Peter Francis Barlow is a
fictional character in the UK television
ITV soap opera Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode aired on 15 April 1965. Currently portrayed by
Chris Gascoyne, who has portrayed the character in episodes since 2000, the character has been previously portrayed by six different actors.
Peter is the son of
Ken (
William Roache) and
Valerie Barlow (
Anne Reid) and father of
Simon (Alex Bain). He is the current owner of Barlow's Bookies on Rosamund Street and husband of
Leanne Battersby (
Jane Danson). Peter is born in 1965. He and his twin sister
Susan are raised by Ken and Val until Val's death in 1971. In 1980, Peter joins the
Royal Navy and serves with them until 2000. He marries Jessica Midgeley in 1990 but they separate and later divorce in 2000 after she is unfaithful. After being discharged from the Navy, Peter returns to his native Weatherfield and begins to build a life there, buying the Bookies in Rosamund Street and getting engaged to
Shelley Unwin (
Sally Lindsay). While still with Shelley, Peter becomes involved with
Lucy Richards (
Katy Carmichael) and marries her after finding out she was pregnant with his baby, but he still married an oblivious Shelley and lived a double life until his wives found out. Lucy move to Australia with Peter's son Simon, and with his life in ruins, Peter moves to Portsmouth.
Peter returns to Weatherfield in 2008 when Lucy dies and leaves Peter all...
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