Coronation Street villain Josh Tucker may still be recovering in hospital following his recent attack, but that’s certainly not stopping him from causing more drama for the Platt family.
Bethany Platt is horrified when she finds out about Billy Mayhew’s recent trips to see Josh – warning him to show his loyalty to David and steer clear from now on. But with Josh finally showing interest in seeking forgiveness through prayer, has Billy actually made some progress?
Digital Spy recently caught up with Ryan Clayton, who plays Josh, to hear about his character’s recent return and what’s coming up in the story.
What kind of reaction have you seen from fans since Josh has returned on screen recently?
“Weirdly, the biggest reaction I’ve seen is that people didn’t think it was me! (Laughs.) Loads of people on Twitter thought it was a different actor, so that was a surprising one.”
It must have been because your hair wasn’t styled!
“I know – I’d actually been using that as a good disguise for myself. I didn’t get noticed as much when I had my hair curly, but now that’s out of the window!
“I think the other main reaction is that people are just interested in where it’s going to go and what’s going to happen now. Was Josh’s attack his justice, or will there be more to it?”
Are you pleased that the Corrie writers have brought Josh back to tie up the loose ends?
“Definitely. With the seriousness of the storyline and what they were asking me to do in the acting stakes, it was an honour that they had that faith in me to take on a role like this and that we’ve been continuing with it.
“It’s definitely important that we give the storyline the right ending, but obviously I can’t talk about the ending or what it is! I suppose the main thing is that the story ends when David has peace of mind – that’s the most important thing.”
Could the show perhaps hint at a redemption for Josh?
“I think you’ve used the right word with ‘hint’ – it is a good question just to put out to the audience, can a soap redeem a character like that? It’s certainly a question that the storyline poses to viewers. I don’t know the answer to that, but it’ll be interesting to see what people’s opinions are.”
Will we learn more about what’s made Josh the way he is?
“Possibly – you’ll have to wait and see with that one!”
Will there be more scenes between Josh and David?
“I think there has to be, really. As long as Josh is still around, it’s always going to involve David. There’s more with Billy too, as he’s Josh’s only other link to the Street at the moment.”
Are you glad that you’ve taken on this storyline, as some actors might have been hesitant to play Josh?
“I am. Everyone tries to explain about what it’s like being noticed when you’ve been on TV, but I don’t think it’s something you can really understand until it actually happens. That can be a bit worse when you’re playing a baddie, but I’m absolutely proud to be part of this storyline.
“You see the outcome and the impact that it’s had, including the statistics of people coming forward after being through similar experiences in real life. So why would I not want to be a part of that? I’m really proud and happy to have been involved.”
Has the fan reaction to the storyline changed over time? Jack P Shepherd (David) admitted the reaction was pretty negative at first…
“As soon as the storyline aired, people did change their minds. At first when the news of the storyline first came out in the press, a lot of people on social media were very against it.
“But I think as soon as it got nearer to the time and viewers saw the way they were going about it, people were on board. You also didn’t see anything take place on screen, apart from Josh shutting the door to the bedroom. There have been much worse things that have actually happened on screen than what you saw there.”
Have you heard from people who’ve been affected by the storyline?
“I’ve worked pretty closely with Duncan Craig from Survivors Manchester for the storyline. I’ve not met anyone personally, but I know a lot of the stories thanks to my conversations with Duncan.”
Is there a part of you that’s sad you probably can’t stay forever in the show?
“Yeah, although I guess when you’re a villain, that’s always the case. But then it’s also nice to come in, make an impact and then go. It’s a great thing to do – when you look at the villains from over the years, they’re often the most memorable roles and that’s a great thing to be a part of.”
What would you like the future to hold for you?
“I love my job, so anything’s that well-written, has got a good team behind it and a good production, I’m always happy to be part of. Hopefully there’ll be more TV and dramas in the future. I’ve always wanted to do dramas and I’d also like to do a bit of comedy now too.”
Congratulations also on being up for Best Bad Boy at the Inside Soap Awards. How does it feel to be in the running?
“I was really made up when I found out that I’d been nominated, especially when I saw the list of people that I was up against. It was an honour to be considered. It’s also funny because my mates had always said that I’d be a villain in a soap one day!”
Votes for the Inside Soap Awards can be cast via the magazine’s official website. Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV.
Survivors Manchester is available to support adult male survivors of sexual abuse and rape. Its website can be found at www.survivorsmanchester.org.uk and its helpline is 0161 236 2182. Local support agencies for all male and female survivors can be found at www.thesurvivorstrust.org. In an emergency, please dial 999.
Digital Spy Soap Scoop video – hit play below for all the latest Coronation Street spoilers, as Jim McDonald returns and Sophie’s new romance story begins.
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