The actor who played Bethany Platt's father in Coronation Street looks completely different years after departing the soap. Paul Holowaty portrayed Neil Fearns, the father of Sarah Platt's daughter Bethany, in the iconic 2000 teenage pregnancy storyline that stunned viewers nationwide.
Bethany, currently portrayed by Lucy Fallon, has been a fixture on the programme for years. As Sarah Platt's (Tina O'Brien) daughter, she has featured in numerous major storylines throughout her time on the show, particularly now as Bethany is expecting a baby with Sarah's former partner Kit Green (Jacob Roberts).
The 2000 Teenage Pregnancy Storyline
It was in 2000 when Bethany arrived on the soap following 13-year-old Sarah's pregnancy in a pioneering storyline. At that time, it marked one of the first occasions a British soap opera had addressed the subject of teenage pregnancy. A landmark moment in Coronation Street's history, the storyline was developed to highlight the realities and challenges of becoming a mother at a young age.
Teenage Sarah and her mum Gail Platt (Helen Worth) learnt of the pregnancy during a doctor's appointment after initially thinking Sarah had an eating disorder, reports the Daily Star. Upon discovering she was five months along, they concealed the pregnancy from their neighbours on the street. Nevertheless, news spread and Sarah endured cruel comments and jibes.
Neil Fearns and His Exit
While her parents assumed the father was someone older, it transpired to be Sarah's classmate, Neil Fearns, and in June 2000, Sarah welcomed Bethany Platt. Despite his daughter's arrival, Neil never met Bethany. When she turned one, Neil's relatives sent a birthday card and cheque to the Platt household.
However, Neil lost his life in a car accident in 2003. Sarah was informed of his death by Martin and Gail, leaving her surprised though not particularly distressed.
Paul Holowaty's Career After Coronation Street
After departing the show, actor Paul Holowaty secured a part on Hollyoaks in 2005, portraying racist bully Steven 'Macki' MacIntosh. His credits also include Casualty, and in 2016, Paul headed to America for an appearance on NCIS. His filmography includes the 2020 Hollywood blockbuster Doolittle, TV movie Falling for Love, and earlier this year, he featured in the multi award winning feature film NUMB.
The actor's appearance has changed considerably since his Coronation Street days, with the former soap star now sporting facial hair. Paul has said goodbye to the school shirts and opted for more sophisticated wardrobe choices.
Reflecting on the Storyline
Reflecting on the controversial teenage pregnancy plot, Tina previously said: "Nothing for me will probably ever beat that story, just because of the age I was, the opportunity to play out a teenage pregnancy and how much the story blew up."
"Neil Fearns was Sarah's first sexual relationship, it happened once, she was very young and very naive. They were just so young and with not being in a relationship, Neil was never really involved. It was crazy the response to that storyline but I absolutely loved playing it."
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
