A CORONATION Street serial killer is making his soap comeback 13 years after terrifying soap fans with his murder spree.
The actor behind the character, who starred on the ITV Cobbles from 1998 until 2011, is back on the small screen this month.
Graeme Hawley, 50, is trading Weatherfield for the hospital ward as he takes on a new role in the BBC soap Doctors.
The actor, best known for his portrayal of John Stape – the high school teacher turned notorious Coronation Street killer – will appear as Jason Chapman in an upcoming episode next week.
Soap fans may catch the Coventry-born star in the 28-minute episode titled Sucker Punch, which focuses on the treatment of a rape survivor named Erika.
Details about his storyline and how long he’ll stay on the show remain under wraps.
Aside from Corrie, Graeme has also acted in Benidorm, National Treasure, Casualty and Love and Marriage.
STAPE SHOCK
John Stape’s character in Coronation Street followed a dark trajectory, starting as a teacher who had an affair with his student, Rosie Webster.
In his most notorious moments, he killed three characters and even kidnapped Rosie, portrayed by Helen Flanagan. His descent into murder began with concealing the body of Colin Fishwick, who died in front of him. When Charlotte Hoyle tried to blackmail him over the incident, John took her life as well, cementing his place as one of the soap’s most infamous villains.
John then accidentally smothered Colin’s mother to death as he confessed the truth.
He played the ex-teacher for four years after joining the cast on the cobbles in 2007 and was nominated for Villain of the Year in 2009 at the Soap Awards.
John Stape’s twisted storyline captivated viewers to the very end, earning Graeme Hawley another award nomination in 2011. His character’s arc concluded in dramatic fashion with his suicide, leaving audiences gripped until the final moments.
Despite his dark legacy, John remains connected to Coronation Street through his daughter, Hope, whom he shares with Fiz Stape. Hope continues to feature in the show, keeping John’s shadow lingering over the cobbles.
FRESH ROLE
We previously told how actor Graeme has temporarily stepped away from the small screen after struggling to find acting gigs.
He started raking in the cash as he began working on his pal’s Christmas market stall.
At the time, Graeme Hawley—who is married to Where the Heart Is actress Elianne Byrne—revealed he was helping a friend who owned Chilli Jam Man.
The father-of-two humorously quipped: “I’m not the Chilli Jam Man. I’m the Chilli Jam Man’s mate, and I’m selling Chilli Jam because the Chilli Jam Man’s late.”
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