's really about the relationship between the men and how they cope with being in such a terrible situation.

"You just can't imagine it in this day and age. It's as fresh now as it's ever been."

The timing of the play has also proved crucial.

Ninety years have passed since the outbreak of World War One and its subsequent horrors and the play's emergence in the West End has served as a timely reminder of what Wilfrid Owen called "the pity of war".

"There aren't that many survivors from the war left, so the subject is even more poignant now," said Tom.

"My character - Captain Stanwick - is just 21 and he's been out on the front line for three years. He's become dependent on alcohol. That's his way of coping with what's happening to him."

An interesting role then - although a little more demanding than the air-and-hair crew Tom has played on TV.

"It's the most exhausting role I have ever played," agreed Tom. "It's very demanding, because Stanwick becomes quite paranoid and aggressive during the play. However, it's my favourite role to date."

Tom puts his success in the auditions for the play down to sheer luck.

"I'd like to say I could pick and choose, but I can't," he admitted.

Best known for his TV work - he played Dougie's hairdresser son Tom Ferguson in Coronation Street - he ducked out of Audrey Roberts' salon after a mere 11 months on the show.

"I didn't really have any big storylines," he said. "And I think the costume department thought I was supposed to be gay - they kept giving me these tight little tops to wear!

"I think in the end they decided to write me out. I was a bit put out at the time, but it's worked out well for me and stopped me getting typecast."

Following his time on the street, Tom switched to the skies in the satellite TV drama Mile High - described as Footballers' Wives on a plane.

"My character Marco was an air steward who had a crush on his tyrannical boss and kept having all these fantasy sequences about her," he said. "I left the show in series four, but they've kept it open for me in case I want to return."

Meanwhile, Tom's looking forward to being on tour again, having grown used to travelling the country during his early life.

His father, who came from Blackburn, was in the RAF, which meant Tom was born in Swindon and grew up on airbases in Swindon, Doncaster and Devon.

"I still consider myself to be a Northerner," he said. "And so far I'm enjoying the tour. The West End is alright, but it's a bit full of tourists."

Catch Tom in Journey's End at the Lowry's Lyric Theatre from Monday, September 27, to Saturday, October 2. For tickets call 0870 111 2000.