COULD Sir Nick be replaced one day by a soap star?

In the crazy world of politics anything can happen but this week Sir Nicholas Winterton was rubbishing speculation that former Coronation Street heart-throb Adam Rickitt could be the town's future MP.

The 27-year-old pin-up, famous for his "six-pack" while playing the part of Nick Tilsley, is on the party's candidates shortlist following an assured performance on BBC1's Question Time.

National newspaper reports had suggested he could be a potential successor to 67-year-old Sir Nicholas, or his wife Lady Winterton, MP for Congleton.

An unconfirmed source was reported as saying: "The best constituency for Adam should be in the North West, which has the biggest percentage of Corrie viewers.

"Cheshire is a strong Tory county and people in the party are hoping either Sir Nicholas or his wife can be persuaded to stand aside for him."

But Sir Nicholas, who has been the town's MP for almost 35 years, said: "I have to say that particular little snippet in the column was news to me as it was news to my association.

"Clearly this young man put in a good performance on the Question Time programme with confident and articulate answers."

But Sir Nicholas, who admitted he and Ann were both fans of the soap was still confident of his continued success in his safe seat.

He said: "Because Adam either lived or went to school in the Macclesfield constituency, obviously a story was floated that here was an able young man, meeting the criteria of the new Conservative party of youth, that he might follow the veteran of Macclesfield.

"They claim that party officials would like somebody like this to be a Conservative candidate, but they could have chosen any number of seats."

Whether or not the ex-soap star will become a future MP, Sir Nicholas did admit to being pleased by his progress.

He said: "Clearly he's quite well known, he's articulate and the young ladies would say a good looking young man, but I hope I may be considered to be a good looking older man!

"The party is looking to adopt young, talented people in seats that are winnable."

Mr Rickitt, who has modelled bare-chested for women's and gay magazines, shot to fame when his Coronation Street character shared the soap's first gay kiss with Todd Grimshaw, before embarking on a short-lived career in pop music.

Now, after being selected by interview for the party's approved candidates list, he could follow Olympic athlete Sebastian Coe and author and presenter Giles Brandreth - better known for wearing brightly coloured jumpers than displaying his midriff - as celebrity Tory MPs.

Chairman of the Macclesfield Conservative Association, Coun Elizabeth Gilliland, said: "I don't watch Coronation Street so I'd never heard of this man.

"Sir Nicholas is our MP at the moment and I could see no reason why he would stand down and we are certainly not going to be dictated to by the powers that be.

"If he does decide to stand down, and that would be his decision, WE would select a candidate."