Coronation Street and Casualty actor Charles Dale reveals surprising new career 20 years after dramatic soap death

CORONATION Street star Charles Dale has revealed his surprise new career move 20 years after his dramatic soap exit.

The actor - who played Dennis Stringer in the ITV soap from 2000 to 2002 - will be swapping acting for politics as he stands for election at his local council.

Despite the change in direction, the Welsh star, 59, confirmed he is not retiring from acting.

"Long story short, I am standing for election for my local council," Charles wrote on Twitter.

"Today a staff member from my local paper came into my shop (another long story, and no, I haven’t retired) and asked me if I wanted to pay £50 to have my name and contact details put in the paper alongside the other candidates.

"I said 'no thank you', now I don’t know about what you, but I think that’s something a local paper should perhaps “report on” rather than charge for."

Charles' fans were quick to praise the star on his huge career move.

One wrote: "Well done you standing for election."

Another posted: "Well done, hope it all goes well for you. Keep us informed how you are getting on. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you."

A third added: "Best of luck fella hopefully less toxic than national politics."

Charles arrived on the cobbles back in 2000 and began a relationship with Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) later that year.

In late 2001 Dennis and Janice Battersby had an affair and left their respective partners to live together.

Les then tried to take his own life on New Year's Day but Dennis tracked him down and rushed him to hospital.

But the pair crashed, which resulted in Dennis' shock death and soap exit.

The actor is also known for his role in BBC's Casualty where he played hospital porter MacKenzie "Big Mac"; Chalker from 2007 until 2016.

He played Steve Lewis in the BBC Wales series Belonging from 1999 to 2009.

Charles has also made appearances in several dramas including A Touch of Frost, The Bill, New Tricks, Where the Heart and The Pembrokeshire Murders.