A Legacy of Acting and Emotional Storylines
Steven Arnold, best known for his role as Ashley Peacock in the long-running British soap opera Coronation Street, has made a clear statement about his future with the show. The 51-year-old actor has confirmed that he will not return to the series, even if approached by the show’s producers. This decision comes in the wake of recent trends in British soaps where characters are often brought back after long absences or even from the dead.
Arnold played Ashley Peacock on Corrie from 1995 to 2010, before the character was tragically killed in the show’s 50th anniversary special during a tram crash. His time on the show was marked by several major storylines, including his relationship with Maxine Heavey (Tracy Shaw), who was murdered by serial killer Richard Hillman in 2003.
In an interview, Arnold shared his thoughts on the matter, stating: ‘I wouldn’t return. Ashley was crushed by this falling beam and it was hanging on chains. We filmed the episode and I went off and had my leaving party.’
Despite his decision to move on, Arnold acknowledged the profound impact the show had on his career as an actor. He reflected on his time working with John Savident, who played Fred Elliot, one of the show’s most beloved characters. Savident passed away in 2024, and Arnold spoke highly of his mentorship.
‘He’ll always have a special place in my heart as I played him for such a long time. There’s elements that you miss but you can still put him in characters that you play here and there,’ Arnold said. ‘Working with John Savident, who played my dad, Fred Elliot. He had such a wealth of experience. Even now, when I go into colleges to teach acting, I can hear his words coming through my mouth. He taught me how to act on set, how to give passion to a character. I miss him so much. He was like a father to me. I can’t even begin to explain how much that man taught me.’
A New Chapter for Another Icon
Arnold’s comments come at a time when another long-standing star of Coronation Street, Helen Worth, has also spoken out about her departure from the show. The 75-year-old actress played Gail Platt for 50 years, making her one of the soap’s longest-serving stars. She recently revealed the reasons behind her decision to leave the show, which came a year and a half after her dramatic exit.
Throughout her time on the show, Gail’s storylines were filled with emotional moments, including her six marriages, the tragic death of her husband Brian Tilsley, and the death of her fourth husband Joe McIntyre during a failed life insurance scheme. One of the most iconic moments in Gail’s storyline involved discovering that her husband Richard Hillman was a serial killer.
Helen described the challenges of filming over the years, particularly in the final year before her departure. She told The Sun: ‘It was only a bit towards the end when I got a bit tired. But the first, how many years? 49 years, were a dream.’ She also mentioned her final husband, John Thomson, saying: ‘He was absolutely gorgeous to me, because by then I was rattling a bit. It was around about 4,000 episodes and I was rattling a little bit.’
Helen has also stated that she would not return to the soap full-time. She said: ‘I had good and bad days… but then you forget the bad days and you just remember the good days.’ Her final scenes were shown on Christmas Day 2024, in an emotional moment where she started ‘day one of her new life’ with husband Jesse Chadwick abroad.
Following the emotional episode, Helen took to X to share a heartfelt goodbye message with fans. She thanked them for their support and promised more Platt family storylines to come. ‘Thanks for coming on the journey with me. I’ve had a wonderful time. I’ve loved it, all the stories and of course it’s been wonderful working with the wonderful Platts, which for me is what it’s all about – and there’ll be more Platt stories and I hope you’ll be watching.’
Coronation Street continues to air on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX. The show remains a staple of British television, with its rich history of storytelling and unforgettable characters.
