Peter Barlow

[swmc66]

They had no choice to let her have leave. She needed it for her health. Not a good time to have to write her out but she had been overdoing it

[Dazzle]

Deirdre being absent for so much of the recent drama was unavoidable as Swmc says. It's a time when we viewers need to accept that we need to suspend our disbelief.

I do think her absence could have been written better though. If, say, Deirdre had an accident whilst at Bev's and was laid up in hospital in traction, it would explain her absence but not be serious enough for the rest of the family to be constantly at her bedside. We could have got little comments like they were just back from visiting Deirdre etc, so it needn't have impacted on the storylines.

[swmc66]

The writers have had their work cut out with Ken, Kevin, Dierdre and a few people having babies.

[Perdita]

Chris Gascoyne is returning to Coronation Street.

The Peter Barlow actor left the soap in November after he was cleared of Tina McIntyre's murder, but is understood to be returning for scenes around his on-screen stepmother Deirdre Barlow's funeral.
The actor has told the Birmingham Mail that he will be back in early June for "a few episodes".

Anne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre, died in January after a short illness.

Gascoyne said: "They asked me to go back to the street for a couple of episodes and of course I said yes.

"It is only right that Peter would be there, and if I can I will always want to keep that continuity. The show has been very good to me.

"I worked with Annie for 15 years and I loved her, she was a really lovely woman and I miss her."

He added that all the cast will find filming the scenes difficult: "We will be saying goodbye to Deirdre but also to Annie, so it is bound to be very emotional."

Coronation Street bosses have been working closely with Kirkbride's family as they plan the on-screen send-off.

A memorial service for the actress will take place on Sunday, May 30 at Manchester Cathedral, to allow friends, family and fans to pay their respects to the actress too.

[Dazzle]

Chris Gascoyne is returning to Coronation Street.

That's really good news!

[Kissinger]

I'm bored with Corra, Calum, Sarah, now NIck and what's her name? thank goodness for Tracy putting some mischief in, and I do like Sean and Billy, other than that, blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[LizzyBizzy]

I think it's quite appropriate for him to return for the funeral scenes, it's the kind of thing that would happen in real life. It's also good to hear him acknowledge how good the show's been for him.

[tammyy2j]

Chris Gascoyne makes a brief return to the soap next week, reprising his role as Peter Barlow for Deirdre's emotional send-off.

Peter is due to attend Deirdre's funeral after she passes away suddenly, but he arrives back in Weatherfield late due to problems with the trains.

When finally reunited with his family, Peter finds himself at the centre of a big argument at Number 1 as he, Ken and Tracy all lash out at each other in heated scenes.

Here, Chris talks about his return and his memories of the late Anne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre for 42 years.

What made you return for these episodes?
"I was very close to Annie and I thought that for Annie and the show, Peter would come back, so that was the reason really. I was happy to come back and there was nothing to think about at all. It's been amazing to see everybody. It's made me realise how much I have missed people and it was a fantastic few days.

"Obviously Annie has gone - I was able to go to her funeral, and for a while it will be a poorer place without her, but I feel I can put that to rest now and accept it. We've talked a lot about Annie - myself, Bill [Roache] and Kate [Ford]. We were in the Barlows' for a long time filming 26 pages of dialogue, but we just talked a lot about Annie. It was important for me, in a good way, to be able to understand and say goodbye."

Has it felt strange filming on the Barlow set without Anne?
"It was so strange because I was thinking about 15 years ago when I started in the show and how lovely Annie was to me - her and Bill and Maggie. It seems no time at all but then things have changed so much. It felt strange to be doing a scene about Deirdre's funeral - it still feels strange to comprehend."

Was it difficult to plays the scene surrounding Deirdre's funeral, or could you separate it from real life?
"There were times when I was switched on for Deirdre and there were times when I was switched on for Annie. They didn't seem to have separate places when I was in the Barlows', because I knew both Deirdre and Annie on that set. When you hear 'action' it's Deirdre and when they said cut it was Annie, so it was a strange few days that I had hoped wouldn't be here for many years."

What sort of Peter do we see back in Weatherfield?
"He seems pretty together. He's not drinking, he's been doing his best, and he's still in touch with Simon and Leanne. Peter comes back with all the best intentions but the trains are delayed and he misses the funeral, which he's upset and embarrassed about.

"Then he has an argument with Tracy because she's having a go at Ken and he doesn't like that, then Ken's defending Peter and Tracy's jealous, so straight away you walk back into some very familiar Barlow behaviour. It all centres round Deirdre, which is the most important thing. It's classic Barlows and it was really nice to do - they talk about all the good times and the bad times they've had round that table with Deirdre and Blanche, all the things that have happened, and it was really great to film.

"It was wonderful to see Bill and Kate and not just the actors, everybody here who's been so kind and lovely to me. Just to see everybody has been quite moving, really."

What has Peter been up to while he's been away?
"Well he's got a job with a chartered boat company and he's about to go out for a stint in Antigua, so he has that bombshell to drop before he leaves."

How does that bombshell impact on Simon, who is already troubled?
"Simon's pleased to see his dad but he wants to come with him. We've had this quite a few times before and obviously he can't because Peter feels that Simon staying with Leanne and him not being there is more beneficial to his upbringing.

"Peter doesn't know anything about his recent behaviour to Leanne, but there are little bits when he sees Simon being rude to Leanne. He's been rude to her before, but maybe these incidents are a little bit ruder in a more aggressive and grown up way."

How does Peter feel when Simon makes it clear that he wants to come with him?
"It tugs at his heartstrings but he can't come - Peter's got a different life now and Simon needs to go to school. He can't go to sea, he needs to stay with Leanne. He's better off with Leanne and that's why Peter let him go, because he's better off with Leanne. Whether I or the audience think that's true or not I'm not sure, but Peter does."

Does Peter run into Carla while he's back?
"There is one scene between them where he sees Carla on the street, but you'll have to wait and see what happens. I think there's still something there for Peter, I can't really answer for Carla, but from Peter's point of view yes absolutely. She was his life for so long and he messed it up. It's always going to be there for him and of course if he could have it back, he would in a heartbeat."

Will we see Peter return again at some point down the line?
"Yeah I hope so. I've been playing Peter for so long he's become part of my life and I do miss him. You also miss people. I know it's a cliché but it is a big family here, not just the actors but all the crew as well, I've missed them probably more than I thought I was going to."

What have you been working on away from Coronation Street?
"I've been touring in a theatre production of Little Voice. I'm loving being back in the theatre after 11 years and I'm enjoying it. We'll see what happens next - maybe a bit of TV."

[Perdita]

Coronation Street star Chris Gascoyne makes a brief return to the soap next week, reprising his role as Peter Barlow for Deirdre's emotional send-off.
Peter is due to attend Deirdre's funeral after she passes away suddenly, but he arrives back in Weatherfield late due to problems with the trains.
When finally reunited with his family, Peter finds himself at the centre of a big argument at Number 1 as he, Ken and Tracy all lash out at each other in heated scenes.
Here, Chris talks about his return and his memories of the late Anne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre for 42 years.
What made you return for these episodes?
"I was very close to Annie and I thought that for Annie and the show, Peter would come back, so that was the reason really. I was happy to come back and there was nothing to think about at all. It's been amazing to see everybody. It's made me realise how much I have missed people and it was a fantastic few days.
"Obviously Annie has gone - I was able to go to her funeral, and for a while it will be a poorer place without her, but I feel I can put that to rest now and accept it. We've talked a lot about Annie - myself, Bill [Roache] and Kate [Ford]. We were in the Barlows' for a long time filming 26 pages of dialogue, but we just talked a lot about Annie. It was important for me, in a good way, to be able to understand and say goodbye."
Has it felt strange filming on the Barlow set without Anne?
"It was so strange because I was thinking about 15 years ago when I started in the show and how lovely Annie was to me - her and Bill and Maggie. It seems no time at all but then things have changed so much. It felt strange to be doing a scene about Deirdre's funeral - it still feels strange to comprehend."
Was it difficult to plays the scene surrounding Deirdre's funeral, or could you separate it from real life?
"There were times when I was switched on for Deirdre and there were times when I was switched on for Annie. They didn't seem to have separate places when I was in the Barlows', because I knew both Deirdre and Annie on that set. When you hear 'action' it's Deirdre and when they said cut it was Annie, so it was a strange few days that I had hoped wouldn't be here for many years."
What sort of Peter do we see back in Weatherfield?
"He seems pretty together. He's not drinking, he's been doing his best, and he's still in touch with Simon and Leanne. Peter comes back with all the best intentions but the trains are delayed and he misses the funeral, which he's upset and embarrassed about.
"Then he has an argument with Tracy because she's having a go at Ken and he doesn't like that, then Ken's defending Peter and Tracy's jealous, so straight away you walk back into some very familiar Barlow behaviour. It all centres round Deirdre, which is the most important thing. It's classic Barlows and it was really nice to do - they talk about all the good times and the bad times they've had round that table with Deirdre and Blanche, all the things that have happened, and it was really great to film.
"It was wonderful to see Bill and Kate and not just the actors, everybody here who's been so kind and lovely to me. Just to see everybody has been quite moving, really."
What has Peter been up to while he's been away?
"Well he's got a job with a chartered boat company and he's about to go out for a stint in Antigua, so he has that bombshell to drop before he leaves."
How does that bombshell impact on Simon, who is already troubled?
"Simon's pleased to see his dad but he wants to come with him. We've had this quite a few times before and obviously he can't because Peter feels that Simon staying with Leanne and him not being there is more beneficial to his upbringing.
"Peter doesn't know anything about his recent behaviour to Leanne, but there are little bits when he sees Simon being rude to Leanne. He's been rude to her before, but maybe these incidents are a little bit ruder in a more aggressive and grown up way."
How does Peter feel when Simon makes it clear that he wants to come with him?
"It tugs at his heartstrings but he can't come - Peter's got a different life now and Simon needs to go to school. He can't go to sea, he needs to stay with Leanne. He's better off with Leanne and that's why Peter let him go, because he's better off with Leanne. Whether I or the audience think that's true or not I'm not sure, but Peter does."
Does Peter run into Carla while he's back?
"There is one scene between them where he sees Carla on the street, but you'll have to wait and see what happens. I think there's still something there for Peter, I can't really answer for Carla, but from Peter's point of view yes absolutely. She was his life for so long and he messed it up. It's always going to be there for him and of course if he could have it back, he would in a heartbeat."
Will we see Peter return again at some point down the line?
"Yeah I hope so. I've been playing Peter for so long he's become part of my life and I do miss him. You also miss people. I know it's a cliché but it is a big family here, not just the actors but all the crew as well, I've missed them probably more than I thought I was going to."
What have you been working on away from Coronation Street?
"I've been touring in a theatre production of Little Voice. I'm loving being back in the theatre after 11 years and I'm enjoying it. We'll see what happens next - maybe a bit of TV."

[Kim]

Have we had this a few times before? It was kind of glossed over when Peter left last year but Simon seemed to want to live with Leanne before that.