Coronation Street legend lands new job on rival soap after 26 years on the cobbles and shock exit

CORONATION Street legend Martin Hancock is swapping the cobbles for a new role in BBC's Casualty.

The actor, who is best known for playing eco-warrior Spider Nugent on the ITV soap, will be joining the medical drama next week.

Martin, 56, is set to play newcomer Samuel Jankowski – a relation of show regular Indie Jankowski, played by Naomi Wakszlak.

Indie plays a fresh faced student paramedic on the show and has already been hailed an “icon” by fans.

The new role comes two years after Spider waved goodbye to the cobbles and to his on/off girlfriend Toyah Battersby.

Spider left afterToyah gave him an ultimatum– either stop working for the police or they were done.

He chose the force, and so he quit the cobbles once again after splitting from his true love.

Speaking to theManchester Evening News, Martin said: “Life's gone wrong between them. It's just bad luck and circumstance.

“What's been happening previously in Spider's life and what's been happening previously in Toyah's life have conspired to do them down at the end and it's sad. They're both very committed people but, for now, it's not workable.”

Martin did say he doesn’t believe it’s the end for Toyah and Spider, adding: “I don't think it's the end. I don't think it's the end of the story. These two will always have a bit of love there… I think he'll be desperately sad about the way things have ended.

“At the end of the day, whatever version of Spider we're talking about, Spider loves Toyah and so he's bound to feel sad. They're both going to feel sad.

“There's something between those two… it's a 25 year relationship, of course they're going to feel gutted they couldn't make it work this time.”

But Martin has hinted that there could be another comeback for Spider.

Asked if he’d be happy to return to the cobbles in the future, he said: “Yes,”;and laughing, he added: “That's how long it took for me to decide that one.

“I said it the first time around, the second time around, the third time around and this is the fourth time around, yeah of course. I love the show.”