A festive feud has erupted behind the scenes of Coronation Street, with stars Jack P Shepherd and Ben Price exposing a sweet-toothed scandal that has turned decidedly sour. The drama centres on a generous gift that descended into accusations of chocolate theft, leaving the cast pointing fingers.
The Festive Gift That Turned 'Nasty'
The trouble began when their co-star, James Cartwright (who plays Theo Silverton), kindly presented the cast and crew with a Ferrero Rocher advent calendar to mark the festive season. The actor, who has since gone on holiday, distributed calendars to every department including costume, makeup, and the cast, with the simple instruction to open the doors in numerical order.
However, the spirit of goodwill quickly evaporated. Discussing the situation on their 'On The Sofa' podcast with former Corrie actor Colson Smith, Ben Price revealed the situation had gotten "nasty". He stated bluntly that the advent calendar had become "s****y", as someone had been helping themselves to more than their fair share of the chocolates.
Who Started the Chocolate Chaos?
Jack P Shepherd, who plays David Platt, sheepishly admitted he was the one who first broke the rules. He explained that he and Ben Price, who portrays Nick Tilsley, were working late on a Thursday and decided to eat the chocolates for the upcoming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in advance, reasoning no one would be in to open them over the weekend.
This plan backfired spectacularly when their colleague Joe Tuttine (Tim Metcalfe) arrived on Monday morning excited to catch up on three days of treats, only to find empty doors. The issue escalated further when Jack returned to work to discover that chocolates from future dates had also been pilfered by an unknown culprit.
The Hunt for the Culprit
The search for the chocolate thief is now on. Jack confessed he initially accused Simon Gregson, the actor behind Steve McDonald, but Gregson denied responsibility. Intriguingly, Gregson claimed he knew the identity of the guilty party but refused to reveal whether it was a "boy or girl", adding to the mystery.
Ben Price mischievously theorised about the thief's character, quipping that it must be "someone who would rob your house", suggesting such an act indicated a capacity for "really nasty things". The podcast discussion, recorded ahead of the soap's 65th anniversary, highlights the lighter, yet fiercely contested, dramas that unfold off-screen on the famous cobbles.
Meanwhile, fans can see Jack P Shepherd on ITV1 and ITVX on Monday night at 9pm, where he will appear on The Big Quiz: Coronation Street v Emmerdale.
