FORMER Coronation Street star Sean Wilson showcased his new career in cheese during a visit to Cricklade yesterday.

Famed for his role as male nurse Martin Platt in the soap opera, Sean is currently enjoying life as an artisan cheesemaker and spent yesterday morning promoting his range of Lancashire cheeses at Hart and Son Butchers.

After huge success up north, Sean decided to bring his Saddleworth Cheese Company to Cricklade in what he called his ‘great south tour’.

He said: “It’s a busy life but like anything, when you do something that makes you happy it’s not a chore.

“I now enjoy producing lovely cheeses and having a chat to the customers about how handmade cheese is better than big companies.

“The plan was to make a cheese that is opposite to supermarket cheese.You can certainly taste the difference in it.”

The company boasts a range of Lancashire cheeses, named after popular northern phrases such as Mouth Almighty and How’s Yer Father.

Mouldons Picnic, a crumbly Lancashire cheese, has been awarded various awards, including a British Cheese Award, and Smelly Apeth recently won the Best New Cheese at the Dublin awards. After quitting Corrie Sean had stints on TV shows Waterloo Road, Masterchef and Dancing On Ice and it wasn’t until a chance meeting with Bob Kitching, a Lancashire cheesemaker, that he was able to realise a dream.

He said: “Originally it was just a pipe dream because I didn’t know anyone in the cheese industry. Then I was presenting a radio show on a Lancashire radio station where I met Bob, who knew the industry.

“I asked him questions and he said I seemed keen and interested so gave me his card, now here I am.”

When asked if he has completely retired from acting he said: “Not at all. If you are out of show business for a while agents just don’t ring you as much.

“Television has shot itself in the foot at the moment. It has spent a lots of money on the wrong things and has to now make things on the cheap, or in a reality show format.

“It’s fair to say Coronation Street has had to take that route but I had a lovely 21 years there.”

Sean has always had a passion for cooking and the science behind food and last year worked in Michelin star restaurant Northcote Manor in Blackburn.

Sean said: “I had a fab time there but it wasn’t for me because it’s working day and night.

“I have a young family so I wanted to work in the day and have my nights at home.”