Coronation Street fans were left gutted after the soap issued an update on cobbles favourite Peter Barlow, confirming he remains overseas with no immediate plans to return.
Peter Barlow's long history on the cobbles
Peter, portrayed by Chris Gascoyne, first appeared on the ITV soap in 1965 when he was born on-screen. He is the son of Ken (William Roache) and Valerie Barlow (Anne Reid) and twin brother to his late sister Susan (Wendy Jane Walker), who died in a car crash in 2001. After moving to Glasgow at age five with his sister, Peter made a surprising return to Weatherfield in 2000 following his service in the Royal Navy.
Throughout his time on the show, Peter has been involved in numerous major storylines, including struggles with alcoholism, multiple marriages, and welcoming his son Simon (Alex Bain). His turbulent relationship with Carla Connor (Alison King) was marked by cheating, lies, dependency, and heartbreak.
Update in Friday's episode
During Friday's episode (July 3), Peter was referenced by his former partner Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson), who disclosed that Simon was in Europe with Peter. This fleeting mention sparked swift reactions from fans on a Coronation Street Facebook fan page. One viewer said: "Peter mention!" Another remarked: "Is he still abroad! He's not coming back anytime soon is he?" A third commented: "Probably not, I miss him!" Another added: "Same he needs to come back already."
Exit in 2023
Peter last appeared in the soap in 2023, departing the cobbles for a fresh start overseas after another separation from Carla. Speaking to BBC News about his departure, actor Chris Gascoyne confessed: "The thing that upset me though was walking away from the people I work with and I don't just mean the actors. I've known all these people for nearly half my life. I've grown up with so many people there but I need a rest and to look to do something different, I'm not getting any younger."
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
