For nearly half a century it has been the jewel in Manchester’s crown.

But there has long been a war of the roses played out across the cobbles of Coronation Street, with the occasional Yorkshire accent mingling with the flat Lancashire vowels.

Now the Bradford invasion of Weatherfield is gaining momentum. From demonic David Platt to work-shy Eddie Windass, from A-grade student Amber to unlucky-in-love crimper Natasha Blakeman, several familiar faces in the nation’s best-loved street are played by home-grown talent.

Since joining Corrie aged 11, Pudsey actor Jack P Shepherd, alias David Platt, has starred in some of its biggest storylines, and last year he won the British Soap Award for Best Villain.

It seems like yesterday that David was a cute nipper kicking his ball at the Kabin wall. But almost overnight he turned all creepy. Maybe it was being driven into the Manchester Ship Canal by evil stepfather Richard Hillman, maybe it was soppy mum Gail’s smother love, but to say that David went off the rails would be putting it mildly.

Pushing Gail down the stairs, sending her cards ‘signed’ by her dead husband, bunking off school, giving little Bethany ecstasy, setting up a burglary of his gran’s home and ruining his sister’s wedding by driving into the canal are just some of Demon David’s misdemeanours.

Jack, 20, loves playing the Street’s bad lad but defends the troubled teen. “Look at what’s happened to David over the years, it was bound to affect him,” says Jack. “It hit him hard when his dad Martin left; now he has another child and David rarely sees him. And his mum brings home one dodgy man after another.”

Jack says the beauty of Coronation Street is the contrast between dark and light. “The writers blend tragedy and comedy really well.”

Jack went to Stage 84, the Idle theatre school which has quite an alumni on the Street. Jonathan Dixon, who plays Daryl Morton, and Nikki Patel, alias Amber Kalirai, are also former pupils.

As laid-back Daryl, Jonathan, 20, survived last year’s cull of the Morton family. The college drop-out continues to flog kebabs, while girlfriend Amber prepares for university.

Jonathan joined his old pal Jack P Shepherd on the Street. “We’ve known each other since we were three, now we share a dressing-room,” says Jonathan. “I’ve grown up with Coronation Street. My mum watches it, my gran watches it, everyone watches it!”

Daryl’s love interest is Amber, Dev Alahan’s feisty daughter, played by 18-year-old Nikki Patel. Nikki joined the soap in 2006 and was nominated in the National Television Awards Best Newcomer category the same year.

She describes Amber as “sassy and smart with her heart in the right place.”

“She had a difficult relationship with Dev but once he realised she was a smart kid, he was really proud,” says Nikki. “This is my first professional role, I’ve learned loads. I didn’t really watch Coronation Street before so I wasn’t too starstruck, but it’s a huge show and I still can’t believe I’m in it.”

A couple of doors along from Dev’s shop, you’ll find the Windass clan, keeping up Corrie’s tradition of hapless, ramshackle families, from the Ogdens to the Battersbys. Shipley actor Steve Huison is Eddie Windass, who thinks he rules the roost. Wife Anna has other ideas.

The Windasses appeared as a family from hell refusing to pay Joe McIntyre for a new fitted kitchen. They later arrived on the Street in a tatty van, setting up home next door to arch enemies the Platts.

“The Windasses are a great bunch – although I wouldn’t want to live next door to them!” laughs Steve. “They’re from that Coronation Street tradition of families who never quite get it right.”

Shuffling around on crutches, in a saggy vest with a fag stuck to his lower lip, Eddie’s a feckless soul, but lately he’s revealed a softer side, befriending mixed-up young Chesney and rustling up some impressive chocolate cakes.

Steve based Eddie on local characters. “He’s a conglomeration of three people I know,” he says. “You have to find truth in a character.”

He admits to not being an avid Corrie fan – because he doesn’t watch television. “But I’m well aware of its quality,” he says. “It has a 49-year tradition of high standards. The writing is a joy for an actor; there’s always a mix of serious and quirky storylines.”

Over at Audrey’s Salon, chatty colourist Natasha Blakeman has finally washed that nasty Tony Gordon out of her hair. Natasha is played by Rachel Leskovac, who cut her teeth with the Bradford Catholic Players, starring in Annie Get Your Gun in 1988. She made her name in Holby City before joining Corrie.

Her Street appearances may have been brief, but Bradford actress Ali Briggs made a big impression as Emily Bishop’s deaf niece Freda.

Ali, deaf herself, made her Corrie debut in 2005, and the soap won a Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation People Of The Year Award for its portrayal of disabled people.

Last month, Freda re-appeared, announcing her engagement to a man she’d met via the internet.