Peter Barlow (Coronation Street)

Peter Barlow
Coronation Street character
Chris Gascoyne as Peter Barlow (2015)
Portrayed by	Robert Heanue (1965–1970) Chris Dormer (1970–1971) Mark Duncan (1971) Linus Roache (1973–1975) Joseph McKenner (1977–1978) David Lonsdale (1986) Chris Gascoyne (2000–2023)
Duration	1965–1971, 1973–1975, 1977–1978, 1986, 2000–2003, 2007–2023
First appearance	Episode 450 5 April 1965 (1965-04-05)
Last appearance	Episode 11145 26 December 2023 (2023-12-26)
Classification	Former; regular
Introduced by	H. V. Kershaw (1965) Eric Prytherch (1973) Bill Podmore (1977) Jane MacNaught (2000) Steve Frost (2007) Kim Crowther (2008) Stuart Blackburn (2015) Kate Oates (2016)
Spin-off appearances	Coronation Street: Text Santa Special (2013)
David Lonsdale as Peter Barlow (1986)
In-universe information Occupation Sailor (Royal Navy) Businessman Bookmaker Barman Taxi driver Pub landlord Father Ken Barlow Mother Valerie Barlow Stepmother Janet Reid Deirdre Barlow Sisters Susan Barlow Half-brothers Lawrence Cunningham Daniel Osbourne Half-sisters Tracy Barlow (adoptive) Wife Jessica Midgeley (1990–2000) Lucy Richards (2003–2008) Shelley Unwin (2003; void) Leanne Battersby (2010–2012) Carla Connor (2013–2014, 2021–2024) Sons Simon Barlow Grandfathers Frank Barlow Alfred Tatlock Grandmothers Ida Barlow Edith Tatlock Uncles David Barlow Aunts Joyce Tatlock Nephews James Cunningham Adam Barlow Bertie Osbourne Nieces Amy Barlow (adoptive) First cousins Darren Barlow Other relatives Nancy Leathers Albert Tatlock Beattie Pearson Ada Broadbent

Peter Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Chris Gascoyne from 2000 to 2023. The character of Peter was born on screen during an episode broadcast on 5 April 1965, he was born along with his twin sister Susan (Katie Heanue, Wendy Jane Walker, Suzy Patterson, Joanna Foster) to parents Ken (William Roache) and Valerie Barlow (Anne Reid).^[1] Gascoyne made his first appearance in the role during the 40th anniversary live episode airing on 8 December 2000. Gascoyne left the role in 2003 and returned in 2007 for a brief stint before returning full-time in 2008. In January 2014 it was confirmed that Gascoyne would be leaving once again. His final scenes aired on 14 November 2014.^[2] In April 2015, it was announced that Gascoyne would reprise the role for two episodes for the funeral of Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride)^[3] and Peter returned on 15 July 2015 and left once again the following day. In July 2016, it was announced that Peter would be returning as a regular character, with his return airing on 17 October 2016. Peter departed the series again on 26 December 2023. Peter made a voice appearance on 24 January 2024. ^[4] Peter's storylines have included a number of affairs, alcoholism and a custody battle involving his son Simon Barlow (Alex Bain). Peter became involved in a bigamy storyline when he married Rovers barmaid Shelley Unwin (Sally Lindsay) and florist Lucy Richards (Katy Carmichael). Having been discovered, Peter was left alone and fled Weatherfield. He returned briefly in 2007 when his adoptive sister Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Charlie Stubbs (Bill Ward). He returned for good in 2008 with five-year-old Simon, whom he had by Lucy; who had since died from breast cancer. Peter began a relationship with Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) and they married during the 50th anniversary episode; however, they divorced in 2012 after Peter's affair with Carla Connor (Alison King) was discovered. Peter later went on to marry Carla, and then had an affair with much younger Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan). Peter was framed for Tina's murder by Rob Donovan (Marc Baylis) and upon his release from prison, his marriage to Carla broke down and he left Weatherfield.

When he returned in 2016, it was revealed he had begun a relationship with Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor), which they agreed to keep secret from a pregnant Leanne, in order to not affect her pregnancy. Simon and Leanne's sister Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley) soon discovered this, followed by Leanne, and he and Toyah subsequently purchased The Rovers Return, from Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson). He and Toyah soon begin family planning, with them beginning surrogacy, as Toyah had multiple failed IVF treatments in the past and was unable to conceive naturally. Their baby son was stillborn, and Toyah and Eva secretly agreed to pretend that Eva and Aidan's daughter, Susie, is Peter's daughter, as Eva does not want to be a mother, but Toyah tells Peter after Eva has a change of heart, resulting in their split. Afterwards, Peter buys 50% of the Underworld factory from Alya Nazir (Sair Khan), partnering with Carla, and supports Simon after he is the victim of bullying by former friend Tyler Jefferies (Will Barnett), which results in Peter being shot with a paint gun. Peter also sleeps with Abi Franklin (Sally Carman) and supports Carla after the factory collapses after it is sabotaged by builder Gary Windass (Mikey North), which sees Carla blamed for the death of Rana Habeeb (Bhavna Limbachia). Carla has a mental breakdown before the couple reunite into another relationship before later getting remarried in 2021. In October 2023, Peter killed serial killer Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce) by purposely running him over in a final showdown with the residents, Peter along with Stephen's family watch on as Stephen dies as a result of the crash.