Coronation Street actor Rob Mallard has spoken candidly about living with essential tremor, a hereditary neurological condition that affects over a million people in the UK. The star, who has portrayed Daniel Osborne on the ITV soap for nearly a decade, revealed that his tremor is worsening over time and may one day be incorporated into his character's storyline.
Living with Essential Tremor
Diagnosed at age 14, Mallard decided to go public with his condition a few years ago after online speculation suggested he had a drinking problem. He explained: "I decided to be open about it, because it's just become harder and harder to hide. There'll be scenes where I'll think my hand was shaking really badly. Then I'll watch it and you can't really see anything at all. But it was making me close off in front of the camera, because my entire concentration was on, 'just don't shake, don't shake'. I realised I couldn't do the job and try and hide the tremor at the same time; I needed to be open about it."
The actor recalled a live TV interview where viewers thought he was intoxicated, but in reality, his tremor was exacerbated by caffeine. This incident prompted him to disclose his condition publicly.
Progressive Condition May Influence Character
Essential tremor is characterised by involuntary shaking, typically in the hands, but can also affect the legs, head, and voice. Mallard acknowledged that the condition is progressive and worse than a decade ago. He stated: "There may come a point where it has to be incorporated into the character, because it will eventually get to the point where I can't hide it. But if it is folded into the character, it's awareness raising - I get a lot of young people come up to me and put their hands out and say 'look, I've got it too.'"
As a patron of the National Tremor Association, Mallard finds the attention challenging but is happy to be associated with the charity. He noted that Coronation Street's production team has been supportive, allowing him to manage the tremor discreetly during scenes, such as supporting his elbow while holding a pint glass.
Daniel Osborne's Current Storyline
On-screen, Daniel Osborne's life is spiralling out of control. This week, his young son Bertie accidentally sets their flat on fire while Daniel is passed out drunk, and Daniel later elbows his father Ken Barlow in the face during a family confrontation. Mallard described the scene: "It's an accident, but it's still shocking and a sobering moment where Daniel realises that he's out of control." He praised Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, for insisting on performing his own stunts despite being 94 years old.
Mallard reflected on Daniel's anger stemming from humiliation, including a failed relationship and being cheated on. He said: "I love the storyline. It feels very much like it's going back to the roots of the character. He was a lot weirder when he first joined."
Career and Personal Life
Before joining Coronation Street in 2016 as Ken's long-lost son, Mallard played rent boy roles in series such as No Offence and Emmerdale, which he jokingly called typecasting. He grew up in Oldham, Lancashire, and now lives in rural Cheshire with his cockapoo puppy, Poe. Mallard admitted he finds fame difficult and prefers a quiet life: "I'm quite introverted and shy."
Despite his character's tumultuous relationships, Mallard enjoys working on the soap and can envision staying for decades. He quipped that Daniel's next partner should be an older woman, perhaps Maggie, played by Pauline McLynn, with whom he shares a playful on-screen dynamic.
