Corrie's Peter Barlow's real-life -co-star wife and drink problem at 'low point'

25 December 2023 , 18:00

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Chris Gascoyne could relate to his character (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Chris Gascoyne is best known for playing the misunderstood Peter Barlow in Coronation Street.

For the past 23 years, he has shone as the firm-favourite character but is sadly set to leave the ITV soap in emotional scenes, leaving Carla Connor alone at Christmas. Over the years, Peter has had his fair share of dramatic storylines - from being framed for the murder of his girlfriend Tina and custody battles over his son - and in recent times killing Stephen Reid.

His demons have become too much to handle, and sadly, actor Chris has been able to relate to some of the long-standing character's tendencies, as Peter is notorious for his battle with alcoholism. Not all of his storylines parallel the 55-year-old's real life, but Chris has admitted to drinking too much in the past during what he described as a "low point".

Chris Gascoyne as Peter Barlow

In 2011, whilst speaking to News of The World, Chris explained he can relate to his character in some aspects, saying: "I can definitely relate to my character, I'm not saying that I was ever an alcoholic but I've overcome problems with drink.

"I think there are low times in everybody's life, mostly the time when we're overcoming problems. There have been lots of low points in my life and that's where you learn and get your strength to get through it and come back to the good place." He added: "But anybody who drinks to excess should know it will cause you problems."

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In another interview in 2010, Chris also admitted to being 'seduced' by alcohol in his younger years: "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.

On screen couple Leanne Battersby played by Jane Danson and Peter Barlow (ITV)

Co-stars Chris Gascoyne and Alison King have had iconoc storylines together (PA)

"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.

"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." Away from overcoming his personal struggles, Chris has a quite happy life with his co-star wife and their blended family. In 2002 he married Caroline Harding, who has starred in both Emmerdale as Dr Garrett and had a number of smaller roles in Coronation Street.

The couple share one daughter together named Belle but Chris is also step-dad to Caroline's two other children from her past relationship with Line Of Duty star Jason Watkins. 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." He added: "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."

Serena Richards