Peter Barlow (Coronation Street)

Infobox soap character
color=#F0E68C
series = Coronation Street
name=Peter Barlow
portrayer = Chris Gascoyne
first = 15 April 1965
born = Bda|1965|4|15|df=yes
residence = Portsmouth
occupation = Bookmaker
spouse = Lucy Richards
Shelley Unwin
parents = Ken Barlow
Valerie Barlow
grandparents = Frank Barlow
Alfred Tatlock
Ida Barlow
Edith Tatlock
siblings = Susan Barlow
Daniel Osbourne (half)
aunts/uncles = David Barlow
cousins = Darren Barlow
nieces/nephews = Adam Barlow
children = Simon Barlow
books = Coronation Street: The Complete Saga

Peter Barlow is a fictional character in Coronation Street. He was played by six actors prior to Chris Gascoyne who has played Peter since 2000. One of the 6 who played Peter was Linus Roache, the real-life son of William Roache who plays Peter's father, Ken Barlow on the show. He will return in October 2008.

Character creation and development

Peter and his twin sister Susan Barlow were born in April 1965. They had a relatively uneventful childhood until their mother Valerie Barlow's accidental death in early 1971. Ken sent them to live with relatives in Glasgow, where they stayed for the rest of their adolescence. Peter joined the Navy, returning to the Street for periodic visits until 1988.

Peter's abandonment by his father helped shape him into the bitter, fragile man he became, but he did love his family.

Return

Peter returned in 2000, just as the local residents were campaigning to save the cobbles from the local council. Peter helped to catch the rapist of Toyah Battersby having being a suspect himself, and became involved with various local women including Karen Phillips and Linda Sykes. He worked at the Rovers for a while, until he was discovered helping himself to the spirits by landlord Duggie Ferguson.

usan's death

In early 2001, Peter accidentally let slip that Susan had a teenage son (Adam) by Mike Baldwin whom she'd allowed everyone to believe she'd aborted. When Ken's wife Deirdre found out, she soon told her ex-flame Dev, who told Mike. Susan, who had been visiting Ken at the time, tried to flee when Mike threatened her with legal action, and she was killed in a car accident. Peter was devastated and blamed himself as well as Deirdre.

helley

Peter then got work at the local bookies, stealing money from the dodgy owner and making it look like a break-in. He then began dating Shelley Unwin. Peter's old navy pal Ciaran McCarthy came to visit, but he made a pass at Shelley. Peter believed Ciaran's side of the story and Shelley moved out, though the couple later got back together.

Lucy

Peter later met florist Lucy Richards when he was buying a bouquet for Shelley. Instantly attracted to her, an affair began. Lucy, unknown to Peter, hired Tracy Barlow at the shop, revealing later to Tracy that she was pregnant. When an unknowing Tracy told Peter her employer was pregnant, Peter realised the child was his. Peter married Lucy while he was engaged to Shelley, promising Lucy it was over with the Rover's landlady; however Lucy kicked him out when she found out the truth.

Bigamy and exit

Peter's son Simon was born in early July 2003 but at first Lucy didn't want Peter to be involved with him. But Peter was torn between his son and Shelley. Peter and Shelley were married in a big church wedding.

The final showdown came in the Rover's, with Shelley meeting Lucy, who went on to show her her wedding photos. When Shelley found out the truth, she punched Peter in the middle of a packed Rover's.

Lucy tricked him into thinking they had a future together, but in front of the pub regulars she announced she was moving to Australia with son Simon. Peter resigned himself to fact he would never know his son, and left the Street soon after.

2007 visit

On January 8, 2007 Peter returned to Weatherfield after his father had contacted him regarding his stepsister's tempestuous relationship with her boyfriend, Charlie Stubbs. Only hours after his return he was viciously attacked by Stubbs who incorrectly thought that Peter had just slept with Tracy. Tracy later killed Charlie, supposedly in self defence, and he decided to stay on her when she was charged with murder. He also had a brief dalliance with Maria Sutherland, who had been involved with Charlie. However, once Tracy was convicted and sentenced to fifteen years in prison, Peter left Weatherfield again, taking his nephew Adam with him to go and open a bookmakers in Portsmouth.

2008 return

It has been announced that Chris Gascoyne will reprise his role as Peter later this year, bringing his on-screen son Simon with him, and taking over the bookies. [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a107362/peter-barlow-returns-to-corrie.html]

References