Mikey North tries to overcome driving 'phobia'

Mikey North signed up to \'All Star Driving School\' to try to overcome his "phobia" of motoring.

The \'Coronation Street\' star - who plays builder Gary Windass in the ITV soap - decided to learn to drive after he was mocked by his friends because he can\'t get behind the wheel aged 31, but he isn\'t sure why he opted to have lessons on national TV.

When asked if he was nervous about the show, he replied: "Absolutely terrified! When I was 17 I moved to London and I didn\'t need to drive, and now I\'m 31 and get stick from my friends.

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"It\'s become a bit of a phobia of mine, and so for some stupid reason I thought, \'Let\'s go on national television and learn how to drive in front of everyone!\' "

Mikey deliberately moved to a flat as close as possible to Corrie\'s Manchester studios so he could walk to the set in just seven seconds, but admits he takes a lot of taxis to other places.

He said: "Uber is going to go out of business if I pass. I used to live opposite the studios at work and so that was easy enough.

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"I purposely moved to the closest possible flat to the entrance of the studio and it was a 7 second walk to work."

Mikey admitted another one of his reasons for learning to drive was to save his wife Rachael Isherwood - who he has 18-month-old son Archie with - from having to transport him around all the time.

Speaking to What\'s On TV magazine, he added: "I did it for my little boy, who is almost two, and also for my wife.

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"She\'s sick of ferrying me everywhere to be honest. If I pass it will open up a whole new world for me, everyone has always told me that it will be life-changing."

\'All Star Driving School\' sees celebrity learners paired up with driving instructors to take part in an intensive driving course.

This year\'s series will also feature pop star Vanessa White, Made in Chelsea\'s Victoria Baker-Harber, comedian Mark Watson, singer Tallia Storm, The Vamps\' Tristan Evans, \'Hollyoaks\' actress Ruby O\'Donnell and \'Famalam\' actor Tom Moutchi.