A new face has arrived on the cobbles of Weatherfield, but the actor behind the character is a familiar one to many viewers. John Hollingworth has made his debut on Coronation Street as Dr Vincent Harper, the surgeon tasked with a critical operation for Shona Platt.
High-Stakes Drama for Shona Platt
The storyline saw Shona Platt, played by Julia Goulding, and her husband David, portrayed by Jack P. Shepherd, caught up in the dramatic Corriedale car crash. While they survived the initial incident, the drama intensified when Shona's waters broke prematurely.
Rushed to hospital, the couple faced further anxiety when their expected specialist surgeon was unavailable. The hospital had to call in Dr Vincent Harper, who travelled from Bristol to Weatherfield to perform the urgent, complex surgery on Wednesday, January 7.
During the tense procedure, Dr Harper was forced to perform a tracheostomy on the unborn baby to enable it to breathe. The operation was ultimately a success, with both mother and baby stabilised. Dr Harper informed the relieved parents that further surgery would be scheduled to remove a mass from the baby's neck.
John Hollingworth: From Period Drama to Hollywood Blockbusters
For the actor stepping into the surgeon's scrubs, this is far from his first major role. John Hollingworth boasts an impressive screen career spanning British television and Hollywood cinema.
Fans of the BBC's sweeping historical drama Poldark will recognise him as Captain Henshawe, a role he played from 2015 to 2017. He also featured in the popular series Doc Martin as Professor Sam Bradman.
His television credits are extensive, including appearances in beloved shows such as Call The Midwife, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Beyond Paradise, and Vera.
A Foray into Hollywood
Perhaps most surprisingly for soap fans, Hollingworth has also graced the big screen in a major Hollywood franchise. In 2017, he appeared in Michael Bay's explosive blockbuster Transformers: The Last Knight. In the film, he played the character Tristan, sharing the screen with Mark Wahlberg and Anthony Hopkins.
His casting in Coronation Street marks an exciting new chapter for the versatile actor, bringing his experience from period pieces, prime-time dramas, and global film sets to the heart of Britain's longest-running soap.
