Potteries darts ace Phil 'The Power' Taylor will appear in Coronation Street tonight.

Taylor joins the ITV soap as specially-created character Disco Dave.

Coronation Street is on ITV at 7.30pm and 8.30pm.

The story below was first published on December 12, 2008.

DARTS legend Phil Taylor is to star in Coronation Street as specially-created character Disco Dave.

The Burslem-born thrower was recruited for the Manchester-based soap after chatting with the cast in the celebrity opening rounds of ITV's Grand Slam Of Darts.

Phil, aged 48, competed against Michael Le Vell, who plays Kevin Webster in the programme, when he retained the title last month.

Now, ITV producers have persuaded the 13-time world champion to make a guest appearance in an episode of Coronation Street to be shown on February 2.

He will play a talented darts player from rival pub The Flying Horse, which takes on a team from the Rovers Return Inn led by Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson).

Phil said: "It's a huge honour. My whole family are huge fans. They're all girls and Corrie-mad.

" I've always fancied a game of darts in the Rovers, especially against Kevin.

"I usually clear my diary in the run-up to the World Championship, but I made an exception for this. I'll use the experience as a warm-up for the tournament."

Phil will visit Granada Studios in Manchester twice over the next few weeks to film the episode.

He expects to feel quite at home on the Coronation Street set as he has met many of the characters at darts tournaments over the years.

As well as Michael Le Vell, he has played against Steven Arnold, who plays Ashley Peacock, Kim Marsh, who plays Michelle Connor and Alan Halsall, who plays Tyrone Dobbs.

He said: "They're all friends and they're into darts, so I expect they'll make me very welcome.

"Kym Marsh has been a friend of mine for years. I met her on the Frank Skinner show. I've not played Simon Gregson before, but I have seen him in the studio.

"I've never done any acting before, but I think I'll be great. I'm always acting."

Phil's mother Elizabeth, who still lives in the house where he grew up on Blake Street, Burslem, said: "I am dead proud of him. I've been a Corrie fan since the days of Ena Sharples.

"All the family and local people will enjoy seeing him on the television."

The scenes, which will be shown in February, will see Kirk Sutherland (Andy Whyment), Ashley Peacock, Kevin, Bill Webster (Peter Armitage) and Eddie Windass (Steve Huison) enter a darts competition.

A Coronation Street spokesman said: "When we heard that Phil was a fan of the show and would love a walk-on part we knew he would be perfect as Disco Dave.

"We're sure he'll be giving some tips to the Rovers' darts team."

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