Shayne Ward says Peaky Blinders is his dream role

Shayne Ward wants his next role to be on \'Peaky Blinders\'.

The 33-year-old actor recently left \'Coronation Street\' after three years when his character Aidan Connor took his own life, but the hard-hitting storyline hasn\'t put him off trying something darker as he enters the next stage of his career.

Asked about his dream role, he said: "I keep putting it out there, but \'Peaky Blinders\'. I\'m excited for whatever my next job is.

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"Any role is challenging, whether it\'s lighter or darker material. I\'ll go wherever I need to go.

"So I\'m putting it out there to the universe I\'d love to be in \'Peaky Blinders\', you never know! It would be amazing to do a big drama like that."

Shayne also addressed the impact of Aidan\'s exit from the soap, and the importance of touching on such serious issues in a way that encourages people to talk about them more openly.

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He added to RadioTimes.com: "The reaction has been overwhelming but in such a positive way. People are picking up the phone more to the Samaritans, it\'s been great how well \'Corrie\' have handled it.

"The story continues with David Platt, who admitted he felt suicidal trying to deal with being raped. It\'s a subject we need people to continue talking."

Shayne\'s comments come after his former \'Corrie\' boss Kate Oates recently admitted she would love to team up with him again.

The 'Peaky Blinders' movie has been officially greenlit by Netflix.

Kate - who is to produce the second series of ITV drama \'Bancroft\' - exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I knew Shayne the way so many people knew Shayne - as a singer. In giving him the story and watching him grow with it I think he can hold his own in any drama.

"I would love to work with Shayne again. Do you think he\'ll out price me? Have I created a monster?

"Well in a way I\'d kinda love that if that was true for him. He\'s done so brilliantly."