james murray says a three-episode turn on Coronation Street left him shaken and determined not to return to that production style after revealing the experience in a chat on Love Your Weekend on Sunday (March 15 ET). The actor said he played Sandy the barman for those episodes, calling the shoot “frightening” and describing a rapid, assembly-line filming process. He stressed the experience put him off that form of screen acting even as he later pursued theatre and other screen work.
James Murray on his three-episode stint
James Murray walked into the Rovers as Sandy the barman for about three episodes and found the pace and pressure overwhelming. He said he had been contracted for three episodes, which helped limit the run, but that the speed of filming — which he likened to “a sausage factory” — left little room for creative input. He described overlearning his lines, feeling “a mess, ” and physically “shaking and sweating” under the bright lights.
The actor singled out Bill Tarmey, who played Jack, as a calming presence on set. Murray recalled Tarmey cleaning a glass during their scene and noticing his nerves, after which Tarmey told him, “You’re shaking like a leaf, son, either stop shaking or think of doing something else. ” That exchange, Murray said, underscored how daunting the first screen acting experience had been and helped shape his view of soap production.
Immediate reactions from the cast and host
James Murray, speaking with Alan Titchmarsh on Love Your Weekend (March 15 ET), described the stint as his first introduction to screen acting and called it “frightening. ” He said the compressed filming rhythm meant actors essentially “stand on your mark, say your line, and we move on. ” Murray added that after this early television experience he told himself he did not want to be an actor “like this. ” The comment reflected immediate, personal reaction rather than a critique of colleagues, and he paid tribute to the professionalism he witnessed on the set.
Quick context
This brief Coronation Street appearance was, Murray said, his first screen acting job. After the experience he moved into theatre and other projects, and has since taken on numerous roles; most recently he played Raef Lonsdale in the 2025 drama series Wild Cherry, portraying a more nefarious character.
What’s next
Murray stated he will not return to that fast-paced soap style of production in the same way, but he continued to work in theatre and other screen formats after that early stint. He did not outline any immediate plans to revisit Coronation Street, and future developments will be announced through his ongoing projects and interviews.
