Taking a tour of Coronation Street is a real treat for many fans of the Weatherfield soap. And now fans also have the chance to meet someone from their favourite show as they take in the sights on the famous cobbles.
The Coronation Street public tours reopened to fans for the first time in two years in March after the easing of lockdown restrictions. But due to public demand guests can now meet one of the stars of the show as they explore behind the scenes at Trafford Wharf.
In addition to the standard 90 minute tour of the MediaCityUK set, with landmarks including Roy's Rolls, Audrey's hair salon, Weatherfield Police Station and the legendary boozer Rovers Return, soap watchers can say hello to a mystery cast member on the tour as well as hearing filming secrets and stories and posing for a picture with them - and they have no idea who it is until they arrive.
READ MORE:
The first of three sold-out limited edition tours held today (Saturday July 16) saw Chris Gascoyne, who plays soap icon Chris Gascoyne, emerge through the doors of the TV police station to meet waiting fans. And Chris, who has played Ken Barlow's son for 22 years, was greeted with delighted cheers and claps and cries of 'Peter.'
"You were the one we wanted," called out one fan to the 54-year-old actor. "Aw that's nice," he thanked them. "I was just going to say I'm sorry Ken Barlow couldn't be here," he joked.
Reflecting on his time on the soap and how he came to join Corrie as the seventh actor to play Peter, he told tour guests that he was only originally meant to be in the show for six months. He got the role after he was in a play at the Royal Exchange Theatre and broke his ankle. "Seven people were up for the part. I read alright," he said.
Chris said he had previously auditioned to play a former love interest of Sally Webster, who is now married to Tim Metcalfe. And speaking of his joy at landing the role of former sailor and bookmaker Peter he said: "All my family where I grew up watched Coronation Street. When I was at drama school I couldn't ring my mother between 7.30pm and 8pm."
He added: "I never in a million year dreamed I would be on such an iconic show let alone playing Ken Barlow's son. Isn't life strange?" Over the years Peter's hard-hitting storylines have included alcoholism, affairs and bigamy when he was married to both barmaid Shelley Unwin and florist Lucy Richards.
The recovering alcoholic is currently seeking justice after having a life-saving liver transplant last year and discovering his surgeon Henry Thorne had rushed the operation in order to win a bet. It also emerged that Thorne had taken selfies with the liver in the operating theatre.
Fans are convinced that taxi driver Peter could be about to have another affair behind his wife Carla's back, after previously cheating on her with babysitter Tina McIntyre played by Michelle Keegan in 2013, with his half brother Daniel's ex Nicky Wheatley after they bonded when he picked her up as a fare.
One fan called out to Chris in reference to Peter's recovery: "How's the liver?" And he laughingly replied: "It's alright. Doing better now." While guests had chance to pose questions he praised co-star William Roache who has played his father Ken since the very first Corrie episode was screened on December 9 1960., describing him as "the kindest. most genuine actor."
Chris remembered that he was 'very nervous' about his first scene which was with Ken, his wife Deirdre and her mum Blanche, played by the late Anne Kirkbride and Maggie Jones.
"We went into the Barlows and we started to run the scene and I just felt we'd stepped into some weird parallel universe. And then Bill Roache forgot his lines and I thought 'I'm alright' so I got more confident but then I realised that Bill in a very kind way had done that to make me feel more comfortable. Thats' the kind of bloke he is."
Chris was also asked about the 'nastiest character' to walk the cobbles and while Pat Phelan was a popular choice, he couldn't resist namechecking serial John Stape who worked with Peter at the bookies. "But it was like he'd killed people by mistake. He had this brilliant look 'I've done it again'." he laughed.
And he teased that Weatherfield could be about to see another villain to hold a reign of terror, although he was quick to rule off the idea that it will be Peter. "Just to let you know there's another one coming up," he said. "It's not me, no," he laughed.
All three Star Tours are sold out but more dates are coming soon. Tickets for tours are available to purchase at www.coronationstreettour.co.uk.
READ NEXT:
- The Real Housewives of Cheshire star reveals she's put on a stone as she returns to filming
- Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague look loved-up as they're seen first time after axed Jake Paul fight
- Coleen Rooney looks pretty in pink in tennis-style outfit as she does supermarket run in her medical boot
- Real Housewives star Tanya Bardsley in agony after breaking foot in freak accident on photo shoot
- Love Island beauty underwent secret hair transplant
