Corrie's Peter Barlow in real life and tragic similarity to on-screen storyline
Coronation Street actor Chris Gascoyne has played soap favourite Peter Barlow for 23 years.
The son of Ken Barlow and his first wife Valerie, who died in the ITV soap in 1971 after being electrocuted by a faulty hairdryer, Chris made his Corrie debut in December 2000 during the 40th anniversary live special episode. Viewers didn’t see him grow up on-screen as Peter and twin sister Susan were sent to Glasgow to live with Valerie’s relatives with dad Ken, who later married Deirdre, only seeing them sporadically in the intervening years.
Since bursting onto the cobbles, it’s fair to say Peter has had his fair share of drama. From his battle with alcoholism to being married five times. There was the bigamy storyline when he married Rovers barmaid Shelley Unwin and florist Lucy Richards at the same time. Then his affairs with Tina McIntyre and now wife Carla Connor. He was even jailed after being framed for Tina’s murder and most recently killed Corrie serial killer Stephen Reid after running over him in his car.
But after leaving Corrie and twice before and coming back, it was announced Chris would be quitting the soap for a third time, with his final scenes airing on Boxing Day when he is set to break up with long-term love Carla. In an emotional episode, Carla and Peter will look over their relationship together, before eventually deciding that they are better off apart. In contrast off-screen, 55-year-old Chris is happily married to fellow actor Caroline Harding. Here’s what else we know about him...
Actor wife who has also been in Corrie
Chris with actor wife Caroline, daughter Belle, and step-sons Pip and Freddie (Instagram)While Peter has not had the best romantic life in Corrie, away from the cobbles he is happily married to fellow actor Caroline Harding, who he wed in 2002. They share 20-year-old daughter together, Belle. Chris is also step-dad to Caroline's two children from a previous marriage with Line of Duty actor Jason Watkins, Pip, 22, and Freddie, 24.
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Chris and Caroline reportedly met when they both went to see mutual friend Catherine Tate performing at London’s Comedy Store back in 2000 and they married two years later.
Before meeting Caroline, Chris has said that he'd never imagined being part of a blended family. Speaking to Mirror Online, he once said: "If someone had said to me in my 20s that I'd have dated a divorced mum with kids, I would have said no way. But it kind of made me feel closer to her. It was a very real relationship very quickly. I saw this amazing strength in her and I loved her kids Freddie and Pip."
Caroline played Dr Howarth in Corrie, who treated little Oliver Battersby, the son of Leanne and Steve McDonald, whose life support machine was switched off after he was diagnosed with a life-limiting form of mitochondrial disease. She has also played several characters in Emmerdale, including Dr Garrett who looked after Rhona when she became addicted to painkillers. Other acting credits include Doctors, Holby City, Casualty and EastEnders.
Real-life alcohol struggles
Chris' character Peter has battled alcoholism - and he says he doesn't drink as much now himself (ITV)Though Chris has never been an alcoholic like his character Peter, he has been able to pull on his own experiences for the role, which helped him play out his storylines.
Back in 2010, Chris candidly told Mirror Online: "I've kind of been there myself - when I was younger I did used to drink an awful lot. I think you get seduced by it when you're a young actor. You're surrounded by a drinking culture and it's almost a romantic thing. Everywhere you go it's there.
“I still like a night out, but it had gone past that to a pointless place where I was looking always to seek oblivion in it. You come home and you're hungover and you get drinker's guilt. You feel depressed and ill and wonder what you've said to people. Then you vow never to do it again, until it gets to opening time and then you think you'll have a drink and those feelings stop.”
He explained: “It went on for a good 10 years, but after a while I realised I was drinking for reasons that were no longer social. It was no longer purely about having a good time. I was never an alcoholic, but a lot of us have problems with alcohol - anything that affects your life or your judgement is a problem."
Secret biker
Chris is a keen biker and often goes to shows or on rides around the country (Instagram)Off-screen Chris is a keen motorcyclist and often posts snaps on his bike on his Instagram feed.
Not only does he have all the gear, and even competes in competitions now and again, the actor is part of a real-life biker gang. Posting a photo, he wrote: “Great ride out with my biker mate Wendy. Owner of the Classic Scooter Company, Kings Norton, near Birmingham.”
He looks to enjoy visiting bike shows around the country and recently visited the Bike Show at the NEC in Birmingham and a 1940s weekend in Hawarth, as well as going on regular rides out on his bike to places like the High Peaks in Derbyshire.
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New role after Coronation Street
Alison King has admitted she was in tears filming Carla's final scenes with Chris (ITV)Fans were devastated when Chris announced he was quitting Coronation Street back in July. But rather than taking a well-deserved break from the soap’s gruelling filming schedule, he is jumping straight into another role.
He is set to play Captain Hook in The All New Adventures of Peter Pan at the Alban Arena until New Year's Eve. Unable to hide their disappointment at Chris' latest bombshell, fans took to . One said: "It won't be the same on #corrie without Peter Barlow." Another added: "Ayyy Peter’s back! I’m making the most it before he goes."
Corrie bosses have neither confirmed or denies if Chris will return to the soap in the future, but we know he isn’t being killed off so fans may see him on the cobbles again soon...
*Watch Chris’ exit when Coronation Street airs on Boxing Day at 7.30pm
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