LOOK OUT, PETER’S BACK!

Chris Gascoyne says his Corrie character may have sobered up but his return will still turn lives upside down

He was one of Coronation Street’s top stars, so it came as a shock when Chris Gascoyne walked away from the soap two years ago. Now, as he makes his big comeback, Chris reveals how playing alcoholic adulterer Peter Barlow had left him burnt out and desperate for a break.

‘I’d done a full- on, seven-year stint,’ says Chris, who quit the show in November 2014. ‘I needed to step away for a while and come back with a different energy for playing Peter.’

The good news for Corrie fans is that Chris – who used his time off from the show to work in the theatre and spend time with his wife and three children – is looking forward to creating havoc in the Street once more. ‘I feel different now,’ says Chris. ‘I’m waking up wanting to come to work, which is a great place to be.’

It’s little wonder that Chris, who made his first appearance in the soap’s 40th anniversary live episode in December 2000, had become so worn out and jaded. His last spell saw bookmaker Peter involved in a series of high-profile storylines, including the tram crash in 2010, and the murder of his mistress Tina McIntyre in 2014, which led to his departure.

‘I felt honoured that they wanted to write for my character, but doing scene after scene got very tiring,’ admits Chris. ‘My life was consumed by it and I had little room for much else. It’s such a big show that it can run away with everybody.’

Chris, who made a fleeting return for the funeral of Peter’s stepmother Deidre Barlow in July 2015, was tempted back permanently by the show’s new producer Kate Oates. ‘She understands that, if I have more energy, my work will be better. It’s early days but it seems to be working. I’m getting time off to spend with my family, which was rare before.’

This time fans will see a different side to Peter, Chris says. ‘I’m finding his journey interesting. He’s older and isn’t making so many mistakes. He’ll be seeing a lot of his ex-wife Leanne, which will wind up her partner Nick.

‘Apart from wanting to see his son Simon, the reasons why Peter’s come back won’t emerge for a while but his return will affect a lot of people.’

Chris was relieved to learn that Peter’s sober on his return. ‘I hope they don’t change him too much, but I think it’ll be more straightforward.

‘We shoot scenes out of order and when I was last on the show I had to remember how drunk Peter was meant to be, which was demanding.’

He’s found one change hard to come to terms with: the loss of Anne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre for 42 years before her death from cancer in January 2015. ‘I miss Annie, so it’s weird not having her around.’

But Chris can’t wait to see what’s in store for Peter. ‘I’m excited by the storylines, the writing and Kate’s vision for the show. I feel privileged still to be doing what I enjoy every day, with new energy. And most of all, I’m excited to see if I can still play Peter. Can I? You’ll have to be the judge!’