Former Coronation Street star Tony Hirst is set to appear in a new series of Channel 4's hit drama Patience. The actor, who played fireman Paul Kershaw on the ITV soap from 2010, joins an impressive ensemble cast for the show's second season.
Tony Hirst's Coronation Street Legacy
During his time on the cobbles, Hirst featured in several significant storylines. Most memorably, his character Paul found himself embroiled in a complicated love triangle involving Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) and his Alzheimer's-affected wife Lesley (Judy Holt). In 2013, reports suggested Hirst had been written out and that Paul would meet an explosive end, but this proved incorrect. Instead, the character left Weatherfield following accusations of racism.
Beyond the Cobbles
Beyond Coronation Street, Hirst portrayed Mike Barnes in Channel 4's Hollyoaks and has featured in productions such as Boiling Point, Brassic, and most recently, Riot Women. In a recent chat with Betway, he discussed his current project: Patience, one of Channel 4's biggest hits.
"I'm working on a Channel Four drama called Patience. We've been shooting in York, and then there's a hiatus before they film the interiors," Hirst revealed. "The exteriors are shot in York and Belgium, so I've just been stood down for the time being and I'm waiting to head over to Belgium next month to pick up the rest of my scenes."
He also praised one of his co-stars: "They're a lovely group of people to work with, and I'm working alongside Jessica Hynes, who I think is absolutely fantastic, as well as being a deeply lovely human being. So yes, that's keeping me busy at the moment. After that, who knows? That's the nature of the job."
About Patience
Channel 4's Patience launched in 2025, becoming the broadcaster's most successful drama that year. Based in York, the show centres on Patience (Ella Maisy Purvis) as she operates within the police criminal records department of City of York Police. Earlier this year, a second series arrived featuring a murder mystery that leads to York Minster, a killing at the railway museum, and a magical trail culminating in a pursuit through a Hall of Mirrors.
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
