The actor lifts the lid on soap life, his acting passions now, the Coronation Street legend he misses every day and the real reason he won’t make a ghostly return.
Steven Arnold joined Coronation Street in 1995 as Ashley Peacock, the son of Fred Elliott, working alongside acting legend John Savident.
What began as a tiny, three-line role for a single episode quickly blossomed into a 15-year stint. Over the years, Ashley became a beloved fixture on the cobbles, but his character met a shocking end during the soap’s infamous tram crash for the 50th anniversary, cementing his place in Corrie history.
Since leaving the soap, the 51-year old has turned his focus away from television and embraced life in the theatre, insisting he has no plans to return to the cobbles – even for a ghostly encounter.
Speaking to our online casino team, he also opens up about who he’s still close to from his time on set, his fondest memories with John Savident, and the unforgettable “pinch me” moment when he first realised the show had made him a household name.
What’s your fondest memory from your time on Coronation Street?
Working with John (Savident), who played my dad, Fred Elliot. He had such a wealth of experience. Even now when I go into colleges to teach acting, I can hear his words coming through my mouth. He taught me how to act on set, how to give passion to a character. I miss him so much. He was like a father to me. I can’t even begin to explain how much that man taught me. There was not a specific day or moment that stands out to me. Every day with him was special.
Was it hard to find acting roles after leaving the soap?
I knew I wanted to move into theatre, so the hard thing for me was really learning the craft. I had to learn how to project, how to move. On TV, you just hit your mark, but on stage you’ve got this huge space to work with. I remember a friend coming to see me in my first theatre job and saying, ‘You really knew what you were doing, but you stood in one spot like you were still on TV.’ That really stuck with me, so I knew I had to learn!
You were on the show during some iconic years. Was there a ‘pinch me’ moment that stands out?
I remember playing football with my mates where I grew up in Warrington, just as the episodes I’d filmed were starting to go out. One of my best mates said, ‘Go on, have a look in the windows as we walk past.’ And I did, and in every house you could see the TV on. It was one of those moments where you think, wow. Your life changes so quickly.
Soap life can be very demanding with long hours on set. Was that hard?
I never looked at it that way. It was a job I loved and I was being paid. I had friends who were builders and scaffolders and who were on their feet all day. I just tried to enjoy every moment.
Your character died in the infamous tram crash for the show’s 50th anniversary. Did anything go wrong during filming?
Yes, it did. Ashley was crushed by this falling beam and it was hanging on chains. We filmed the episode and I went off and had my leaving party. Then the directors realised the chain had been rocking, so they made me come back in and film my death scene again. I’d already said my goodbyes and then I was back on set!
Who was your favourite on-screen partner?
It has to be John. As I said, I miss him every day. I also loved working with Tracy Shaw, who played Maxine Peacock, and Julia Haworth, who played Claire Peacock.
Was there a dark side to being on a soap?
Not really, for me anyway. The hardest part was you had to learn your lines so you couldn’t just go out and do what you wanted. You had to stay home and learn the pages. But I wanted to act, so I was happy to do it.
Are you still friends with any of the cast?
I got on great with everyone. It’s been 16 years since I left so I don’t talk to everyone as often as I’d like. Life moves on and gets busy. But Julia, who played my wife Claire, comes to see me on stage every year and brings the kids. I’ve had members of the Corrie crew come and see me too. It’s lovely to still get that support.
Do you remember your first day on Corrie?
I went in for one episode. I think I had three lines. Then they rewrote the script and gave me more lines. Next thing I know, my agent calls and they’ve offered me three months. Then three months turned into 15 years!
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