Former Coronation Street star John Thomson has revealed that he hasn't landed a single acting role in the past six months. The actor, known for playing Jesse Chadwick on the ITV soap and Pete in Cold Feet, admitted that work has dried up amid the changing television landscape.
Career Hiatus and Industry Changes
Thomson, who was part of Gail Platt's exit storyline, last appeared on Coronation Street over Christmas 2024. After his character married Gail and moved to France, he filmed an episode of Art Detectives with Larry Lamb and appeared in The Madame Blanc Mysteries with Sally Lindsay, which aired last December.
Speaking on the Scary Clown Deep Dive podcast, he said: "Not this year I'm not [busy]. Last year was feast, this year is famine. I haven't done a single acting job for six months. It's hard now. No one's got any money, that's the problem. For commercial stations that rely on advertising, everyone has switched to platforms so they just pay subscriptions."
He added: "If you wanted to advertise your product, why would you pick a commercial station that people are tuning out of? You're not getting the views."
ADHD Diagnosis and Medication Experience
Thomson, also known for The Fast Show and Men Behaving Badly, recently discussed his ADHD diagnosis on the podcast I'm ADHD! No You're Not, hosted by Paul Whitehouse and his wife Dr Mine Conkbayir. He recalled a conversation with actress Siobhan Finneran that led to his realization.
He said: "Oh my God, that's, that's it. I say that every day. That sums it up. Jesus, yeah, man. And I, and I do, I get on me own nerves."
Thomson also shared his experience with ADHD medication Elvanse, saying: "When I tried the Elvanse medication, I was horrified to learn it was an amphetamine. I thought, 'Hang on, I'm in recovery. Why would you give me speed?'"
He described the medication as "awful" and noted that he took it on and off during a difficult period when family members passed away. He said: "I started to feel really edgy, like a bit kind of prickly. And I was so gutted that the, all the three people I know had took it and went, chatter gone. I feel like they'd had a spliff."
Thomson revealed he exhibited early signs of ADHD as a child, with his mum describing him as "dervish" and "wild during the daytime."
