Coronation Street viewers have been left gobsmacked after discovering the identity of actor Chris Gascoyne’s real-life spouse.
Chris, who joined the ITV soap in 2000 as Peter Barlow, son of Ken Barlow (played by William Roache), quickly became a household name thanks to his character’s dramatic storylines.
Peter’s tumultuous journey on the cobbles, from battling alcoholism to navigating a series of failed romances, kept viewers hooked for years.
However, in July 2023, Chris announced his departure from the show, with Peter’s exit scenes airing on Boxing Day that year, showing him leaving Weatherfield for a new life abroad post his split from Carla Connor (Alison King).
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Recently, fans were taken aback upon learning about Chris’ famous wife. Off-screen, Chris is happily married to actress Caroline Harding.
The couple tied the knot in 2002 and share a daughter named Belle. Additionally, Chris is a stepfather to Caroline’s children Pip and Freddie from her previous marriage to Line of Duty actor Jason Watkins, reports Leicestershire Live.
Caroline herself is no stranger to the limelight, having made several appearances on Coronation Street, including a memorable 2015 stint as a consultant diagnosing Hope Stape (Isabella Flanagan) with cancer.
Caroline’s most recent appearance was in 2020, where she took on the role of Dr Howarth. Besides her work on Corrie, Caroline has portrayed four distinct characters on Emmerdale.
She first appeared as Belinda Connors in November 2005 and then as Doctor Judd in July 2008. Fast forward to August 2013, and Caroline returned to the soap, this time as Dr Garrett. She graced the screen again in November 2016, playing a barrister, and in June 2018, she stepped into the shoes of Dr Todd.
Fans were absolutely gobsmacked to discover that Chris is married to Caroline. On a Coronation Street Facebook fan page, a snapshot of Chris and Caroline prompted a fan to post: “Chris with his wife Caroline.”
In the comments, another fan remarked: “I remember her from Coronation Street.” Another echoed the sentiment, saying: “Oh yes same here too.” A third added: “They look like a lovely couple.”