Coronation Street newcomer Junade Khan has only just arrived on the cobbles, but viewers are already talking about his character, Idris Nazir.
While Idris continues to make an impact in Weatherfield, Junade recently enjoyed a special family moment behind the scenes. The actor’s wife and children visited the Coronation Street set on the very day his character made his debut. Scroll down to see what the actor has to say.
Idris Brings The Nazir Family Back Into The Spotlight
Many fans will know Junade from roles in Game of Thrones, Hollyoaks and Waking the Dead. However, this is not his first appearance in Coronation Street. Back in September 2008, he briefly appeared in two episodes as Saj, a short-term boyfriend of Rosie Webster.
Now, Junade has returned to Weatherfield as Idris Nazir. The role ties him to one of the soap’s most familiar families. Viewers first met the Nazirs in 2014 when Kal, his parents Sharif and Yasmeen, and his children Alya and Zeedan arrived on the Street. They made history as Coronation Street’s first Muslim family and quickly became involved in some of the show’s biggest storylines.
Over the years, the family faced plenty of heartbreak and drama. Kal died in a devastating fire, while Sharif’s affair caused tension within the family. At the same time, they worked hard to keep Speed Daal running. More recently, Yasmeen left Weatherfield in March 2025, leaving Alya as the only remaining Nazir on the cobbles.
Things changed when Idris walked into Speed Daal and immediately made his presence known. He stepped in when two inappropriate customers refused to pay their bill, helping Leanne Battersby and Brody Michaelis deal with the situation. Shortly afterwards, Alya rushed over and greeted her cousin with a hug.
Coronation Street: A Family Visit Makes His Debut Even More Special
Although Idris initially appeared to be helping out, viewers soon saw another side of him. Later, Brody caught him holding someone against a wall while demanding money.
Meanwhile, Alya warned Leanne about Idris’ reputation. Even so, Idris began taking Brody under his wing and soon developed a growing connection with Leanne.
Away from the drama of Weatherfield, Junade recently shared a heartwarming family moment. During the school half-term break, Gem and their children visited the Coronation Street set. The timing could not have been better, as the visit happened on the same day Idris made his first appearance on screen.
Sharing photos from the day, Gem wrote: “We loved visiting Jay at work yesterday, while it’s half term. Made even more special being the first day his character, Idris, was arriving on screen. The kids were very excited to stay up late at the hotel and watch Daddy’s arrival on the cobbles with him & spot the places they’d visited! They loved getting involved pulling pints at the Rovers and serving us at Roy’s Rolls.”
She also added: “We are all so proud of him. Thank you Corrie for being so kind and welcoming to us all, and thank you to everyone for all the lovely messages and support #KhansOntCobbles.” The family visit came shortly after Junade spoke about the reaction to his new role.
According to the actor, both his mum and mother-in-law were especially excited because they are devoted Coronation Street viewers. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Coronation Street spoilers and behind-the-scenes updates.