Corrie favourite on ‘lifesaver’ career change after leaving soap that ‘saved their bacon’
A Coronation Street legend has opened on a “lifesaver” career move after his soap exit.
Soap star John Thomson, famed for his role as Jesse Chadwick in the popular ITV drama, first appeared on the soap back in 2008. While on the cobbles, he famously struck up a romance with the iconic Eileen Grimshaw (played by Sue Cleaver).
However, in 2010, he waved goodbye to the cobbled streets. Fast forward to now, and he’s causing a stir once more, turning up out of the blue to woo Gail Platt (the legendary Helen Worth), leaving locals gobsmacked.
When he’s not making waves in Corrie, John Thomson is a familiar face on screen with gigs in The Fast Show, Men Behaving Badly and Cold Feet; he’s even lent his voice to narrating smash hits like Ultimate Police Interceptors and Bargain Loving Brits by the Sea.
But in 2020, during the craziness of the pandemic, John dropped a bombshell to Express about how swapping to voiceover work totally “saved his bacon” when lockdown turned things upside down, reports the Liverpool Echo.
He said: “Working from home, I set up a studio in my basement which has been a lifesaver. That’s what saved my bacon and gave me the foresight.”
John didn’t stop there, revealing: “I turned the broom cupboard in the basement into a recording studio just for voices. Downloaded software, got some decent recording equipment and microphones.”
He then revealed that a certain telly gig “saved his bacon” too. John said: “Ultimate Police Interceptors on Channel 5 which I did the narration for, has also been the job that saved my bacon. Otherwise I would’ve had no work. Nothing for six months.”
Talking about his comeback to Coronation Street, actor John admitted: “I was a bit shell shocked when I first came in because I’d forgotten the speed of the turnaround so it was an absolute baptism of fire. But everyone in the Platts has made me feel so welcome. I just feel secure and proper looked after.”
John couldn’t resist sharing how chuffed he was working with his co-star, expressing: “Helen [Worth, who plays Gail] and I are absolutely thrilled to be working together, everyone’s good company and there’s always fun to be had on set with the Platts, which is great,” he added.