Former Coronation Street serial killer Graeme Hawley now working on a mate’s Christmas market stall

CORRIE serial killer Graeme Hawley is raking in the cash with a new role - working on a Christmas market stall.

Graeme, 43, starred as deranged ex-teacher John Snape in the ITV1 soap until he was killed off in 2011.

But he has struggled to find work ever since and is now plying his trade selling chilli jam in the run-up to Christmas.

Graeme posed for selfies with fans who spotted him in York and chatted about his acting career.

He told one customer who asked why he was working on a market stall: "It's better than panto."

Graeme, married to Where the Heart Is star Elianne Byrne, said he was working for a pal who owned Chilli Jam Man.

But he has also been snapped working on another stall in the city - selling festive chocs.

Dad-of-two Graeme joked: "I'm not the Chilli Jam Man. I'm the Chilli Jam Man's mate and I'm selling Chill Jam because the Chilli Jam Man's late."

It is quite a fall for Graeme, who killed three fellow cast members in his hey-day and kidnapped Rosie Webster, played by Helen Flanagan.

He played the ex-teacher for four years after joining the cast on the cobbles in 2007 and was nominated for Villain of the Year in 2009 at the Soap Awards.

He was again nominated for the same award in 2011 after his murderous storyline came to a dramatic end with his suicide - which kept the nation hooked.

Since then he has made various cameo roles including in Channel 4's mini-series National Treasure and taken to the stage.

In an online plug Chilli Jam Man said: "We thought we had enough scary things on our stall at York ... that was until Corrie serial killer John Stape joined us!

"He's going to be working on our stall Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, so if you're brave enough to face his menacing stare (and our scary chilli products) then come along and say hello.

"He may even let you go home to your family afterwards..."