Coronation Street fans were left baffled by Joseph Brown's new look in Friday's episode (July 17), with many questioning whether the character had been recast. Joseph, the son of Chesney Brown (Sam Aston) and stepson of Gemma Winter-Brown (Dolly-Rose Campbell), has been played by actor William Flanagan since October 2017. Flanagan took over the role from Lucca-Owen Warwick.
In the latest storyline, Joseph faced a crisis after his grandmother Linda Hancock revealed she had gone bankrupt and could no longer afford his private school fees. However, in Friday's episode, Gemma and Chesney informed Joseph that Linda had found the money for his tuition.
Fan Reactions on Social Media
After the episode aired, fans took to a Coronation Street Facebook fan page to express their confusion. One viewer wrote: "Has Joseph, the eldest son of Gemma & Chesney, changed? He looks similar but I'm not sure if it's a new actor." Another commented: "I thought that similar looking but different boy?" A third clarified: "No it's the same one he's just grown up. They all have." Another added: "Same actor they are all growing up so fast."
William Flanagan's History on the Show
William Flanagan has portrayed Joseph for nearly a decade, during which the character has been involved in major storylines, including the death of his mother Katy Armstrong (Georgia May Foote) and a diagnosis of Lyme disease. Fans may also recognize Flanagan's twin sister, Isabella Flanagan, who plays Hope Stape on Coronation Street. Isabella joined the soap in August 2017, taking over from twins Faith and Nicole Holt.
A Talented Family of Soap Stars
William and Isabella are the children of Chris and Rachel Flanagan, who frequently share updates about their soap star children. The couple's eldest daughter, Amelia Flanagan, stars as April Windsor in Emmerdale. The three siblings often receive praise for their performances. In the 2022 Inside Soap Awards, Amelia and Isabella were both nominated for the Best Young Performer award, alongside Amelia's Emmerdale co-star Gabrielle Dowling (Cathy Hope) and Isabella's Corrie co-star Jude Riordan (Sam Blakeman). Isabella ultimately won the award.
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
