Peter Francis Barlow is a character in Coronation Street who was born during the shows run in Ep 450 - 5 Apr 1965 and appeared on and off until Episode 11145 (26 Dec 2023). He is the alcoholic son of Ken Barlow and his first wife Valerie Barlow. He is the twin brother of Susan Barlow. Peter bears a resemblance to his late grandfather Frank Barlow. Peter is the great nephew of Albert Tatlock as his mother Val was Albert's brother's daughter. Peter has lived on and off in the street since his mum died in 1971. Often him and Susan went to live with relatives in Scotland. Peter left Weatherfield in 2014 but returned in July 2015 for the funeral of his step mother Deirdre Barlow. Peter returned for good in October 2016, but will leave again in 2023. Peter has since 2000 been played by Chris Gascoyne, who first appeared in the role in Ep 4945 - 8 Dec 2000.
In October 2023, Peter was the latest victim of Billy Walker Syndrome when he killed Stephen Reid. Billy Walker Syndrome being where a quite good character is turned bad to suit a plot, as with Billy in 1984.
In late December 2023 Peter made his umpteenth exit to go travelling. He left in Episode 11145 (26 Dec 2023).
Biography
1965-1971
Peter Francis Barlow was born on the 5th April 1965 to Ken and Val Barlow. Peter was born alongside his twin sister Susan Barlow. Peter was the younger of the twins, born moments after Susan. Peter's middle name was in honour of his grandfather Frank Barlow. In January and February 1966, Peter and Susan were almost a year old and their father Ken had an affair with Jackie Marsh. The twins were too young to remember but somehow Peter found out as he got older.
1973-1986
Peter visited Coronation Street in 1973. In April 1975 he visited again, and asked if his grandfather Frank was still alive, and Ken said he is not. Peter made more visits in 1977, 1978 and again in 1986 where he and Susan celebrated their 21st birthdays. Peter attended his sister's wedding to Mike Baldwin in May 1986. After this, Peter left Weatherfield and would not return for almost 15 years.
2000-2003
In December 2000, Peter returned to Weatherfield again. He was now 35 years old.
2007
2008-2014
After the death of ex-wife Lucy, Peter turned up on the street in October 2008 with their son Simon looking for some support from Ken. Peter explained the situation that Lucy had been back in the United Kingdom for a while, and recently contacted him after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Her request was for him to look after their son after her passing. But the prospect for fatherhood becomes too much for Peter to handle, and during a drink with Ken in the pub he exceeds his limits and starts asking random people if they want to buy Simon. But the next morning, Peter shows regret for this.
He buys the bookies with money Lucy left him (on the condition he looks after Simon) and becomes attracted to the staff member Leanne Battersby. But when the pair put up the Christmas tree together Peter drinks too much and tries to make a pass at her, resulting in him being pushed over. His alcoholism further gets out of control when he turns up at Simon's nativity drunk and is kicked out the school. That evening he turns up at Ken's demanding to see Simon, but is refused and it takes Deirdre and Leanne to stop Peter hitting his father. A tearful Peter then walks off.
Peter returns to Portsmouth to deal with some business down there and to also see to Adam. He books himself into rehab, but later lets himself go without informing anyone and goes off on a cruise with another woman, whilst letting Leanne run the Bookies. He turns back up in March 2009 but his behaviour is exposed and Leanne leaves the street, despite Peter's pleas and trying to use Simon to change her mind. That same month Peter gets drunk and falls asleep in the flat and accidentally drops a lit cigarette, leading to a fire. Peter and Simon are rescued by Luke Strong and Tony Gordon, who also save Peter and Simon's pet rabbit (named Leanne. When Simon is in the hospital bed Peter breaks down and realises he needs to change for Simon's sake. Within a few weeks the bookies and flat is refurbished and back into business.
2015
Peter was informed on the death of Deirdre in July 2015. Although he was late for the funeral, he turned up at No.1 shortly afterwards during a heated row between Ken and Tracy, after Ken caught her in the process of having sex in the living room with ex-husband Robert Preston. After they all let off steam, they made up and reminisced about Deirdre. Peter left the next morning to travel to the Caribbean for work he was doing.
Later that year Leanne sent Simon to live with Peter in Portsmouth after suffering abuse from him (which everyone was unaware of). Simon returned back to Weatherfield after a few weeks, complaining that Peter was too busy working and now has a new girlfriend called Sharon (although he then began claiming he had a good time just to spite Leanne). When it came out Simon was abusive towards Leanne, Ken contacted Peter about the matter who gave his sympathies. Ken also revealed that Peter blamed himself for Simon's behaviour.
2016-2023
Peter reappeared in October 2016 sporting a graze on his head, which he puts down to an 'accident'. Things continue to be sour when Ken gets fed up with Peter's lies, but during another heated argument Ken collapses and suffers a stroke. Peter feels guilty over the incident, which isn't helped when Tracy starts blaming him for Ken's failing health. Peter plans to once again leave, but a sickly Ken builds up the courage to convince his son to stay. Peter decided to stay in Weatherfield. Now dating Toyah Battersby, Peter moved into The Rovers when him and Toyah bought the place and she became landlady in July 2017.
Peter was caught off guard by Billy Mayhew in October 2017 during a heated argument. Peter later vouched for Billy when Billy apologised. The police had taken Billy's fingerprints when he confessed to hitting Peter, and due to this, they matched those found on a burned out car which was torched after a 2001 robbery. Further investigation revealed this to be Susan Barlow. Peter has not yet known that Billy was involved in the death of his twin sister even though the truth has now emerged.
Billy later told Peter and Peter later got Billy drunk and kidnapped him to make him feel what Susan must have felt when she was dying of her injuries, and not being able to see Adam grow up. Peter took Billy to a cliff edge and scared him into thinking he let the car in reverse and off the cliff. Billy was laying down in the boot. Peter drove forward and wanted to scare Billy. He untied Billy and got him out of the boot, told him to find his own way back. Billy slipped. Peter did not want Billy's death on his conscience so tried to save him. Billy let go and fell down into the ravine, about 20 feet. He must have gone to the John Stape School of How to survive a long fall as like Stape 6 years earlier, Billy survived. A passer by called and the emergency services said that something broke his fall.
Victims
Murders
- Stephen Reid: Ran over with car.
Non-Deaths
- Nick Tilsley: Peter threatened to kill Nick in 2011 when finding out his affair with Leanne. Struck him in the leg with a blunt object, although spared Nick due to him saving Peter from the tram crash.
- Billy Mayhew: Threatened to throw off a cliff. Billy ended up falling off by accident, but survived.
Behind the Scenes
- Peter was introduced as the son of Ken Barlow and Valerie Barlow in 1965 along with his twin sister Susan Barlow. The pair weren't credited until 1970. Peter has been played by a total of seven actors, John Heannau from 1965 to 1970, Christopher Dormer from 1970 to 1971, Mark Duncan in 1971, Linus Roache (the real life son of William Roache who plays Ken) for sporadic appearances from 1973 to 1975, Joseph McKenna from 1977 to 1978, David Lonsdale in 1986 and then Chris Gascoyne who has been playing the role on and off since December 2000.
- Linus Roache would later play Ken's other son Lawrence Cunningham for a few episodes in 2010. Funnily enough, Lawrence and Peter shared a scene in the Rovers Return. David Lonsdale would go onto play two separate characters, a legal investigator in 2011 and then Edwin Soames in 2012.
- Peter was made a regular character upon his return during the 40th Anniversary in December 2000, with Chris Gascoyne taking over the part. Chris remained as Peter before leaving in 2003. He returned for a 3 month stint in early 2007, then returned again as a full time cast member in October 2008.
- Peter was absent from July to December 2012 as Gascoyne took a break from Coronation Street.
- In mid-2013, Gascoyne announced his plans to leave the role again at the end of his contract, which was due to end in 2014. Shortly after it was announced Peter would be having an affair with local barmaid Tina McIntyre (played by Michelle Keegan), which ran for several months and tied with Tina's murder in May 2014. Peter left the show in November 2014.
- In April 2015 it was announced Chris Gascoyne will be returned in the summer of 2015 for a few episodes to tie with the passing of Deirdre Barlow after actress Anne Kirkbride died in January 2015. The character returned for two episodes in July 2015.
- In June 2016 Kate Oates revealed her plans to bring back Peter Barlow as a permanent character, and for the reintroduction of other Barlow family members including Ken's other son Daniel Osbourne and grandson Adam Barlow. Peter made his on-screen return on the 17 October 2016. This will be his third stint in the show as a regular.
- The 1990s is the only decade of the show in which Peter doesn't appear in.
- As of 2023, he is the third regular character in the show to be a murderer but still remain free, with the others being Tracy Barlow and Gary Windass. While Peter will be leaving the show in late 2023 or early 2024 which will presumably tie into him killing Stephen Reid, the character is meant to return in the future once Chris Gascoyne has finished his break from the show.
- By the time of his exit in December 2023, Peter was the only 1960s born character left, having first appeared in Ep 450 - 5 Apr 1965, which means he was in the show, albeit as a baby at the same time as Leonard Swindley and Florrie Lindley, who left the show shortly after Peter and his sister were born.
Gallery
Appendices
List of addresses
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Employment history
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Memorable info
Appearances: 5 Apr 1965-5 Apr 1971, 29 Sep 1971, 15-24 Oct 1973, 25 Mar 1974, 16-28 Apr 1975, 22 Aug-7 Sep 1977, 21 Aug 1978-25 Oct 1978, 31 Mar 1986-14 May 1986, 8 Dec 2000-9 Nov 2003, 8 Jan 2007-20 Apr 2007, 29 Oct 2008-16 Jul 2012, 16 Nov 2012-14 Nov 2014, 15–16 Jul 2015, 17 Oct 2016-26 Dec 2023
Born: 5th April 1965, Weatherfield General Hospital, Weatherfield, Lancashire
Full Name: Peter Francis Barlow
Parents: Ken Barlow and Valerie Barlow
Siblings: Susan Barlow (Twin), Lawrence Cunningham (half, same father), Daniel Osbourne (Half, same father), Tracy Barlow (Adoptive Sister)
Grandfathers: Frank Barlow, Alfred Tatlock
Grandmothers: Ida Barlow, Edith Tatlock
Great Grandfathers: Sidney Barlow, William Tatlock, George Leathers
Great Grandmothers: Edna Barlow, Emmeline Tatlock, Nancy Leathers
Spouses: Jessica Midgeley (1990–2000), Lucy Richards (2003), Shelley Unwin (2003; bigamous), Leanne Battersby (2010–12), Carla Connor (2013–16, 2021-)
Children: Simon Barlow (2003)
Uncles/Aunts: David Barlow, Joyce Tatlock
Cousins: Darren Barlow
Nieces/Nephew: Adam Barlow, Chloe Cunningham,James Cunningham, Amy Barlow, Bertie Osbourne