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KIDS ON THE COBBLES

Where are Coronation Street’s child actors now? From Tracy Barlow to Sarah Platt

MANY of Coronation Street’s fan-favourite characters grew up on the soap and donned several faces over the years as bosses switched up the actors playing the roles.

So what happened to the original child stars of the ITV soap? Here’s all you need to know for a trip down memory lane...

Linus Roache (Peter Barlow)

Linus Roache (left) with real life and on-screen dad Bill Roache and Susan Barlow actress Wendy Jane Walker in 1974
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Linus Roache (left) with real life and on-screen dad Bill Roache and Susan Barlow actress Wendy Jane Walker in 1974Credit: Rex Features

Peter Barlow has had several different faces over the years. 

The fourth actor to play Peter was Bill Roache’s real life son, Linus Roache, who appeared on the soap in 1973.

Linus quit Corrie in 1975 and went on to become a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

He then made his way into film and played Batman’s dad Dr Thomas Wayne in 2005 flick Batman Begins and Michael Cutter in the American TV series Law & Order. 

But he couldn’t keep away from the cobbles forever and returned in 2010 as Laurence Cunningham, Ken’s long-lost son.

Linus Roache returned to Corrie in 2010 as Ken's long-lost son Laurence Cunningham
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Linus Roache returned to Corrie in 2010 as Ken's long-lost son Laurence CunninghamCredit: Handout

Alex Bain (Simon Barlow)

Alex Bain joined the cast of Coronation Street in 2008 as Simon Barlow
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Alex Bain joined the cast of Coronation Street in 2008 as Simon Barlow

Young actor Alex Bain joined the cast of Coronation Street back in 2008 as five-year-old Simon Barlow. 

Alex has had a number of challenging storylines over the years including bullying his mum Leanne when he discovered she’d previously worked as a prostitute. 

Alex, now 19, is still on the soap, having bagged Best Young Performance at the British Soap Awards in 2011 and 2012. 

Lynsay King (Sarah Platt)

Sarah Platt was previously played by Lynsay King
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Sarah Platt was previously played by Lynsay KingCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Sarah Platt, currently played by Tina O’Brien, was previously played by Lynsay King. 

Lynsay departed from the soap in 1999, having experienced bullying at school as a result of her fame. 

In 2004, she revealed she’d quit a drama course and was working behind the counter at Greggs in Manchester suburb Droylsden. 

Ashleigh Middleton (Sophie Webster)

Sophie Webster was previously played by Ashleigh Middleton
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Sophie Webster was previously played by Ashleigh MiddletonCredit: Rex Features

The original Sophie Webster, currently played by Brooke Vincent, was previously portrayed by Ashleigh Middleton.  

Ashleigh played the first of three Sophies, from the character's birth until Emma Woodward took over in 1997.

Ashleigh might have left the cobbles, but she was eventually hired by the BBC as a junior web designer in Manchester.

Dawn Acton (Tracy Barlow)

Dawn Acton portrayed Tracy Barlow until Kate Ford took over the role in 2002
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Dawn Acton portrayed Tracy Barlow until Kate Ford took over the role in 2002Credit: check copyright

The role of troublesome Tracy Barlow, now embodied by Kate Ford, was originally played by child star Dawn Acton

Dawn played the part from 1988 until 1995, with a number of guest appearances during the following years. 

She eventually lost out to actress Kate after re-auditioning for the part in 2002, and tried her hand at being a nightclub DJ instead.

Sam Aston (Chesney Brown)

Sam Aston has played Chesney Brown in Corrie since 2003
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Sam Aston has played Chesney Brown in Corrie since 2003Credit: Granada Television

Sam Aston first appeared on Coronation Street in 2003 and is now one of the nation’s favourite soap stars after 17 years of playing lovable Chesney Brown.

Sam has tackled storylines including his relationships with Katy Armstrong and Sinead Tinker as well as the death of his beloved dog Schmeichel. 

But his biggest challenge came at the end of 2019 when on-screen girlfriend Gemma Winter gave birth to quads while stuck on a cable car high up above the Welsh town Llandudno

Sam welcomed his own little bundle of joy last year.

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In August 2020 the actor announced that he and wife Briony had welcomed son Sonny six weeks earlier than planned.

The pair previously shared that they had only been trying for a baby for four or five weeks before falling pregnant.

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