Coronation Street actor Ben Price has heaped praise on his young co-star Jude Riordan, stating that the teenager 'makes him better' as they work together on a challenging new storyline. Jude, who plays Sam Blakeman, has been at the centre of a gripping plot involving grooming and mental health struggles.
Sam Blakeman's Emotional Journey
Jude Riordan has portrayed Sam Blakeman since 2020, when the character was revealed as the son of Nick Tilsley and the late Natasha Blakeman. Over the years, Sam has been involved in several significant storylines, but his current arc is arguably his most demanding yet. The character's mental health has deteriorated after discovering that teen Will Driscoll was being groomed by his coach and teacher, Megan Walsh.
When Megan threatened Sam into silence, he tried to expose her but ended up hospitalised after taking tablets not prescribed to him. In hospital, he confessed to his stepmother Leanne Battersby and her sister Eva Price, Will's stepmother. Megan denied everything, but Will eventually admitted the truth. With Megan awaiting trial, Sam must give evidence, and the pressure has intensified his visual and auditory hallucinations.
The Café Confrontation
In Friday's episode, Sam locked himself in the café after hearing a hallucinated Roy Cropper warning him that Will would kill him. Roy found Sam in a terrible state, and Sam's dad Nick Tilsley and stepmothers Leanne and Toyah Battersby tried to reach him. Confused by seeing two versions of Roy, Sam threw a chair at the real Roy before fleeing. Roy was injured, and Carla Connor later found Sam in the precinct. Recognising signs of psychosis, Carla comforted him and contacted Nick. When Nick arrived, Sam panicked and was tackled by his father. Exhausted, Sam fell asleep in the car, only to wake up horrified at Weatherfield General.
Ben Price's Praise for Jude Riordan
Speaking about Jude's leading role in this mature storyline, Ben Price said: 'It's very tricky in the show to go from a child actor to, you know, your voice breaks, you get bigger, and you're given a story which brilliantly bridges the child-to-adult story. Which you're carrying. We did talk about it a lot. We're quite close in a very work way.'
He added: 'We're very good at sitting down and going, 'What do they need from the scene?' I remember we did an early scene where he lost it, and I said, 'I think we go for this. I think we really go for it, because I think you're leading this now.' When he was younger, I would probably be more of the driving force, but I said, 'I think you are now. This is your story!''
Of their partnership, Ben said: 'Selfishly, I want him to be brilliant, and he is brilliant. When you're with someone who's discovering that power as an actor, in an adult story, it's really amazing to watch. He is really, really good and such a nice young lad as well. Super level, super diligent, but also, he's got a bit of a Platt about him. It's been really lovely for me. I get to work with a really good actor, and it makes me better.'
