Coronation Street fans were left stunned by a star's transformed appearance, with some questioning whether the actor has been replaced. Long-time viewers of the ITV soap will recognise that Joseph Brown is the son of Chesney Brown (Sam Aston) and stepson of Gemma Winter-Brown (Dolly-Rose Campbell).
Actor William Flanagan has portrayed the character since his reintroduction in October 2017, with the role previously being played by Lucca-Owen Warwick. Joseph has certainly been at the centre of some dramatic storylines on the cobbles: from losing his mum Katy Armstrong (Georgia May Foote) to receiving a Lyme disease diagnosis.
Joseph's Current Dilemma
Currently in the soap, Joseph is confronting a fresh dilemma after his grandmother Linda Hancock informed Chesney that she had declared bankruptcy and could no longer afford Joseph's private school fees, reports the Daily Star. In Friday's episode (July 17) Gemma and Chesney inform Joseph that Linda's been in contact and she's secured the funds for his school fees.
Fan Reactions to Joseph's Look
Yet, after viewing the latest episode, fans were taken aback by Joseph's look, with one posting on a Coronation Street Facebook fan page: "Has Joseph, the eldest son of Gemma and Chesney, changed? He looks similar but I'm not sure if it's a new actor." Someone else chimed in: "I thought that similar looking but different boy?" A third then clarified: "No it's the same one he's just grown up. They all have." Another commented: "Same actor they are all growing up so fast."
William Flanagan's Family on Corrie
Some viewers may be aware that William Flanagan appears alongside his twin sister Isabella on Corrie, who is widely recognised for portraying Hope, the daughter of Fiz (Jennie McAlpine) and Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall), having taken on the role in August 2017, replacing twins Faith and Nicole Holt. The twins' proud parents, Chris and Rachel Flanagan, frequently post updates on social media about their soap star offspring, including eldest daughter Amelia who appears as April Windsor in Emmerdale.
Award-Winning Siblings
The gifted siblings regularly earn acclaim for their acting abilities, and Amelia and Isabella found themselves competing against one another at the 2022 Inside Soap Awards. Both sisters secured nominations for the Best Young Performer award, alongside Amelia's Emmerdale colleague Gabrielle Dowling (Cathy Hope) and Isabella's Corrie colleague Jude Riordan (Sam Blakeman), with Isabella ultimately claiming the accolade.
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
