The Soap Years

He’s come back to Weatherfield to lie low – but Todd also wants to win back Billy, says actor Gareth Pierce

The storylines time will never forget

Todd’s return to Coronation Street means big trouble for Billy and his boyfriend Paul this week. Jealous Todd, who fled Weatherfield in 2017 leaving then-partner Billy and their foster daughter Summer, is determined to split up the couple.

He admits he still has feelings for Billy and that he should be with him and not Paul. The encounter leaves Billy in tears and Paul worrying for their future.

‘Is Todd after Billy? Yes, is the short answer,’ says actor Gareth Pierce, 39, who plays him. ‘He sees the way Paul has become a replacement for him in Billy and Summer’s lives. He’s vulnerable and affected by his love for Billy, his shame and the sense of what he’s lost, not to mention letting Summer down.’

Todd and Billy meet in bizarre circumstances when Mary hears noises in the attic at number 11 and, convinced it’s a ghost, gets Billy over to perform an exorcism. When Todd appears at the top of the stairs Billy can’t believe his eyes. ‘Todd meeting Billy again is a big moment,’ says Gareth. ‘There’s plenty of emotion that will show how much the relationship meant to Todd and Billy and reveal a real chink in Todd’s armour.’

Billy’s furious at first and berates Todd for abandoning Summer and letting her think he was dead. He tells Paul that he’s over Todd, but Paul isn’t convinced. Later Todd winds Paul up and Billy begs him to stop causing trouble. ‘It’s complicated as Paul is an obstacle to a reunion,’ says Gareth, ‘but Todd can see how much Billy loves him and how good Paul is with Summer.’

Gareth recorded his own audition tape for Corrie before lockdown, which saw the married father home

schooling his four-year-old daughter, and he thanked his lucky stars to land the role at such a difficult time.

‘I was in the garden with my daughter when I got the call and it was actually her who told my wife that Daddy got the part! I’m aware of how privileged I am to even be in work.’

Gareth replaces Bruno Langley, who’d played Todd since 2001 before being sacked in autumn 2017 after sexually assaulting two women in a Manchester bar.

‘It’s about bringing what I can to

the character. Kate Ford [Tracy Barlow] and Ben Price [Nick Tilsley] were also cast in roles previously played by other people – it’s an accepted convention.’

Gareth currently has another soap role, as modern slave master Gavin in The Archers on Radio 4. ‘That’s recorded in Birmingham so I’m doing a lot of driving at the moment,’ laughs Gareth. ‘And I’m probably going to become an obscure pub quiz question about being in two soaps at once!’ ■