Hundreds turn out to meet TV soap star (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Coronation Street's David Platt greeted by hundreds of fans in Southampton

6:10am Monday 30th July 2012 in Leisure By Emma Streatfield, Senior Reporter

HUNDREDS of people queued to catch a glimpse of a TV star who came to Hampshire to officially open a new store.

Jack P Shepherd, aka David Platt in the popular ITV soap, journeyed down south to open the new Poundland store - and did not disappoint his hundreds of fans.

People gathered with their cameras as the 24-year-old cut the ribbon outside the store, on Above Bar Street, and fans, from teenage girls to pensioners, many of them long-time Coronation Street devotees, queued down the aisles to get an autograph and photo with the star.

Jack told the Daily Echo it was his first time in city having never ventured so far south before.

He said: “It's nice to come down and it's a lovely day,” adding that it was good to meet his fans.

“Everyone seems quite pleased I'm here, which is nice because David's not a particularly nice character.”

Kerri Beavis, 47, of Shirley , had brought along daughter Charlie Hunt and her friend Becky Blundell, both 14.

“She's his biggest fan. She thinks he's hot,” said Kerri.

Charlie added: “It was amazing. I have been a fan since I was seven. I watch it just to see him - he was really nice, I was shaking.” The new store has created 35 jobs and staff celebrated with a fun day including prizes for shoppers and an in-store DJ.