JONATHAN GUY - LEWIS, THE SUN, THE TV MAG, MARCH 31ST - APRIL 3RD 2001.
LOOK HOSE BACK!
A familiar face is returning to Blackwall with a score to settle.
Chris Hammond left Blackwall under a cloud. An affair with George's wife Kelly and his gambling made it impossible for him to stay at the station.
Hammond's Blue Watch collegues thought they'd seen the last of him. But in this week's London's Burning, Chris makes a shock reappearence at the christening of Pearce and Fiona's baby Eve.
What's he doing back after all this time? Jonathan Guy Lewis, who plays Chris, explains: "He's got unfinished business with George. He's back to clear things up. Chris was turned into a bit of a shyster before, which really wasn't true to him. Now he gets the chance to put things right."
George can't forget Chris for having an affair with Kelly. Thought he and Kelly are now divorced, seeing Chris stirs up a lot of emotion.
"Chris is shocked to see both Kelly and George at the christening," says Jonathan, 35. "He and Kelly parted on good terms but George is not happy to see him talking to her. So let's just say things get rather physical."
Though he's only back for four episodes, with Chris Hammond now a fire investigator, Jonathan could have a hand in lots more. He wrote the recent episode about the tunnel explosion and there are more in the pipeline. But he isn't turning his back on acting.
"I like to do both," he says. "I recently started a production company with Tom Craig, who plays Simon Goddard in Where The Heart Is. He's going to be in a play The Club, which I'm directing.
"I've also been commisioning to write a play and my wife Miranda Foster and I are writing a big drama series for ITV."
Jonathan, who lives in London with actress Miranda and son Abraham, is equally well - known for his stint in Coronation Street as love rat love rat Ian Bentley, the man who cheated Sharon Gaskell with Natalie Horrocks.
"I had a great time in Corrie," he said fondly. "I recently read that the Easter special wedding episode was one of the most watched programmes of the Nineties, after Princess Diana's funeral and England v Argentina in world Cup 98. It got over 20million viewers. I suppose people just wanted to see what would happen.
"I'd love to go back, but Ian would have to make up with Rita first. I've always thought it was her he really wanted!"
