MOST actors love playing the bad guy.

But Bolton's Iain McKee -- star of locally-produced shows such as The Cops and Burn It -- insisted his next TV role would be something a little different.

In BBC2's The Cops and BBC3's Burn It, Iain played drug dealers.

So when the chance came to play a geek who falls in love with a supermarket check-out girl, he snapped it up.

He said: "I don't know why I'm thought of as being a perfect TV drug dealer.

"Perhaps someone's trying to tell me something."

The 25-year-old tells us his next project is filming one of a series of three half-hour programmes, which are likely to be aired on ITV1.

His slot, called 'Outside In' has him starring alongside former Coronation Street actress Joanne Froggatt.

He plays a geek who falls in love with a DIY check-out girl -- but cannot muster up the courage to ask her on a date.

Iain, who is being touted as one of the country's hottest up-and-coming actors, said: "My career is still very much in its infancy, but I'm enjoying every minute of it.

"But one thing I've always wanted is to be a professional working actor and be able to jump into different roles without being typecast." He won't be leaving behind his druggie characters for long, though.

His role as Paul in Burn It is going to be expanded in the next series. Filming is due to start in June.

Iain also revealed that although he moved from Bolton to London six years ago to pursue his career, he is already looking to come back -- because he believes the television industry in the north is booming.

He said: "There will definitely be a time when I move back north. I miss my family, and my friends are up here.

"But there's also a lot of talent in the area. I've done work for Red Productions in Manchester and you can see the quality. It's also far friendlier in the north." Bradshaw-born Iain attended St Joseph's High School, in Horwich, before moving to London to study drama at the stage school, Rosebruford.

He is currently starring in Under the Whaleback at London's Royal Court theatre, directed by actor Richard Wilson, who played Victor Meldrew in One Foot in the Grave.