Coronation Street fans found themselves distracted as they witnessed upsetting scenes between Aaron Sandford and his abusive father. Aaron, played by James Craven, made his debut in the ITV soap earlier this year as Summer Spellman's new love interest after they met at a diabetes support group.
Back in August, viewers discovered more about the character after he was forced to come clean to Summer, played by Harriet Bibby, about who was behind his shocking injuries. Last month Corrie viewers were horrified when newbie Aaron told his girlfriend Summer that he had been 'jumped' before meeting her in the Rovers.
She then asked to look at the damage caused and Aaron showed Summer the severe bruising to his stomach and side. The teen was horrified and urged him to get help, advising him to see a doctor at the walk-in clinic, and report the incident to the police. It wasn't until later, after he faked a call to the police, that he admitted his dad was an alcoholic and would take his frustrations out on his son.
And during the latest episode of Corrie on Wednesday night (October 6) Aaron's turmoil spilled onto the cobbles when his abusive father turned up at the garage, where he works as an apprentice with Kevin Webster and Tyrone Dobbs, demanding to know where his weed was.
As viewers know, Aaron found the drugs in his dad's wallet after taking it to stop him going to buy more booze. He and girlfriend Summer then used it to bake brownies and ended up being found in a giggly state by Summer's guardians Billy Mayhew and Todd Grimshaw.
But as Aaron's dad, Eric, horrified people on the street as he attacked his son, Corrie fans couldn't help but compare him to two famous Manchester stars. @Andi000211 tweeted: "A Poundland Noel Gallagher has just rocked up. #corrie." @Willswhinge joked: "Aaron's Dad looks like the older Gallagher brother that nobody mentions #Corrie."
@ThelordgMessiah said: "Oops…looks like Liam Gallagher has turned up…#corrie." But @Bob71136804 asked: "Is that Noel Gallagher#corrie." @Myplaceagain commented: "I think Aarons dad looks just like Noel Gallagher #Corrie." @Ockeghem1497 added: "Fun-sized Noel Gallagher/Ringo Starr hybrid... #corrie."
Eric is actually played by Craig Cheetham. The Wigan-born actor is best known for his roles on Life on Mars and on Peter Kay's Max & Paddy's Road to Nowhere in which he played the character Billy Shannon. And funnily enough, in 2010, Craig portrayed Ringo Starr in the 2010 TV biopic, Lennon Naked.
And it's not the 52-year-old's first time in Corrie. Back in 2016 he appeared in two episodes as the father of Simon Barlow's former footballing team-mate Kyle. He also had a role in fellow ITV soap Emmerdale, playing DS Reed between 2013 and 2014.
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