WHEN James Yarnell visited the set of Coronation Street as a 14-year-old schoolboy he realised what he wanted to do with his life.

The teenager took one look behind the scenes of the hit soap and decided that he had to find a job in television.

More than 20 years on, he is now living in Los Angeles as a successful Hollywood TV production designer with four Emmy nominations to his name.

James, 35, returned to the cobbles this week on a visit to Britain.

He recalled his first visit in October 1986, saying: "That was the that day I realised what I wanted to do with my life. I was going to design for television.

"It's great to see it again. I still remember my first visit 21 years ago. I was so excited and fascinated by the outside and inside sets and I suddenly knew that I wanted to be a set designer."

BA Hons

After leaving school he took a BA Hons degree in interior architecture at Leeds University.

"Then I decided to do a bit of travelling before I started looking for a job. I was going to go round the world but when I got to the US I thought I'd try to earn some money," said James.

"I discovered they were making a film version of Dallas and I managed to get a job on the set. Larry Hagman, who played JR, promised me that, if I ever wanted to work permanently in Hollywood, he would sponsor my Green Card. It was an offer I couldn't refuse and 12 years ago I moved there."

Since then he has designed for some of America's top television shows including The Weakest Link USA, So You Think You Can Dance, America's Got Talent, American Idol and Dancing With The Stars, the US version of Strictly Come Dancing.

He has also designed sets for the Dallas, Dynasty, Happy Days and Knots Landing reunions produced by Henry Winkler who played The Fonz in Happy Days.

"Henry Winkler and Larry Hagman really helped my career a lot," he said. "And so did that early visit to the Street."

Click on the gallery above to see more pictures of James on the Street.