Coronation Street legend unrecognisable as he joins All Creatures Great and Small

Coronation Street icon Chris Gascoyne has stepped into the shoes of a new character after 23 years playing Peter Barlow on the ITV cobbles. Now the soap star, 57, has joined Channel 5 favourite series All Creatures Great and Small - playing Harry Coker, the owner of a dog track who needs an attending vet for his business.

In new clips from the series, Chris can be seen alongside Nicholas Ralph at the racetrack, looking completely unrecognisable from his days as Peter - best known for sporting his trademark leather jacket and white T-shirt. The new clips show him rocking a navy pinstripe suit and a trilby, complete with a waistcoat and pocket square.

Vet James Herriot is worried about the finances of the practice and agrees to treat the dogs at the track to earn some extra cash.

The official synopsis reads: "James arrives at Hensfield Racetrack and is put to work straight away, checking over the whippets. However, he soon wonders if there is something else afoot."

A clip acquired by Radio Times shows Chris taking on a strong Lancashire accent rather than the Mancunian tone Corrie fans will be used to.

It comes two years after Chris left Corrie, deciding to take an "extended break" from the soap with "no set date for return" and the "door very much left open" for him. His character Peter has headed off on an international journey by boat.

A source told The Sun at the time: "He loves working at Coronation Street but he's got a lot of things he wants to do and the time is right for him to take a break and pursue other roles."