CORONATION Street villain Hannah Ellis Ryan will swap the cobbled streets of Weatherfield for those of Hexham.

For the actress, who plays Hannah Gilmore, the love interest of Jim McDonald in the ITV soap opera, will star in new play The River at the Queen’s Hall in December.

The Jez Butterworth play, set in the Tyne Valley, will be performed at the Hexham venue on December 5 by Durham independent professional theatre company Elysium.

Hannah, who plays the leading lady in the production, said: “I am so excited to be working with Elysium on this project.

“When I came across the theatre company, I knew I had to work with them.

“I’m really looking forward to visiting Hexham for the first time too. I have heard it is beautiful.”