Jack P Shepherd has opened up about the punishing pace of life on Coronation Street — and why it regularly worries his mother-in-law. The actor, 38, has played David Platt on the ITV soap since 2000 and says that when he’s deep into a big storyline, the hours can be relentless.
A Day in the Life on the Cobbles
Speaking on On The Sofa, the podcast he hosts with Colson Smith and Ben Price, Jack explained that being “in a story” can mean long days, five days a week, packed with scenes — and then going straight home to learn the next day’s lines.
He joked that by the time he gets through the front door, he no longer wants to speak to his family. Recalling a recent evening after work, he said his mother-in-law took one look at him and told him he looked exhausted — a comment he met with a sarcastic “thank you”.
Laughing Through the Exhaustion
Laughing as he recalled the comment, he pointed out it’s the kind of thing people say without realising how brutal it sounds. “And she said, 'Oh are you knackered?' and I went, 'I didn't feel like I am but I'm sick of talking', you feel like it's a lot of energy and you have to keep your energy up,” he added.
Despite speculation last year about whether he might be leaving the soap — after scenes showed David in a desperate place, plotting his own death — Jack has remained a core part of the programme.
Recent Storylines and What's Next
In recent months, he has dealt with the early arrival of his daughter, Harper, with his wife Shona Platt (Julia Goulding) and the unexpected addition of his sister-in-law, Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances-Brown), who has been keen to drive a wedge between them.
Recently speaking about what could unfold next, he told Digital Spy: "Jodie does seem to have her eyes set on David and you wonder: 'Is David's head going to get turned?' But he's always been the family man, the faithful one.
"Although he did cop off with Emma [Brooker, played by Alexandra Mardell] – do you remember her, the hair stylist? He also went off with Alina Pop (Ruxandra Porojnicu)! And he copped off with Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) once, although I don't think he was actually in a relationship then.
"So he does cop off so there's a chance he might – and immediately regret it, probably! And then he'd have to confess all, or he might have an ongoing affair with Shona's sister. I mean, his brother did it, so anything is possible!"
Beyond the Cobbles
He went on to say he is "still loves" being a part of the show and teased that more drama is to come from the Platts.
The admission comes shortly after Jack confirmed a new job away from the cobbles. Last month, he announced he’ll make his pantomime debut this Christmas, appearing in Sleeping Beauty at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Wales. The show opens on December 12 and runs until January 2, 2027.
David appears on The Hit List Celebrity Special tonight at 6.10pm on BBC One.
