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An actor who appeared on Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Holby City has swapped the small screen for business - and now heads up a children's entertainment firm throwing parties for youngsters across the North West.

Craig Whittaker has taken over Magic4Children after buying out owners Ken and Colette Kelly - and his shows take place in locations including Warrington, Manchester, Cheshire, Stockport, Ellesmere Port and Liverpool.

A Warrington TV and theatre performer, Craig, 32, has appeared on shows such as Vikings and The Last Kingdom, and takes over the Warrington business that has been running for around 25 years.

He told BusinessLive: “I’m used to entertaining crowds, whether they are global audiences watching major drama series, theatregoers across the country or – as is the case now – some truly amazing children celebrating all sorts of happy occasions. 

“I’m also used to stage fright, but buying a business tops that. It’s exciting and nerve-wracking in equal measure, but it’s also an incredibly special moment for me to take over Magic4Children and to continue to create so much joy for so many amazing children and families.

"As a team, we feel that we have an important job to do to make people’s family memories feel really special, and we’re hoping to expand and grow our business over the next few years.”

Craig, who is from Warrington and a Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) graduate, met Ken and Colette while working at Costa in Stockton Heath in between acting roles.

That led him to work for Magic4Children as 'Freddie Fantastic' for four years before taking ownership of the firm, and he said he's now "committed to growing and expanding the party packages he and his team deliver for children".