Peter Barlow (Coronation Street)

Peter Barlow
Coronation Street character
File:Peter Barlow ( Coronation Street ).jpg Chris Gascoyne as Peter Barlow (2009).
Portrayed by	Robert Heanue (1965–69) Christopher Dormer (1969–71) Linus Roache (1973-1975) Joseph McKenner (1977) David Lonsdale (1986) Chris Gascoyne (2000—)
Duration	1965–71, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1986, 2000–03, 2007, 2008—
First appearance	15 April 1965
Classification	Present; regular
Introduced by	H. V. Kershaw (1965) June Howson (1973) Susi Hush (1975) Bill Podmore (1977, 1986) Jane MacNaught (2000) Steve Frost (2007) Kim Crowther (2008)
In-universe information Occupation Bookmaker Father Ken Barlow Mother Valerie Barlow Stepmother Deirdre Barlow Sisters Susan Barlow Half-brothers Daniel Osbourne Lawrence Cunningham Half-sisters Tracy Barlow (adopted) Wife Jessica Midgley (1990–2000) (divorced) Lucy Richards (2003) (Widowed) Shelley Unwin (2003) (Bigamous) Leanne Battersby (2010—) Sons Simon Barlow Grandfathers Frank Barlow Alfred Tatlock Grandmothers Ida Barlow Edith Tatlock Uncles David Barlow Albert Tatlock (great) Nephews James Cunningham Adam Barlow Nieces Amy Barlow Chloe Cunningham First cousins Darren Barlow

Peter Francis Barlow is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 15 April 1965. Currently portrayed by Chris Gascoyne who has portrayed the character in episodes since 2000, the character had been previously portrayed by six different actors.

Creation

Casting

Robert Heanue was the first actor to portray the character from 1965 to 1970. Chris Dormer played the role from 1970 to 1972 when the seven year old actor was written out of the soap due to his parents emigration to Canada. He did not continue to act and reflected on his time as the young Peter in 2001, "I really enjoyed the Street. I remember Pat Phoenix and Julie Goodyear kissing and tickling me because they thought I was cute. Most of the actors were nice, but some weren't. Violet Carson, who played Ena Sharples, was very grumpy. She didn't like children and really scared me." On-screen Peter and his sister Susan were written out of the soap to live with their grandparents when their mother Valerie Barlow was killed off.

One of the six actors who has portrayed the character is Linus Roache, the real-life son of William Roache who portrays Peter's father, Ken Barlow in the show. Linus returned to the show in 2010, playing Lawrence Cunningham, another son of Ken Barlow.

Development

Personality and characterisation

Upon the character's return to the show in October 2008, Chris Gascoyne spoke of his character's destructive personality in an interview with Digital Spy, he stated; "He's been trying against the odds to sort his life out, but he can't. And when it doesn't work and it all goes wrong for him, he has a drink. There are hurdles in his way all the time. He's stubborn and resents people telling him what to do. He'll listen to advice, but he won't take any notice if he thinks the person giving it isn't in a place to do so. That happens a lot with Ken."

Extracts from an interview with ITV actor Chris Gascoyne made certain statements about his character's personality and fatherhood stating: "Drink is becoming an issue and his self-esteem is low. He can’t see a way out and he can’t imagine doing this for the rest of his life (fatherhood)." During the storyline he described his character as being seen as a coward. Going on to say: "He has the potential to be a very good dad but at the minute he feels like everything is conspiring against him and he hasn’t got the confidence or the self-esteem to cope."

Storylines

1965–2007

Peter and his twin sister Susan are born to Ken (William Roache) and Valerie Barlow (Anne Reid) on 15 April 1965. They are the first ever twins in Coronation Street. Their names are decided the next day and they come home on 26 April 1965. When Peter and Susan are six years old, Ken and Valerie plan to move to Jamaica because Ken has been offered a teaching post there. On 27 January 1971, the residents of Coronation Street organise a going-away party for them in the Rovers Return Inn. When Valerie is getting ready for the party, she is electrocuted and killed by a faulty hairdryer. Ken finds it too hard to raise the twins by himself and so sends them to Glasgow to live with Valerie's parents. Peter is unable to make it to Ken's wedding to Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride) in 1981 as he is at sea having joined the Navy. In 1986 Peter returns for Susan's wedding to Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs). As Ken is refusing to go to the wedding, Peter makes an emotional appeal to his father saying that at 21 years old he and Susan had barely seen their father in the last 15 years and that he always assumed that given half a chance Ken would step up when his children needed him and he was able to help them. Ken reconsiders and attends the wedding.

Peter returns in December 2000, during the live episode marking the show's fortieth anniversary, after his wife Jessica (who he married off screen on August 8, 1990) leaves him just as the local residents are campaigning to save the cobbles from the local council.

In 2001, Peter helps to catch Phil Simmonds, (Jack Deam), the man who raped Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor), having been a suspect himself. He becomes involved with various local women including Karen Phillips (Suranne Jones) and Linda Sykes (Jacqueline Pirie). He works at the Rovers for a while, until he is discovered helping himself to the spirits by landlord Duggie Ferguson (John Bowe).

In early 2001, Peter accidentally lets slip that Susan has a teenage son, Adam Barlow by Mike Baldwin whom she'd told Mike she'd aborted. When Deirdre finds out, she tells her ex-flame Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin), who tells Mike. Susan (Joanna Foster), who has been visiting Ken at the time, tries to flee when Mike threatens her with legal action, and she is killed in a car accident. Peter is devastated and blames himself as well as Deirdre for Susan's death.

Peter then gets a job at the local bookies, stealing money from the dodgy owner and making it look like a break-in. He begins dating barmaid Shelley Unwin (Sally Lindsay) but when Peter's old Navy friend Ciaran McCarthy (Keith Duffy) comes to visit, he makes a pass at Shelley. Peter believes Ciaran's side of the story and Shelley moves out, though the couple later get back together.

Peter later meets florist Lucy Richards (Katy Carmichael) when he is buying flowers for Shelley. Instantly attracted to her, an affair begins. Lucy, unknown to Peter, hires his stepsister Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) to cover her maternity leave. When Tracy tells Peter her employer is pregnant, Peter realises that he is the child's father. Peter marries Lucy while engaged to Shelley, promising Lucy it is over with the Rovers' landlady; however, Lucy kicks him out when she discovers the truth.

Lucy gives birth to her son Simon in early July 2003 but doesn't want Peter involved. Peter is torn between his son and Shelley. Peter and Shelley are married in a big church wedding. The final showdown comes in the Rovers' with Shelley meeting Lucy, who shows her the wedding photos. When Shelley finds out the truth, she punches Peter in the middle of the packed pub. Lucy tricks him into thinking they have a future together, but announces she is moving to Australia with Simon. Peter resigns himself to never knowing his son and leaves the Street soon after.

On January 8, 2007 Peter returns to Weatherfield after Ken has contacted him regarding Tracy's tempestuous relationship with her boyfriend, Charlie Stubbs (Bill Ward). Only hours after his return, he is viciously attacked by Stubbs who thinks that Peter has just slept with Tracy. Tracy later kills Charlie, supposedly in self defence, and he decides to stay on when she is charged with murder to see her court case. He also has a brief dalliance with Maria Sutherland (Samia Smith), who had been involved with Charlie. However, once Tracy is convicted and sentenced to fifteen years in prison, Peter leaves Weatherfield again, taking his nephew Adam (Sam Robertson) with him to go and open a bookmakers in Portsmouth.

2008—

On 4 July 2008, it was announced that Chris Gascoyne was to reprise his role as Peter in October 2008. On October 24, 2008, Ken receives a phone call from Peter informing him of Lucy's death from breast cancer. Peter returns to Weatherfield on 29 October with his five-year-old son Simon (Alexander Bain) in tow, in need of help from Ken and Deirdre. After putting Simon to bed, he and Ken head for the Rovers where he plans to give his son away. It later appears that Peter has no interest in being a parent and plans to do a runner. This changes when he learns that Lucy has left her entire estate to him. Out of the inheritance, he buys Bookies Best (now called Barlow Bookies) from Dan Mason (Matthew Crompton); Peter and Simon move into the upstairs flat.

Peter makes it clear that he is interested in fellow resident, Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) but she is at first non-committal. On 17 December 2008, a drunken Peter goes to kiss Leanne and, when she rejects him, he grabs her. In self defence, Leanne pushes him and he falls into the decorated Christmas tree, with Simon waking up and Leanne walking out. In early January 2009, he returns to Portsmouth, where he, Simon and Lucy had formerly lived. Later Deirdre, Ken and Blanche Hunt (Maggie Jones), Deirdre's mother, find out that Peter has gone into re-habilitation, following his drink problem. He returns on 6 March, 2009 where he and Leanne resume their relationship with Peter expressing wishes to start a family with Leanne. However, a woman named Christina arrives and tells Leanne that Peter slept with her on a boat while he was away. Shocked and hurt, Leanne leaves for Leeds where she has a new job waiting.

After sending Simon to bed on March 30, 2009. Peter drinks himself to sleep forgetting that he has a lit cigarette in his hand. It drops from his hand and starts a fire. Simon awakes to find his room filling with smoke. After trying to wake up his father he rings Deirdre who rushes over to the bookies, finding the flat on fire. Tony Gordon (Gray O'Brien) and Luke Strong (Craig Kelly) burst in to help, but Peter has accidentally trapped Simon by falling on him leaving them both unconscious. Tony and Luke save them both from the flames just as the flat explodes showering the street in glass. Peter vows that he will never drink again for Simon's sake.

On 8 April 2009, Peter takes Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) on a date. However, Michelle is disgusted by Peter's table manners and his negative, "woe-is-me" attitude towards his life. The date ends disastrously. Peter apologetically brings Michelle chocolate and flowers to say sorry but sees her in the Rovers with Luke Strong and, assuming they were now together, bins the flowers and snaps at Michelle.

A few weeks later, Peter is told by Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) that his father Ken is having an affair with a woman named Martha Fraser (Stephanie Beacham). He confronts Ken about this but decides to keep it as a secret as he thinks that Simon should have a happy childhood, much to Ken's relief. Simon invites Michelle to Peter's birthday party, which Michelle accepts. They share a brief, friendly kiss, but it is clear they have feelings for each other. However, Michelle then shares a "summer romance" with Luke Strong, much to Peter's jealousy.

In an attempt to win Michelle over and to stop her from going on tour with a band, Peter brings her son Ryan (Ben Thompson) tickets to visit her on tour. Michelle is still determined to go on tour, however, but thanks Peter for the tickets. Peter saves Ryan from Sian Powers's (Sacha Parkinson) father, who accuses Ryan of having sex with his daughter. When Michelle learns this, she thanks Peter and they give in to their feelings, kissing passionately on the sofa.

On Michelle's brief return from tour, she tells Peter that she would rather remain friends with him instead of carrying on from where they left off.

On Leanne's return in September 2009, she and Peter quickly resume their relationship. They decide to open a bar, much to the dismay of Ken, who fears this could drive Peter back to drink. During this time, Lucy's estranged father George Wilson (Anthony Valentine) shows up asking for a part in Simon's life. Peter is originally hostile towards him, but relents after some persuasion from Leanne. It is soon revealed that George and his wife Eve are wealthy and willing to invest in Leanne and Peter's bar. This triggers a feud between Ken and George, with Peter siding with George. Despite Ken's opposition, the council grant Peter planning permission to go ahead with the venture.

On 1 February 2010, when meeting with Ciaran again, Peter struggles not to drink alcohol. When he is alone in the venture with alcohol in a glass, he drinks the alcohol, throws away the bottle, and walks away. It is known to Ken, Deirdre, George, Eve (Sabina Franklyn), Leanne, Ciaran, and other people that Peter is drinking again when he drinks in front of them at the bar's opening party and gets intoxicated. Simon then stays at George and Eve's house while Peter is spending time in rehab to sort out his drink problem. After being released from rehab Peter immediately tries to get Simon back, much to the dislike of George, who feels Simon isn't safe with Peter. Peter is arrested after confronting and threatening George, who later announces to his wife that he plans to take full custody of Simon.

Peter's world is turned upside down again when he hears that George and Eve have lost Simon in Blackpool. After a tiring search for Simon, the Barlows return to Weatherfield distraught. Simon later returns to Weatherfield after claiming he got the train home. Peter and Leanne are delighted to have Simon back, but Peter later tells an upset George to stay away from Simon.

In May 2010 Peter becomes part of a plan to make a secret trip to the World Cup, hatched by binman Trevor Dean (Steve Jackson), without telling Leanne. However, Leanne`s step-mother, Janice Battersby (Vicky Entwistle), finds out about the plan and tries to go on the trip too.

In September 2010, Peter has a string of clashes and punch-ups with Leanne's ex-husband Nick Tilsley and accuses them of still having feelings for each other. They also fight over Tracy Barlow's lies about Gail Platt to get her out of prison but later settle their differences as Peter encourages Leanne to open the bar with Nick.

In October 2010, Peter forms a friendship with Leanne's friend Carla Connor after she confesses she has a drink problem. Though originally rejecting his help, the two eventually become close. In November 2010, Carla's feelings for Peter are revealed at the opening night of the new bar, The Joinery. She becomes jealous after watching Peter with Leanne and leaves after a few drinks. Peter later receives a call that she's been arrested for drink driving. After taking her home from the police station, Carla makes a move on Peter, and they kiss.

In December 2010, Peter is involved in a storyline that sees his life put in danger when a gas explosion in The Joinery, where Peter is celebrating his stag do, causes a tram above to derail, smashing into The Kabin and the corner shop. Peter is in the office when the roof collapses on him, butcher Ashley Peacock, and love rival Nick Tilsley. Viewers see the three of them lying motionless under the rubble. Ashley and Nick regain consciousness and attempt to get a badly injured Peter out of The Joinery before the roof collapses. Nick and Ashley help Peter to escape from the ruins of the Joinery, but Ashley is killed when the ceiling collapses on him.

Peter is rushed to hospital with crush injuries to the legs and trauma to the lower back and chest, and suffers from a cardiac tamponade. Fearing for his life, he marries Leanne at his bedside but goes into cardiac arrest moments after the ceremony concludes. The following morning after an operation, a relieved Leanne hears the news that Peter pulled through. Later, in the Rovers Return, his step-mother Deirdre reveals that he has a long road of rehabilitation ahead of him, but is now expected to recover. The next day she clarifies, though, that they don't yet know if he will make a full recovery.

A week on from the accident we see Peter recovering in hospital, still very weak and in some pain but putting a determined brave face on. A conversation with his doctor reveals that he has damage to his spine and will have to learn how to walk properly again; he is facing months in a wheelchair with regular physiotherapy sessions to get his legs mobile again. It doesn't take long for Peter to become bored and frustrated with the slow pace of his recovery. Ken suggests that Peter, Leanne and Simon move in with him and Deirdre for a while, taking Blanche's old room on the ground floor as it is likely to be quite some time before Peter can manage the stairs up to the flat; as this means he will be able to leave hospital sooner, Peter is delighted by the idea.

Reception

Ahead of the fire storyline in March 2009, The Fire Minister Sadiq Khan said: "I would like to thank Coronation Street for highlighting this very important issue. Peter Barlow's actions show how dangerous it is to go to sleep while smoking, putting not only his but son Simon's life at risk too". The episode in which the fire was screened drew in 10.3 million viewers (42.6% audience share) in March 2009.