Lots of villains have caused terror on the cobbles of Coronation Street throughout the years, including Richard Hillman, Pat Phelan and John Stape – to name a few
Coronation Street fans have seen a number of villains step onto the cobbles throughout the years – including Audrey Robert’s son Stephen Reid.
Following Leo Thompkin’s murder, Stephen’s crime has been exposed by a fellow resident – and Friday (January 20), he carries out another horrific crime when he murders Teddy to cover up the truth.
Stephen is just one of a number of serial killers to caused terror in Weatherfield, from Richard Hillman to John Stape and Pat Phelan.
Here, Daily Star takes a look at where the actors who played Corrie’s serial killers are now.
John Stape (Graeme Hawley)
Graeme Hawley played John Stape in Coronation Street (Image: ITV)
John Stape has been the subject of many Coronation Street storylines throughout the past year, after a tell-all book was released about the serial killer.
Viewers will remember that he murdered teacher Colin Fishwick and buried his body beneath Underworld, before assuming his identity.
He also notoriously kidnapped Rosie Webster and killed Joy Fishwick and Charlotte Hoyle during Coronation Street’s 50th anniversary episodes, before his supposed death one year later in 2011.
However, long before actor Graeme Hawley took on the role of John Stape in 2007, the star made his name in theatre productions – before taking on the role of police officer Martin Crowe in rival ITV soap Emmerdale.
Graeme most recently appeared in The Phantom Of The Open (Image: Graeme Hawley/Twitter)
Graeme also had multiple roles in Coronation Street as a police officer and a character called Desmond Worthing, before being cast as John Stape.
That’s not all, as he has also appeared in TV series such as Shameless, Benidorm, The Forsyte Saga and A Touch Of Frost, as well as most recently appearing in Finding Alice and film The Phantom Of The Open.
Away from the limelight, Graeme’s life has been far less dramatic, and has been married to wife Elianne Byrne since 2008, with who he shares a daughter called Audrey and a son called Henry.
He is not the only famous soap star in his family either, as wife Elianne has played three different characters in Emmerdale between 1998 and 2017, including Chrissy Roberts and Stephanie Ray.
She has also appeared in Coronation Street, along with Where The Heart Is and The Royal.
Richard Hillman (Brian Capron)
Brian Capron played Richard Hillman in Coronation Street (Image: Granada TV)
Richard Hillman was a classic Coronation Street villain, who notoriously killed three people during his time on the cobbles.
His murderous rampage began when he left his business partner Duggie Ferguson to die following an accident at a block of flats, before he killed his ex-wife after she threatened to ruin his reputation.
In a bid to gain financially from The Platts, he later attempted to kill Audrey Roberts (but failed), before murdering Maxine Peacock with a crowbar after she caught him trying to murder Emily Bishop.
However, his reign of terror came to an end when he plunged himself and The Platts into a river, with the family fortunately surviving the horrific ordeal that subsequently killed Richard instead.
Richard Hillman star Brian Capron had a long acting career before Corrie though, after he appeared in TV series such as Z Cars, Minder, Birds Of A Feather and Grange Hill.
Brian Capron has most recently appeared in panto in Scarborough (Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Like his Corrie co-stars, he also had a rival soap role in EastEnders as Jerry between 1993 to 1994, and in 2007, he took part in the fifth series of Strictly Come Dancing alongside pro Karen Hardy.
Brian most recently lent his voice to the TV series Broke and appeared in pantomime in Scarborough during 2022.
However, he revealed that he is still remembered for playing Corrie villain Richard – and that one fan even attacked him in the street after mistaking him for his character.
Speaking to Daily Star, Brian said: „I did have people occasionally attack me in the street. There was a woman once who came up and hit me over the head with a brolly, it’s mad.“
In his personal life, the actor has been married to wife Jacqueline Bucknell since 2003, with who he has three children called Lucy, Louis and Ellen.
Brian also fondly remembers when Coronation Street won a BAFTA award for his villainous storyline, but that his wife threw the award out of the house during a row after he got „too big headed.“
He said: „[After the awards ceremony] They gave me a special one which I’ve got at home, but I had a row with my wife over it because she thought I had gotten too big headed so she threw it in the garden, so it’s a bent BAFTA now.
„Funny things happen to you when you get a little bit famous, you get a little bit full of yourself but hopefully I’ve lost that now.“
Brian continued: „I’m still acting because of it, I’m still in the business because of that role, so it was a lovely time and it was the first time that a [soap] storyline won a BAFTA so I’m very proud of that.“
Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre)
Connor McIntyre played Pat Phelan in Coronation Street (Image: ITV)
Pat Phelan was another notorious Coronation Street villain, after he committed a number of crimes including fraud, kidnap and the murder of Michael Rodwell, before being murdered himself by Anna Windass.
Pat Phelan actor Connor McIntyre became a known to viewers across the country for his two stints in Coronation Street between 2013 to 2014 and 2016 to 2018 – but he has also appeared in many other TV series too.
Connor has played Terry Webb in Drop Dead Gorgeous, Brian Neilson in Doctors, Tony in Great Night Out and most recently, Grandad Cooper in Ackley Bridge.
Connor McIntyre has a secret talent as an artist (Image: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
However, the actor also has a secret talent for art, and earned an MA in Contemporary Art Practice at the University of Plymouth in 2015.
He has since launched The Alamo Project, an independent artist-led studio space, and regularly shares his artwork online as well as auctioning some of his work for the Marie Curie charity.
Away from the limelight, Connor tends to keep his personal life private and it is not known if the star is single or in a relationship.
Tracey Barlow (Kate Ford)
Kate Ford plays Tracey Barlow in Coronation Street (Image: ITV)
Kate Ford has played Tracy Barlow since 2002, after taking over the role from actresses Christabel Finch, Holly Chamerette and Dawn Acton playing the role previously.
Viewers have seen her present a more sinister side to the character, including the murder of Charlie Stubbs after she discovered his fling with Maria Connor.
Tracey was sentenced to three years in prison, and in 2015, she also broke into Carla Connor’s flat with the intent of killing her.
She decided against killing Carla but left a lit candle in the flat, which set Victoria Court ablaze and sadly killed residents Maddie Heath and Kal Nazir.
Kate Ford also had a rival soap role in EastEnders (Image: Instagram)
Although actress Kate Ford is well known for her role on Coronation Street, she also had another rival soap role in 2002, starring in an EastEnders spin off about Bianca Jackson and Ricky Butcher.
In her personal life, she was married to TV producer Jon Connerty from 2007 to 2013, and they had one child together.
She is also close friends with X Factor presenter Kate Thornton, who she lives near, telling The Mirror: „We live on the same street in London and our boys are really good friends.
„We’re so close, and in and out of each other’s houses all the time.“
Tony Gordon (Gray O’Brien)
Gray O’Brien played Tony Gordon in Coronation Street (Image: ITV)
Tony Gordon plotted the murders of a number of Weatherfield residents in the noughties, after initially ordering a hitman to kill Liam Connor in 2008.
He attempted to kill ex-wife Carla Connor, pensioner Jed Stone and cobbles fan-favourite Roy Cropper before being sent to prison for his part in Liam’s murder.
However, he broke out of prison and held Carla and the Underworld staff hostage, during which time he shot Robbie Sloane, before dying himself in the factory fire.
Tony actor Gray O’Brien was already a huge star before stepping onto the cobbles, after appearing in Doctor Who Christmas special Voyage Of The Damned and TV series such as Peak Practice, Taggart and River City, as well as playing Prince Charles‘ valet in 2006 film The Queen.
Gray O’Brien has appeared in Peak Practice and Taggart (Image: @lindapurl/Instagram)
In his personal life, the star has one child and was previously married to his wife Lynn.
Gray also announced on Twitter in 2019 that he had been diagnosed with tonsil cancer, saying in a post that he finished his treatment.
„When I received the diagnosis of tonsil cancer I was of course devastated – it’s cancer.“
He continued: „This is only the treatment finished. I now have a long way to go with my recovery. I have been advised it will get worse before it gets better, and I have no reason to doubt this.
„The accuracy of the medical advice I have received with regards to the treatment and how it’s progressed has been spot-on so far.
„As long as I take it a day at a time as I have up until this point I am looking forward to coming through the other side.“
