A WHITEFIELD gym instructor has combined his love of acting and exercise by starring in a fitness DVD alongside a TV actress.

Adam Waddington, who works at Fitness First in Moss Lane, made The Busy Life Workout DVD with Coronation Street star Debra Stephenson.

The pair are old friends after meeting at Manchester Metropolitan University and Adam is Debra's personal trainer.

The 32-year-old was on the same theatre arts degree course as the popular actress and after going their separate ways after graduation, Adam met up with Debra again around two years ago.

Since then he has seen the mother-of-one, who plays Frankie Baldwin, on a regular basis for exercise sessions and has even had a few bit parts in the soap himself.

Naturally, Adam should have been the obvious choice when Debra decided to make her own fitness DVD but he had to work hard for the starring role.

He said: "Just because I was a friend of Debra's, didn't mean I automatically got the job! Initially the production company wanted someone else to work out with Debra on the DVD but Debra wanted me to do it. I had to prove that I could do it and come up with the whole routine. I have never done anything like this before and ended up devising it."

Adam said: "I was surprised at the speed at which things were done. I remember wondering if certain parts were a rehearsal but, no, it was the real thing. I am hoping it will lead to other things and if it is successful, then there might be a second DVD next year."

Adam, who has worked at Fitness First for 18 months, took up the job of fitness instructor and personal trainer around two years ago.

He had always been interested in the gym and keeping himself in shape but decided to take it up professionally after taking a close look at his life.

He said: "I had spent the past 10 years trying to be an actor and decided I would pursue fitness as a career aside from acting. I think I am more suited to fitness than acting. Although Debra and I studied the same course, our paths led us in different directions."

After making her name in ITV 1's Bad Girls, Debra joined Coronation Street and has become a favourite with fans as Mike Baldwin's feisty daughter-in-law.

She combines her acting work with looking after her toddler son and the DVD, by Universal Pictures, is aimed at other young, working mums.