Corrie Jack’s big cash deal

CORRIE actor Jack P. Shepherd’s moving portrayal of a rape victim has been rewarded with a new contract.

The popular star, who plays David Platt, is now comfortably in the £200,000-a-year bracket – almost on a par with veterans such as Michael Le Vell and screen mum Helen Worth.

He has been offered a new 12-month deal to cement his future in the ITV soap until late next year.

Bosses are celebrating as Jack, 30, is hugely popular with both young and older viewers.

A source said: “Jack is going nowhere for the next year and the executives are very happy.

“He’s part of the show’s DNA now and is classed as almost a veteran as he has been in Corrie since he was a kid.

“His handling of the recent rape storyline has been moving and was very well received by the audience.”

The new contract will take Jack up to his 20-year anniversary in the show.

Last month he hinted the controversial male rape storyline could bring the curtain down on his Street career.

The Leeds-born star had talked about whether David might eventually leave Weatherfield to get over the trauma of the attack – raising questions about Jack’s future in the show. In an interview with the Corrie blog, Jack was asked if he thought the sex attack would affect David for the rest of his life. He said: “After a while the character must come to terms with what has happened to them and move on, then you can live out other stories.”