Marc Anwar

The Guardian reports that Coronation Street actor Marc Anwar has been sacked from the soap after posting racially offensive comments about Indian people on Twitter.

The Pakistan-born actor, 45, joined the ITV soap as Sharif Nazir in February 2014 as a member of the first Muslim family on the cobbles.

The Sunday Mirror published screenshots of messages posted on his private Twitter account that appeared to hit out at India over Kashmir and called for Pakistani actors to stop working in the country. They also referred to Indian people as “bastards” and “piss-drinking c*nts”.

Anwar later issued the following apology:

“I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to anyone that I may have offended with my tweets on Friday evening and especially people from India,” he said.

“This was never my intention and the language was unacceptable. I feel that I have let a lot of people down, my family, my friends and my former colleagues.”

“This I … very sincerely apologise for.

On Friday evening I saw, on the news, children being pulled out of rubble, people being pelted with pellets, women mourning their dead in Kashmir.

“This upset me very deeply and in a moment of madness I ranted out. I vented my anger.

“Again, the language that I used, I sincerely apologise for. But my feelings were very sincere for the people of Kashmir. And I hope that everyone that I have offended can find it in their hearts to forgive me.”

An ITV spokeswoman said:

“We are deeply shocked by the entirely unacceptable, racially offensive comments made on Twitter by Marc Anwar.

“We have talked to Marc and, as a consequence of his comments, he will not be returning to Coronation Street with immediate effect.

What a fool.

Good luck finding future lucrative acting roles Marc. You are going to need it!