Coronation Street’s Sam Blakeman actor has famous soap star dad and fans are floored
Coronation Street star Jude Riordan has been a hit with soap fans since he joined the cast of the ITV soap, but it's safe to say that viewers are even more shocked to learn who his famous father is
Coronation Street’s Sam Blakeman actor has famous soap star dad and fans are floored(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street viewers have been left gobsmacked upon discovering the identity of young actor Jude Riordan’s famous father.
Jude made his debut on the ITV soap in 2020, portraying Sam Blakeman. He arrived on the cobbles as Nick Tilsley’s (played by Ben Price) secret son and quickly became a beloved character.
Sam has been at the heart of several pivotal storylines, including the heartbreaking death of his mother Natasha Blakeman (Rachel Leskovac), who was murdered by thug and villain Harvey Gaskell (Will Mellor).
In 2021, the gifted child actor even scooped up the best newcomer award at the National Television Awards.
Jude has played Sam for five years(Image: ITV)
Beyond the Coronation Street set, Jude has showcased his talent in CBBC’s Katy and Sky One’s comedy, Brassic, where he plays Tyler Croft. His on-screen mother is portrayed by former Coronation Street actress Michelle Keegan, reports Leicestershire Live.
However, it appears that showbiz runs in Jude’s blood. His father is none other than Paul Riordan, who has directed numerous episodes of Coronation Street.
Paul carved out a successful career as a television director after initially breaking into the industry with a role in Hollyoaks years ago. He has since earned directing credits for popular soaps such as Emmerdale and Casualty.
His dad also works on the soap(Image: Jude Riordan Instagram)
In 2021, Paul joined his son Jude on the Corrie set. Sharing a photo of himself embracing his father on the soap’s set, Jude wrote: “When you haven’t been well but can’t miss your first Corrie scene directed by yer Dad @paulrio27.”
In another instance, the father-son duo posed together for a photo on the iconic Cobbles, outside the street’s salon. The caption read: “Another blockbuster with the Father @paulrio27 a busy couple of days! More bold choices. Back with him next week @coronationstreet”.
He joined the soap in 2020
This photo revelation left fans astonished, discovering that Jude’s father is also his co-star on the soap. On Facebook, one fan shared a photo of the pair, commenting: “This young man is amazing, great talent he will go a long way.”
Another fan added: “Fantastic little character love him. Didn’t know his dad worked on the soap though.” A third fan chimed in: “Same here, must run in the family!”
