| Scarlett. |
22-10-2008 04:34 PM |
Peter Barlow will soon return to Weatherfield as a single dad.
His ex-wife, Lucy, passed away and her dying wish was that Peter should take care of their son, Simon. Peter took the boy back to his new home in Portsmouth but found he needed some support from his family. We'll let actor Chris Gascoyne, who plays Peter, tell you more...
What reaction does Peter’s reappearance get from the other residents?
Ken and Deirdre are surprised to see him, especially when they discover he’s got Simon with him. Ken’s supporting him but there are a lot of issues there with Ken and Peter’s relationship. It’s a deep, complex story about two fathers and a son trying to love each other but with so much water under the bridge.
How’s he feeling about being a dad?
He’s terrified. He’s trying to be a dad to Simon and he’s trying to love him but he doesn’t know how. He loves him but he doesn’t know how to give him what he needs and he’s fearful of that. If he’s being cold it’s only because he doesn’t feel good enough. He feels the gap is so big between them that he can’t build that bridge. He thinks Simon would be better off with a proper family, not a dysfunctional one like the Barlows.
How does he handle it?
He’s all over the place, he can’t cope at all. Drink is becoming an issue and his self-esteem is low. He can’t see a way out and he can’t imagine doing this for the rest of his life.
Do you think he needs to grow up a bit and face up to his responsibilities?
Maybe. He could be seen as a coward but Peter believes he’s doing the right thing. He hasn’t got the tools to look after Simon and give him what he needs. Sometimes we’ll see his point and sometimes we won’t.
What’s he been doing while he’s been away?
He’s been running a bookies in Portsmouth with Adam. I don’t think there’s been anyone significant in Portsmouth and life is complicated enough for Peter without a woman. But this is Peter and he soon takes a liking to someone and that person is Leanne. There’s a lot of flirting together and she’s helping out with Simon but it looks like he’s going to mess it up when he starts drinking too much.
How long will Peter be around for?
I’m here for a year to start with so it will be interesting to see what direction Peter takes. He has the potential to be a very good dad but at the minute he feels like everything is conspiring against him and he hasn’t got the confidence or the self-esteem to cope.
How does it feel to be back in Corrie?
It’s great to be back, I’m really enjoying it. It’s nice to see everyone and I’ve been lucky again that the writers have given me such a good storyline. It’s very human, which I love. It’s a big emotional journey about a dad trying to love his little boy. You’ll love him and hate him watching it.
|
