Coronation Street star Jake Parry has announced his return to the iconic cobbles after two decades, but this time as a completely different character. The actor took to TikTok to share a sneak peek of his upcoming appearance on the ITV soap, featuring his new character Damo in a scuffle with newcomer Idris Nazir, played by Junade Khan.
Jake Parry's Return as Damo
Jake captioned the video: 'Coronation Street trailer. Catch me as DAMO next week.' When a fan inquired about the air date, the actor confirmed: 'May 26.' This marks a significant return for Jake, who first appeared on the show as a baby. From July to November 2003, Jake and his twin brother Oscar portrayed Simon Barlow, the son of Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) and grandson of Ken Barlow (William Roache).
Jake explained in the video: 'For anyone wondering, I played Simon Barlow with my brother when I was a baby. I have now come back as a different character DAMO which is out next week.' The role of Simon Barlow was later taken over by Alex Bain in 2008, who remained on the show until 2024.
Jake's Career Beyond Coronation Street
Aside from his early role on Coronation Street, Jake has appeared in BBC shows such as Red Rose, as well as Mount Pleasant and Doctors. He has also featured in advertisements for major brands including Microsoft, Taco Bell, and FIFA. His film credits include The Awakening and It Feels Like This.
Nicola Thorp's Debt Revelation
In other Coronation Street news, former star Nicola Thorp has revealed she has been in £30,000 of debt for the past 17 years due to struggles paying her drama school fees. The 36-year-old actress, who played Nicola Rubinstein on the soap, appeared on This Morning to discuss the financial burden of university education.
Nicola, who studied acting at Arts Educational School in London from 2007 to 2010, told hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley: 'Yes I did. I had to pay. I am still in about £30,000 of debt now. Even 17 years later.' Ben commented: 'And that's the reality for a lot of these students. They don't have a choice.'
Nicola's Career Transition
Nicola starred on Coronation Street for two years after landing the role in 2017. Since then, she has transitioned from acting into journalism and presenting. She has been a regular commentator on This Morning since 2020 and co-hosted TalkTV's Talk Today from 2020 to 2024. In 2023, she participated in Celebrity Hunted with her husband Nikesh Patel, and the couple welcomed their daughter a year later.
