Emmerdale's Tony Audenshaw is learning a lot from new comedy character

Tony Audenshaw says writing and researching a new comedy character has been a "godsend" during lockdown.

The \'Emmerdale\' actor - who has played Bob Hope on the soap since 2000 - has been working on a fresh solo project amid the coronavirus pandemic, and it has helped him develop his craft as a performer.

He said: "Apart from baking bread, growing a beard and boozing more than usual I\'ve made a series of forty plus short videos in the shed, featuring a pipe smoking chap talking about unusual and mundane objects.

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"I shot and edited them on my phone and put them out on my twitter account @TonysTrials and have created a YouTube channel called \'In The Shed\'.

"It\'s been a godsend as the writing and researching have kept me busy and I\'ve learned a lot."

Tony has also been joining in with his fellow castmates and taking part in the Woolpack Sessions, which sees the soap stars - including the likes of Olivia Bromley (Dawn Taylor), Bradley Johnson (Vinny Ashdale) and Isobel Steele (Liv Flaherty) - delivering live music performances from their living rooms.

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He added: "I also helped set up a virtual version of our local quiz and did a song for one of the Woolpack Sessions.

"I\'m a bit of a club turn compared with the likes of Bradley, Isobel and Olivia who are proper musicians, but it was enjoyable to put together as my kids are both musos and it\'s always nice to work with them."

Tony has been keeping fit during lockdown, although he will be disappointed after the RideLondon charity event has been cancelled due to the health crisis.

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Speaking before the disappointing news was announced, he said: "I\'ve been cycling on a turbo trainer at home, half training for RideLondon which a team from work hope to be doing for Pancreatic Cancer UK. It\'s a 100-mile ride."