Coronation Street actor David Neilson, who plays Roy Cropper on the ITV soap, was left red-faced after he was turned away from the set.

Coronation Street’s beloved Roy Cropper, played by David Neilson, was left red-faced after security failed to recognise him and denied him entry to the set.

The 75 year old actor, who has graced the cobbles since 1995, was caught on camera being turned away at the Manchester set’s gates.

In a video obtained by The Sun, Neilson is heard identifying himself to security as “Roy Cropper. I’m on the show.”

While waiting outside the black gates, Neilson was approached for an autograph, leading him to quip to the oblivious guards, “Why do you think I’m standing here signing these? Why do you think?”.

Fans have been quick to react to the footage, with one Instagram user joking, “The security guard probably didn’t recognise him after he had a shave and a bath.”

Another defended the guard’s actions but noted Neilson’s apparent rudeness, commenting, “He’s only doing his job, and how rude is Roy Cropper?”

Others chimed in with remarks like “Roy is raging! ” and “He doesn’t seem to be as gentlemanly as Roy in real life.”

Neilson’s character, Roy, is known to millions as the proprietor of Roy’s Rolls, and he has appeared in approximately 2,500 episodes over the years.

In addition to his long-standing role on Coronation Street, David Neilson has had a diverse acting career, featuring in numerous TV shows such as Z-Cars, Young at Heart, Survivors, Sons and Lovers, Blue Heaven, Bergerac, Casualty, Boys from the Blackstuff, Secret Army and Heartbeat. He even had a brief stint on EastEnders in the early 90s and showcased his singing talent on a celebrity edition of Stars in Their Eyes, impersonating Roy Orbison.

Beyond the small screen, David has also starred in two Mike Leigh films – Life Is Sweet and Secrets and Lies. In 2009, he took to the airwaves in God Bless Our Love, a heartwarming radio comedy about a priest and a nun who fall in love, leave their orders, marry and start a new life together.

Recently, David’s character Roy Cropper was embroiled in a dramatic storyline that saw him fighting for his life after being wrongly accused of murdering Lauren Bolton. Despite being exonerated and released from prison, he was targeted by a group of harassers upon his return to Weatherfield, leading to a violent attack.

However, with Lauren’s unexpected return and her shocking pregnancy news with villainous Joel, Roy’s name has been cleared.