Countless Brits tuning in to watch Coronation Street’s Boxing Day episode this festive season were left ‘in tears’ as they watched long-serving character Peter Barlow leave the show afterthe best part of two decades on the fictional Manc street.
For those not up to speed, Barlow, played by Chris Gascoyne, has had a rough few months in Weatherfield following the accidental death of Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce), struggling ever since and in desperate need of looking after — his wife Carla (Alison King) having taken on that job.
After spending an emotional Christmas Day together, Carla surprised him with a one-way ticket to Spain to join his friends on their trip around the world, a decision neither took lightly but agreed in the show’s closing moments was “the right thing to do”.
Saying goodbye to his friends and family for one last walk along the cobbles, Barlow’s final moments saw him embrace Carla before saying goodbye to his home and jumping on the tram to the airport to start the next chapter.
Peter Barlow cracks that wry smile that had been missing for so long as sets off on his journey.
There were homes all across the North and, indeed, the whole of the UK welling up as they sat down to watch Peter Barlow’s final moments, with many jumping on social media to pay tribute to the beloved Corrie character.
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Even prior to his departure on Boxing Day, one person wrote “How is it [his] last episode tomorrow?” along with numerous crying emojis, while another added, “23 years of Peter Barlow and I have absolutely no words right now”; almost every post revolved around tears in some fashion.
A third shared the following: “Goodbye Peter Barlow, you are by far the best character I have ever loved. It has been the honour of a lifetime watching your story and I’m so f***ing proud of you. Life won’t be the same without you, I’m going to love & miss u forever. Until we meet again but for now, be happy.”
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Safe to say the character, no matter how “perfectly flawed” as one viewer put it, meant a lot to so many people, so it was only right that Gascoyne gave them a special farewell himself.
Filmed on his penultimate day on the cobbles, Chris Gascoyne says farewell after 23 years of playing Peter Barlow with a heartwarming goodbye message 💚 #Corrie@ITV@WeAreSTVpic.twitter.com/6HUTHNMXyz
Speaking ahead of his final episode airing, the 55-year-old son of Ken and Valerie, not to mention brother of fellow fan favourite Tracy, admitted it was “emotional” reading that last script, adding that it was “not because I was leaving, but I genuinely, genuinely felt moved by it.”
He also explained how they didn’t rehearse the scene and never really do, stating that the raw feelings felt in the scene were captured in just one or two takes and that he believes “most people will have had exactly the same thing in their life, so they’ll identify with it.”
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The Nottinghamshire-born actor also went on to give fans some hope of a return by stating, “Of course, I’ve not ruled [a return] out, it’s been such a part of my life. I’ve grown up with so many people there but I need a rest and to look to do something different, I’m not getting any younger.
Gascoyne is currently enjoying a turn in a pantomime in St Albans and has only ever been out of the show for a total of four years (2003-2007) since he joined the cast back in 2000. That being said, having arrived on Coronation Street with nothing but a bag and now leaving with one, fans believe the door is wide open for a return.
Castlefield is being transformed into Gotham amidst more Hollywood filming in Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
Castlefield, with its iconic viaduct and cobbled streets, is once again being used for big-budget filming as the latest Batman/DC Universe title, Clayface, looks to be setting up in the eye-catching Manc corner.
Whether it’s football kit reveals and brand shoots, BBC dramas or the next upcoming Netflix series, production crews can’t get enough of Castlefield, it would seem.
For those who hadn’t heard, work on the new Clayface movie revolving around the cult favourite Batman villain is well underway, and the North West has been used as the backdrop on multiple ocassions this month already.
You can see early glimpses of the set being put together down below.
Come on, how cool is it that we get to stumble on stuff like this right on our doorstep so often?
Speaking to The Manc, a source detailed that the set is being assembled today (Tuesday, 16 September) ahead of a single day of principal photography on what we can only assume is more Clayface filming sometime tomorrow.
While she could not confirm with us directly, she said, “If you’re a comic book nerd and look at the posters, you’ll be able to figure it out.” We’ve certainly been studying all the easter eggs already.
It might not quite be as dark and gritty as Gotham City, but this particular part of Manchester has been used in TV and film – especially period dramas – many times for good reason.
The Victorian-era steel structure, dark red brick and overall industrial aesthetic work so well when it comes to creating a believable and cinematic world.
Besides perhaps the most famous instance of Peaky Blinders shooting in these parts, you can add multiple music videos, several Manchester United and Man City shirt launches, and so many more that we’re starting to lose track.
As for Clayface, this isn’t even the first time the upcoming DC ‘body-horror’ flick has popped up in Greater Manchester.
Last week saw the equally striking Art Deco facade of the old The Plaza Super Cinema in Stockport turned into a fictional movie premiere to stunning effect:
Speaking of, another childhood favourite is filming here in Manchester right now, too.
Besides perhaps the most famous instance of Peaky Blinders shooting in these parts, the new Narnia adaptation by Greta Gerwig may just be one of the biggest projects that has ever landed underneath the familiar ‘birdcage’.
ln fact, it just so happens that there are actually multiple noteworthy small and silver screen works fighting over the Castlefield shooting schedule at the moment…
Warrington-born Adolescence star Owen Cooper becomes youngest ever male Emmy winner
Emily Sergeant
Owen Cooper has made history.
The Warrington-born actor who burst onto the scene as a newcomer in the Netflix smash-hit drama series Adolescence, starring alongside other big names like Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, and Ashley Walters, has become the youngest winner ever in any male acting category at last nights Emmy Awards 2025.
He took home the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series.
Youngest Emmy winner ever in any male acting category.
At just 15 years old, Cooper beat out his fellow co-star Ashley Walters for the award, as well as other renowned actors like Javier Bardem, Peter Sarsgaard, and Rob Delaney.
Adolescence, if you haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, is a four-part limited series about a 13-year-old boy who is accused of murdering one of his classmates – with each episode remarkably being filmed in one unflinching and continuous shot.
The truly gripping story unfolds in real time as the main characters search for answers in the wake of a shocking tragedy.
Who is actually responsible? Why did it happen? And could it have been prevented?
Adolescence gained universal critical acclaim when it debuted on Netflix earlier this year / Credit: Netflix
Cooper was a complete screen newcomer starring as the young boy Eddie Miller, accused of murder, and the show tells the story of how a family’s world is turned upside because of it.
Taking to the stage to accept his award last night, Cooper – who began taking weekly acting lessons with The Drama Mob here in Manchester – said: “[The win] is just so surreal. Honestly, when I started these drama classes a couple years back, I didn’t expect to be even in the United States, never mind [at The Emmys].
“So I think tonight proves that if you listen and you focus and you step out your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life.”
Elsewhere on the night, Adolescence cleaned up as a whole.
Co-creator and star of the show, Stephen Graham, took home the Best Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series award, as well as a Writing award alongside co-writer Jack Thorne, while Erin Doherty claimed the Best Supporting Actress accolade in the same category, and director Philip Barantini won the Best Director award.
Danny Jones -
27th December 2023 
