Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell has sent a 'heartbreaking' email to his estranged son after two years apart from his children.
The actor, who was cleared of sex charges in September, has not seen his son or daughter – both teenagers – since his bitter split from Janette Beverley, 47, in 2011.
But according to the Mirror, the actor, who plays Kevin Webster, has emailed the boy through a friend.
The friend told the newspaper: "He accepts he has not been the best dad and wants to make amends.
"He sent an email through a family friend a month ago, asking how they were and telling them how much he missed spending time with them all.
"It was heartbreaking stuff. But he hadn't heard anything for three weeks and was about to give up hope. Then his friend passed on a message saying they were 'fine'.
"It wasn't much but it has given Michael something to hold on to. It is a step forward."
At the 48-year-old star's trial for 12 child sex offences, he admitted his marriage crumbled because he was an alcoholic and had cheated on wife of 25 years, Janette.
Since then, Janette, who starred in Corrie as Elaine Pollard in 1984, has warned her ex that she was willing to take him to court and reveal all about their marriage to stop him ever seeing their children again.
She has said: "I stayed quiet because he kept the children out of it, but if he's bringing the children into it, I won't. I'd like to come out with the evidence."
Michael has now hired a solicitor in a bid to have contact with his children.