You ASK...
The stars face your questions! “What’s your earliest Corrie memory?”
After 16 years on the Street, Simon Barlow is truly a soap icon. It’s about time we grill Corrie star Alex with your questions…
“We’ve watched Simon grow up on the cobbles! What is your earliest memory?”
I remember my first day quite well! I recall Anne Kirkbride [Deirdre] coming up to me and saying something along the lines of, “You’re going to be great, you”. She was lovely.
“Where’s the strangest place you’ve ever been recognised by a fan?”
I went to the Great Wall of China on a history school trip in Year 10. We were allowed to explore a certain section of the Wall, so I set off by myself walking. I then stopped outside this tower, where I got tapped on the shoulder by a Brummie man saying, “I recognise you!” He told me a beautiful story about his life and all of a sudden, he pulled out two tubs of noodles. I ended up sat eating noodles on top of the Great Wall of China with a Brummie!
“Do you have a favourite place to film on the Corrie set?”
The Barlows’ – it’s iconic. To be a member of arguably the biggest family in soap history is a big honour, so that set is really important to me. The other one I would say is the bookies’ flat, which is now the florists’ flat. I did a scene there with Chris [Gascoyne, aka Peter] where we were so deep in the emotion that I genuinely started to cry. It worked so well. Afterwards Chris was like, “Are you okay?” It sounds very cliché, but the room was silent – you could hear a pin drop. It was brilliant.
“Do you ever look back at old clips and reminisce about your time on the show?”
Yes. After the tram crash, I did a oneoff special with Bill [Roache, aka Ken] where he spoke about his life on the Street. I have that video saved on my YouTube account. I’ll go back and look at that every now and again and think, ‘I was so young there!’ And Bill’s just not changed!
“If you could choose any Corrie actor, past or present, to play Simon’s best friend, who would it be?”
I’d like Jack James Ryan [Jacob] to come back and be Simon’s
friend, I think that’d be brilliant. I don’t think Simon and Jacob would ever truly forget what happened in the past, although they could put their demons to the side and have a mutual understanding going forward.
“Simon hasn’t had much luck on the romance front. Is there anybody you could see him with on the Street?”
No, because I think Simon’s best option left on her own terms. But I really liked portraying Kelly’s connection with Simon. Simon did what he could to get her to see sense and look after herself. And in a way, without realising, it helped Simon to understand himself. I think it would’ve been a good story to explore – two people who have their own demons and toxicities.
“Have you given any advice to Jude (Riordan, aka Sam) seeing as you know what it’s like to be so young on a soap?”
He doesn’t really need advice! He’s very, very talented. I think if I could impart something on him, it would be to never settle for what you think is the best, always try to do it better. But I’d impart that on any performer!
“Aside from Peter, who is your favourite Barlow?”
I’m going to say my mum, Leanne. I know I’m cheating, but she used to be a Barlow! Also, Alison King [Carla]. As actors, Alison and Jane [Danson, aka Leanne] have had such an impact on me over so many years – in terms of acting knowledge, and general life lessons.
“Would you ever be tempted to do a reality TV show?”
I would love to. I think out of the lot, I’d love to do Dancing On Ice. I’d have to rule myself out of Strictly because I have a dancing background and I still dance to this day. Dancing is a huge part of my family – my mum and my grandparents both danced. I’m kind of the oddball because I’m the one that was like, “No! I want to say words!” I would do the jungle, but if you put a spider in front of me, I’m going to have problems. I would willingly do the headbanger over being put in front of a gigantic spider!
“Who would play Simon’s best friend?”