Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd has made an admission about appearing on Strictly Come Dancing after his first foray into reality TV earlier this year.
The actor, who is famed for playing David Platt in the ITV soap, was visibly stunned when his name was called as the winner during the final of Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year.
The win saw Jack see off competition from drag artist Danny Beard, TV star Chris Hughes, social media personality JoJo Siwa, comedian Donna Preston and singer Chesney Hawkes.
Jack’s win came after the soap star had a rocky start to his time in the Celebrity Big Brother house with his housemates nominating him for the first two evictions with him being a ‘wind-up’ and a ‘closed book’ among the reasons.
While it was his first time taking part in a reality TV show in his 25 years of appearing as David on the cobbles, fans needn’t expect him to be taking part in any more.
Speaking to the Daily Star at the National Television Awards, Jack explained: “I wouldn’t ever want to do Dancing On Ice, but that’s finished now. But Strictly Come Dancing no, that’s on BBC, you have to leave ITV for that.”
But Jack admitted that he was grateful for the support he’s had from loyal Corrie viewers over the years and is happy to keep entertaining fans from the cobbles even if that means missing out on sequins, samba and spray tans.
Jack, from Pudsey in West Yorkshire, started out his acting career in the drama, Where the Heart Is. He has also done stints in theatre and even appeared in BBC’s Manchester-based drama Cutting It.
Things, however, could have been very different as he previously told of how he missed out on his chance of Hollywood success as a youngster.
He had auditioned for the hit film, Billy Elliot, which came out in 2000 – the same year of his Corrie debut. However, he flopped the audition, and Jamie Bell bagged the famous role and ended up winning a BAFTA.
During an episode of his Sofa Cinema Club podcast, which he hosts with fellow Corrie stars Colson Smith and Ben Price, Jack said: “When this film came out, I was like 11 to 12 years old, and I’d obviously been for an audition.
“I was only gutted in the sense that I did not get it because of the success the film went on to do – Academy Award nominations. And I used to watch the Academy Awards religiously, getting up in the middle of the night to watch them.
“So, when you sort of see a film that you auditioned for, it could have been you and you could have been there, it’s kind of like…” He added: “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think I’d have done anywhere near as good a performance as Jamie Bell did.” And when Colson said: “But you’d have liked the chance?” Jack candidly replied: “Well, I did have the chance and I f***ed it up!”
Jack is now famed for playing David Platt in Corrie, however, there was a decade when the troublesome son of Gail Platt was played by another actor in the ITV soap.
Born on Christmas Day 1990, David was originally portrayed by Thomas Ormson in the ITV soap until 2000. The same year, Jack was recast in the role at 12 years old and he has since gone on to play a part in the soap’s biggest storylines.
