As Daniel Osbourne continues to spiral on Coronation Street, we take a closer look at the life of actor Rob Mallard, who portrays the troubled character. From his health struggles to his romantic entanglements with fellow cast members, here is everything you need to know about the star.
Rob Mallard's Health Condition
Rob has been open about living with an essential tremor, a hereditary neurological condition that affects over a million people in the UK. The condition causes involuntary shaking, primarily in the hands, but can also impact the legs, head, and voice. Diagnosed at age 14, Rob decided to go public a few years ago to raise awareness. He explained, "I decided to be open about it, because it's just become harder and harder to hide." He added that while he often thinks his hand is shaking noticeably, viewers rarely see it on screen. However, as the condition is progressive, Rob acknowledged that it may eventually need to be incorporated into his character, Daniel. "It's worse now than it was ten years ago. So, there may come a point where I have to incorporate it into the character, because I won't be able to hide it," he said.
Romance with Co-Star Daniel Brocklebank
In 2017, Rob publicly came out as gay in an interview with Gay Times, having come out to his family at age 17. Shortly after joining Coronation Street in 2016, he began a relationship with fellow actor Daniel Brocklebank, who played vicar Billy Mayhew on the soap from 2014 to 2026. The couple went public when Rob won the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer in 2017. However, their romance ended just months later, with sources citing the strain of balancing their professional and personal lives. An insider told The Sun, "It was a lot of pressure for both of them to be working on the same show. Something had to give. They parted ways a couple of weeks ago but remain great friends." Rob later dated Ben Perryman for six months, with the split confirmed in 2019.
Recent Relationship and Split
In June 2023, Rob made his relationship with actor Matthew Martin official at the British Soap Awards, sharing a red carpet photo on Instagram. Matthew made a cameo on Coronation Street earlier this year as a police officer arresting Cassie Plummer. However, reports emerged this week that the couple have split after four years together. The Sun claimed they have unfollowed each other on Instagram and removed most photos of their romance from social media. The Mirror has contacted Coronation Street for comment.
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
