Fans are just discovering the unexpected Coronation Street icon in Hannah Montana | Soaps

If I told you that one Coronation Street resident had a surprise connection to Miley Cyrus, you’d probably think I’d had one too many pints in the Rovers’ Return.

However, a Weatherfield legend did indeed star alongside the singer, songwriter in actress in the Hannah Montana movie – and fans are losing their minds.

The classic Disney series first launched back in 2006 and ran for four seasons, following the life of teenager Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) who had a secret alter-ego; the international pop megastar Hannah Montana.

Twenty years later, Disney recently unveiled a 20^th anniversary special starring Miley, including live musical performances and a candid interview with Miley reflecting on the Hannah Montana phenomenon.

Amazingly, it has recently emerged that a classic Cobbles character was sharing the big screen with the Party In The USA singer long before they were scarfing down a bacon barm in Roy’s Rolls.

Of all the Weatherfield residents past and president, the very last person you’d imagine kicking it with Miley is Brian Packham, the loveably eccentric former headmaster turned proprietor of the Kabin.

Peter Gunn – who has played Brian since 2010 – portrayed journalist Oswald Granger in the Hannah Montana film, which earned over $150 million in cinemas worldwide.

His character was a scoop-hungry newshound obsessed with uncovering a story about Hannah Montana, ultimately tracking the diva to her home town and uncovering her shocking secret – that she was simply schoolgirl Miley Stewart in a blonde wig.

Reflecting on his role in the Hannah Montana film, Peter talked about his experiences on the Sofa Cinema Club podcast, hosted by fellow Corrie stars Colson Smith, Jack P. Shepherd, and Ben Price.

‘The weird thing is that I didn’t know who Miley Cyrus was when I was up for the part’ Peter admitted. ‘I can remember asking my eight-year-old son, ‘Have you heard of this Miley Cyrus?’”

His character was determined to uncover an exclusive story about pop icon Hannah, portrayed by Miley Cyrus. He ultimately tracked her to her home town and uncovered her enormous secret – that she was simply schoolgirl Miley Stewart disguised in a blonde wig.

Hollywood is a long way from Weatherfield, and Peter reflected on how it took some time to get used to the sheer scale of the production. “We’re in Nashville, which is her hometown, and I’m thinking ‘yeah, she’s a Nashville girl, so she’s going to be popular.’

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“But then the first week I’m there, in the evening I’m in the hotel room and put the television on and there’s a discussion about what Miley’s done that day. I thought why are they discussing that? Because they did every day.”

‘This was on the local news, and I’m thinking, ‘Flipping hell, she is big isn’t she?’ And then you realise as we’re going around wherever we go, she has security, people just go absolutely berserk.’

But Miley wasn’t the only pop sensation that Peter got pally with onscreen. Global pop sensation Taylor Swift also made a cameo in the film, and Peter recalls the chats they had between scenes.

“She was on tour and she turned up when we were filming and remember being sat on the makeup bus and she sat next to me and went, ‘Hi, I’m Taylor, and we were just having a chit chat.’ She was telling me about the tour and how she’s come to help Miley.”

Brian Packham first turned up on the Cobbles as a victim of identity theft courtesy of the most hapless serial killer in Soap history, John Stape, who had been using the name of a colleague to teach. Sticking around, Brian has become one of the most colourful and beloved characters on the Cobbles – and the fact that he’s part of the Hannah Montana legacy is sure to make fans love him even more.

Diehard Corrie viewers took to Facebook to express their shock and delight over Brian’s unlikely link to Miley. “Curious is this Brian that works in The Kabin in The Hannah Montana Movie,” Someone else responded: “Omg it is.” A third remarked: “All this time and I had no idea.” Another exclaimed: “Didn’t expect that!”

Miley Cyrus, if you’re reading this, one good turn deserves another. We need a Hannah Montana cameo on the Cobbles. Maybe her tour bus breaks down outside the Rovers and she comes in like a Wrecking Ball?

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