Coronation Street is known for its strong characters, but sometimes it’s nice if some of the actors portraying them are easy on the eye too.
From the late Liam Connor to Steve McDonald back in his day, there’s been some fine specimens of manhood on the cobbles over its 58 years on screen.
Here’s our list – in no particular order – of the biggest heartthrobs actors of Coronation Street past and present.
1. Liam Connor (Rob James-Collier)
Rob James-Collier appeared on Corrie as Liam Connor between 2006 and 2008 and in two short years he took home Sexiest Male at the British Soap Awards in 2007 and 2008.
Just like the hearts of the nation, he set the hearts of the Street’s women aflutter too. He dated Frankie Baldwin (Debra Stephenson), Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson), Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon), had an affair with Carla Connor (Alison King). That’s a lot of ladies in two years!
Although he married Maria, his heart lay with Carla, and her husband-to-be, Tony Gordon (Gray O’Brien) knew that too – so he had Liam killed in a hit and run. Maria and Carla were distraught – and so were the UK’s female population.
2. Aidan Connor (Shayne Ward)
X Factor winner Shayne Ward was always going to be a hit with the ladies when he became one of the Coronation Street actors in August 2015 as Aidan Connor.
He romanced Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley) and had an affair with Maria resulting in an almighty fall out at his wedding to Eva.
Sadly behind the handsome face and cheeky chappy exterior, Aidan was battling some dark demons, and he took his own life in May 2018. The storyline was praised for raising awareness of male suicide, and Aidan is missed from the Street.
3a. Nick Tilsley (Adam Rickitt)
Before Ben Price took over the role in 2009, Nick Tilsley was played by ultimate 90s heart-throb Adam Rickitt.
He eloped with Leanne when they were just teens, and he was engaged to Maria Connor. He also shared the soap’s first gay kiss when a confused Todd Grimshaw (Bruno Langley) locked lips with him.
Adam had a pop career in the 90s too, appearing naked in the video for I Breathe Again and setting pulses racing with his performances, and can now be seen all grown up in Hollyoaks playing Kyle Kelly.
3b. Nick Tilsley (Ben Price)
Two Nicks for the price of one isn’t bad, is it?
Since Adam left the role in 2004, Nick arrived back with a new head in 2009 now played by Ben Price.
Nick’s luck with the ladies hasn’t changed since the recast – he married Leanne again, and married Carla for a day, had a relationship with Erica Holroyd (Claire King), and then left the cobbles for a while and married Elsa (Kelly Harrison).
Read more: All Corrie barmaids since the soap began
His return in 2018 saw him reunite with Leanne, again, but with him set to become the new Corrie super-villain, how long their latest union will last this time is anyone’s guess.
4. Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas)
There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t miss Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas) and that’s not (just) because of those abs.
Jase was on our screens from 2000 to 2016 and that gave him a lot of time for a lot of women.
Candice Stowe (Nikki Sanderson) Sarah-Louise Platt (Tina O’Brien), Violet Wilson (Jenny Platt), Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly), Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan), Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan), Maria, Stella Price (Michelle Collins), and her daughter Eva (have we missed anyone?) all fell for Jason’s charms.
Wherever he is now, we hope he’s finally found the right one to appreciate him.
5. Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne)
Peter Barlow is a rogue, we all know that, but we can’t help but see exactly why women fall for his charms time and time again.
He’s so appealing, in fact, back in 2003 he managed to convince two women to marry him at the same time (they obviously didn’t know about each other) when he bigamously wed Shelley Unwin (Sally Lindsay) while already married to Lucy Richards (Katy Carmichael).
Peter has actually been married five times, most recently to Carla. Although they divorced when he cheated on her with Tina McIntyre, their chemistry is still there and you just know they’re going to end up together eventually.
And with that beard, brooding looks and those chunky jumpers, why wouldn’t she take him back?
To boot, Chris Gascoyne is one of the finest Coronation Street actors in recent years.
6. Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson)
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