WEDDING bells are in the air in Liverpool's most famous Close but the tangled web of Ron Dixon's steamy love life will ensure that it won't be all roses.

And the track record of Brookside weddings doesn't bode well for the saucy scouser.

Peter and Lindsey are the latest victims of the Close's curse - their marital bliss was short-lived when she discovered he'd been playing away from home before they even got down the aisle.

So what lies in wait for Ron and Anthea when they attempt to tie the knot later this month? Surely the bloke deserves some happiness after losing his son, discovering his daughter sold her baby, having his house set on fire by an ex-lover and blowing up The Parade. That's without mentioning his dickie-ticker.

I asked Vince Earl, the 54-year old actor who plays randy Ron, what the chances were of a happy ending to the Ron/Bev/Anthea love triangle.

"Well Bev obviously doesn't want him to get married," he said. "But I can tell you that Ron and Anthea do make it to the register office and they do make it to the altar. But there is a sting in the tale and I don't think it'll be what people are expecting."

It looks like Ron may have to use all his silver-tongued charm to get out of a sticky situation.

Vince is a down-to-earth, witty man who rolls his eyes when I ask him why Ron is such a babe magnet.

"It must be the aftershave! He had a bit of a do with Bev. Then there's his 18-year-old love affair with Anthea. And he did manage to get Jackie Corkhill into bed.

"He's no Clark Gable but he likes the company and attention of women. Bev was a young woman, pretty and sexy and she brought some spice into his life. He even wants to stand by her although she had a baby by someone else and tried to burn his house down.

"He shows a commitment to them. He stood by DD and by Bev. He insisted Megan became part of the family when Anthea told him she was his daughter - without asking for any kind of proof. I admire him for this. I think it shows he does have morals and standards."

Vince has been a regular on the show since 1990. The former stand-up comedian and singer - he has performed on the same bill as The Beatles - relishes playing the downtrodden Dicko with his juicy story lines.

"Any soap character has to be complex. You see them over the years and you see so many different twists and turn.

"Ron has become somebody who reflects other views. If there are any racist or insensitive remarks to be made it will be Ron who makes them. But Ron's been very good to me and has made me a good living.

"I don't have any control over what is written but if you play a character who is always down in the dumps I think the writers are more likely to write doom and gloom for them. But Ron has had some great moments. Bing and Ron were like The Odd Couple and there was great banter between Julia Brogan, God rest her soul, and Max Farnham."

The ground-breaking show has dealt with issues from murder to rape and shocked audiences with lesbian and incestuous kisses.

"The worst thing about moving scenes is it's all you can do not to laugh because the rest of the cast are in stitches.

"Everyone gets on very well. Actors who come in to play bit parts always comment about what a good time we have on set. There are no pretensions here. It's just like a family."

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