Coronation Street to introduce first Muslim family
ITV soap Coronation Street is to have a Muslim family as part of its cast for the first time in its 53-year history.
The new additions will be related to widowed father-of-two Khalid Kal Nasir, played by former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Jimi Mistry.
He will be joined by his father Sharif, played by Marc Anwar, and his mother and children, who have yet to be cast.
Producer Stuart Blackburn said it was "bizarre" that they were "the first Muslim family that Corrie's ever had".
EastEnders introduced its own Muslim family, the Masoods, in 2007.
Nasir arrived in Weatherfield last month and is set to go into business with long-running character Dev.
The character's arrival has led to the addition of a gym to the soap's new set at MediaCityUK in Salford.
Mistry, 41, appeared in EastEnders between 1998 and 2000 and has starred in such films as The Guru and East is East.
Born in Scarborough in 1973, he married his former Strictly partner Flavia Cacace in December.
Anwar was recently seen as one of Tom Hanks' crew members in the Bafta-nominated Captain Phillips.