Coronation Street fans have been left astonished after discovering that Sam Blakeman actor Jude Riordan bears a striking resemblance to BBC actress Ella Bruccoleri. Bruccoleri played Mary Bennet in the period drama The Other Bennet Sister, and viewers have taken to social media to remark that the two could be twins.
Sam's Recent Struggles on the Cobbles
Sam Blakeman, played by Jude Riordan, has endured a difficult time on the ITV soap. In 2021, his mother Natasha (Rachel Leskovac) was tragically shot by gangster Harvey Gaskell (Will Mellor) in a case of mistaken identity. Sam now lives with his father Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) and Nick's partner Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor).
More recently, Sam faced turmoil after discovering the inappropriate relationship between sports coach Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale) and teacher Megan Walsh (Beth Nixon). Will began threatening Sam to keep quiet, and although Sam eventually told his former stepmother Leanne (Jane Danson), he began experiencing hallucinations.
Sam's mental health crisis escalated when he locked himself in the café and threw a chair at Roy Cropper (David Neilson). He was subsequently sectioned and remains in a mental health facility for ongoing recovery.
Fans Spot the Resemblance
Viewers have pointed out the uncanny likeness between Jude Riordan and Ella Bruccoleri, who played Mary Bennet in the BBC adaptation of The Other Bennet Sister. The series follows Mary, the overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, as she navigates Regency-era societal pressures.
One fan wrote on Reddit: "The Other Bennet Sister. I've been watching this on Britbox and I must say that Mary could be Sam's older sister." Another agreed: "Omg before I even clicked the post and saw the body text, I was like, 'Yeah she looks like Sam.' Like I just knew what the post would be about."
A third viewer commented: "Yeah, when I saw her in Call the Midwife, I had to check if they were siblings. I still struggle to accept that they are unrelated!" Another added: "OMG yes I have thought this too! Amazing haha," with a fifth saying: "They could literally be twins."
Jude Riordan Pays Tribute to Co-Star
This comes after Jude Riordan paid tribute to his co-star Beth Nixon ahead of her final scenes as the villainous Megan Walsh. Sharing a tearful photo on Instagram, Jude wrote: "FRIENDS REALLY. I really enjoyed working with Beth. Megan really tormented Sam and pushed him right over the edge, but shows what a great baddie she is!" He also expressed gratitude for his Inside Soap nomination.
Beth responded: "Aww Jude, you can see the tears in my eyes here. I loved working with you and you are smashing this storyline, the nomination is so so well deserved you are a star."
Coronation Street airs weekday nights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
