Mike Toolan's son Luca has landed his first TV role as a baddie in Coronation Street 👏
He will play the role of bad boy Mason
Congratulations are in order to Luca Toolan, son of our Drivetime presenter Mike Toolan, as he has landed a new role on the iconic TV soap Coronation Street. 👏
Despite keeping the audition process secret from his dad, 19-year-old Luca will join the cast as a Year 11 student at Weatherfield High called Mason, as Corrie is set to tackle a new storyline around bullying.
Speaking about the moment he found out about his son's new role, Hits Radio's Mike said: "I was actually on air with Brooke (Vincent) and he called me to say 'I’ve got a job!'
"I thought he meant he would be playing a corpse in Casualty, but he went on to tell me he was the new baddie in Corrie!"
Playing Mason in Corrie is Luca's first proper TV role, and Mike told us he was thrilled at the news, explaining: "He has worked every hour studying every great School of Acting, analysing performances on TV and signed up to every acting class within a 30 mile radius.
"To join a TV show that he has watched since a kid, and that his Granny's favourite show (she’s watched every episode) is an absolute dream come true."
In what Luca has described as an "intense" character to play, he will play one of the students who is making fun of Ruby Dobbs, Tyrone's daughter.
When Luca was asked who he first told when he got the part, he said: "First thing I did was rang my dad. I didn't actually tell anybody about anything, not even the first self-tape, because I'm very superstitious.
"I also didn't tell him about the screen test so he was surprised. Obviously he knows I'm into acting, but he was like, 'What? What do you mean?' Because usually I tell him about all my auditions, and this was the first one I didn't. He was just in complete shock. He knows how much of a big deal it is and understands how lucky I am to be in the position that I am.
"I also rang my Grandma as she is a massive Corrie fan, she didn’t believe it and thought I was pulling her leg!"
The new Corrie storyline will unfold this autumn, and will see bad boy Mason take Dylan Wilson, (played by Liam McCheyne) under his wing, targeting Liam Connor as their new victim.
Speaking about his new role as the bad boy, Luca said: "Well, obviously I had a little bit of insight into the character from the self-tape, but all I really knew was that he is a bad guy.
"I found out about the extent of the storyline on my first day through Liam and Charlie as they were given a lowdown as to what’s happening. They told me it was going to get dark. It’s exciting to be here but there’s also more pressure and responsibility to do this storyline justice."
Who is Mason?
Mason is a new character on Coronation Street, played by Luca Toolan. He is a 'bad boy' and is the centre of a storyline line around bullying.
When is Mike Toolan on Hits Radio?
You can hear Mike every weekday afternoon from 4pm along with Brooke Vincent.
Take a look through the presenters on Hits Radio:
Fleur East
Gemma Atkinson and Mike Toolan
Sam Thompson
Sarah-Jane Crawford
Hattie Pearson
Tom Green
Jennie Longdon
Matt Crabb
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