17 July 2023 , 14:53
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Coronation Street legend Spider Nugent made a huge comeback to the soap after 25 years away.
Actor Martin Hancock reprised the role last year despite being "nervous" about returning to the Cobbles. He plays eco-warrior Spider, who was the nephew of Emily Bishop and ruffled feathers in Weatherfield until his departure in 2000.
He made a return one year later to ask his aunt for money to invest in a juice bar in London. In 2003, Spider managed to persuade unhappy Toyah Battersby to move to the capital with him.
The eccentric character stole the hearts of the nation with his quirky outlook on life, his electric dress sense, his eco-warrior mindset – which actor Martin firmly agrees with.
We take a look at Martin's life away from the soaps from Hollywood roles to surprising Corrie connection and a mother-in-law who sparked his comeback.
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Martin's life before Corrie and departure
Martin was born in 1973 in Fulham to an English father and a mother from New Zealand. He was an only child and attended Drayton Manor High School in West London before training at the Drama Centre London.
Martin left Corrie when he thought Spider became 'too normal' (Press Association)
The actor made a comeback as Spider last year (ITV)Martin's exit from Corrie the first time round came as a surprise, but the actor thought his character had run its course. Speaking in 2000 at the time of his departure, Martin said the decision to quit was tough but felt the radical character had started to become "too normal".
During his time on Corrie in the late nineties, Martin's mum, Vi passed away. Being an only child, actor Martin was close to his mum and enjoyed the relationship they had.
Martin also revealed how his mother was proud of his Corrie role. In an interview a couple of years after her death, Martin said: "I was heartbroken — it was horrible. My mum was my soundboard for everything. We were best mates and had no unfinished business. She was so proud of me when I got Corrie — she couldn't believe it."
Hollywood roles
Martin enjoyed success in his acting career when he left Corrie. He went on to star in BBC soaps Holby City as Reg Lund and played various roles in Doctors.
The actor also bagged big-screen movies including a starring role Steve Coogan’s 24 Hour Party People after his Corrie exit. He landed a lead part Ridley Scott’s Kingdom Of Heaven.
Martin further shred his soap image when he starred alongside Daniel Craig in Defiance in 2008. Alongside the Hollywood roles, Martin made sure he didn't lose his soap credentials as he also appeared in Casualty and Cradle to Grave.
Before rejoining Corrie, Martin starred in In the Long Run – with Idris Elba, Bill Bailey and Jimmy Akingbola which aired in 2020. As for his last film roles, they were in The Last Faust and The Car: Road to Revenge, both in 2019.
Home life
Martin likes to keep his private life away from the spotlight, but he lives in London with his long-term partner. He is a supporter of West Ham United F.C.
Martin keeps his home life out of the spotlight (Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock)The actor did give a glimpse into his home life ahead of his return to the soap, as he revealed his wife gave him a push to make a comeback after his mother-in-law spotted him in the papers.
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Martin told the Manchester Evening News and other press: "Georgia [Taylor - who plays Toyah] put a photo up of us when we were very young.
"It was one of those Spider and Toyah photos where we are arm in arm with each other and it went into a few of the papers. Then my mother-in-law, who is the oracle of all things Corrie, rang up and said: 'E-ar duck, you're in the papers!'
"I looked at it and got all sentimental and then my wife said, 'look, you've always said you'd go back' and she said: 'You're not getting any younger', so I had a word with my agent and my agent had a word with Corrie. There was a bit of to and fro and here I am!"
Surprise Corrie link
Ahead of Spider's comeback, Martin let slip he has a connection to a Corrie cast member. When asked if there were any new cast members he'd like to work with, Martin revealed his connection to Joe Duttine, who plays Tim Metcalfe in the Salford-based soap.
"I haven't stopped nattering to people to be honest with you," he admitted. "Well, he’s not that new, but yes, Joe [Duttine] because I went to drama school with him. In our 30-year careers, we've never worked together. I think his character is brilliant, I love it. It would be great to work with him."