Coronation Street spoilers follow.
Coronation Street star Junade Khan has spoken exclusively to Digital Spy about Idris Nazir’s future on the cobbles – and it sounds like Nick Tilsley should be worried.
Idris has his sights set on buying Alya’s share of Speed Daal so he can run the business alongside his new girlfriend Leanne Battersby. This shake-up at the restaurant will soon put Idris on a collision course with Nick, who runs the Bistro nearby.
Junade chatted to us while taking part in a stylish photoshoot celebrating Corrie‘s nominations at the Inside Soap Awards 2026. The pictures appear in the new bumper issue of Inside Soap, which is out now.
You can see our exclusive behind-the-scenes video from the photoshoot at the top of the page, then read on for Junade’s full DS Q&A…
ITV
Hi, Junade! How does it feel to be up for Best Newcomer at the Inside Soap Awards 2026?
“It feels amazing. It was a surprise – I’ve only been on Corrie for a short term, so it was an honour really! I’ve been loving every single minute of it. I know there’s a lot of good actors who’ve been nominated so it’s just an honour to be in that category.
“I’ve also enjoyed doing the Inside Soap Awards photoshoot – it was a lot of fun. It was easy just taking some crazy pictures and it was light-hearted stuff! It’s nice to get out of the Corrie compound and do something a bit different.”
Why should fans give Corrie a vote in the Best Soap category this year?
“The storylines are really relevant. Even one of my storylines about the mould in Alfie’s bedroom. I’ve got two young children and as soon as I started doing this storyline, I went into my bedroom and my kids’ bedrooms and I started checking for mould. Just to see if there was any, and there was a little bit! It just makes you think about these issues.
“Theo’s domestic abuse with Todd was big, we’ve seen Betsy’s stroke more recently, and the Will and Megan story over the past year. There are lots of storylines and it seems that the fans have been quite gripped.”
How would you sum up your first few months at Corrie?
“Just brilliant. I had an idea about the character but I didn’t know that it would turn out this big. I just love working with Jane Danson who plays Leanne, and Sair Khan who plays Alya.
“I feel that when you’re on set, you can be creative and have fun. There’s not that much pressure – I just feel really happy and blessed to have this job. It’s an honour to be on Corrie and it has that sense of nostalgia when you’re walking along the cobbles. It’s like ‘wow, I’m on Corrie!'”
ITV
We recently saw Idris become a great source of support to Sam after he was discharged from hospital. Are you glad to see that softer side of him?
“I love the fact that they’re trying to make the character a bit more rounded and not just one-dimensional. There is a vulnerability there and there is a good side to him.
“I think Idris is a loveable rogue – that’s the picture we’re trying to paint. He’s not just a horrible villain. Whenever you’re playing any character, you have to find the humanity inside them and bring that out, so it makes it more real.”
We have seen Idris turn ruthless, though, and get Brody to do his dirty work! How far would he go down a villainous path?
“Corrie can really create some villains – we’ve seen it over the years with Pat Phelan and Richard Hillman. I don’t think he’s going to go in that direction, but let’s face it, this is Soapland and anything can happen!
“I think they are trying to picture him as a loveable rogue, but he does have a temper and he’s very ambitious. If he doesn’t get what he wants, then it can be a bit scary and you wonder: ‘Where could he go?’ We don’t know yet!”
ITV
How serious is Idris about his relationship with Leanne? Fans wouldn’t want to see her get hurt…
“I would never hurt Leanne, I love her! (Laughs.) I do feel like Leanne is good for Idris. She’s very real. He’s probably not used to those sort of girls in his life. He’s probably had a lot of trophy girlfriends, but Leanne is real and that’s what he loves about her.
“And Idris does love family –although he’s been the black sheep of his own family. There’s been a lot of dark history there, which will probably come to the forefront. But he is a family guy, he likes Leanne a lot and hopefully that stays the same.”
We’ve heard there could be a battle of the restaurants on the way…
“Nick and Idris don’t really see eye to eye. Idris sees Nick as a bit of a boring guy and he’s also done wrong to Leanne in the past, so that upsets him.
“Nick having the affair with Toyah was just despicable. Even though my character does some bad things, the affair was below the belt! Idris and Nick will have some beef. There’ll be restaurant wars, with the Bistro going against Speed Daal and plenty of shenanigans along the way…”
See a full Inside Soap interview with Junade in the new bumper issue of the magazine, out now, containing exclusive photos with him and five other cast members. Votes for the Inside Soap Awards 2026 can be cast by clicking here.
Coronation Street airs on weeknights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
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