Former Coronation Street star Chris Fountain has been flooded with support from his celebrity pals and followers as he revealed how being sacked from the ITV soap caused his mental health to spiral. The actor played Tommy Duckworth in the ITV soap from 2011 to 2013.
He took over the role of iconic couple Jack and Vera's grandson 11 years after Joseph Aston had a brief spell in the role. It was announced in 2011 that Chris, who is also recognised for his time in Channel 4's Hollyoaks, would be reprising the character with his return coinciding with the departure of actor William Tarmey as Jack.
However, things took a sudden turn as Chris was axed in August 2013 after videos surfaced on the internet of him making rap videos about rape and violence under the alias of "The Phantom". On his dismissal from the Salford-based soap, the Bradford-born soap star stated he had "only happy memories of my time on Coronation Street".
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At the time, an ITV spokesperson said: "Chris Fountain’s contract with ITV has been terminated as a result of the unacceptable comments he made in a number of online clips."
After speaking out on his exit for the first time last May, Chris has now sat down with friend Scott Thomas on his Learning As I Go podcast. During the chat, Scott addressed Chris' rise to fame as the 'golden boy' in Hollyoaks to when he was effectively 'cancelled overnight'.
Chris explained that his mental health took a tumble in the aftermath of his sacking - which occurred with near immediate effect. He said: "That singular week in August 2013 just blew my entire life apart. All the foundations of what I'd built as a career just completely came crashing down."
He added: "And it was the start of a real downward spiral in terms of my mental health, my confidence." But the former soap star - who has struggled to secure acting work since his Coronation Street firing - says that major tests in both his professional and personal lives have made him feel more resilient.
"I’ve developed a level of resistance that is untouchable now," he said as he teased his career comeback plans. "The amount of stuff that's happened, you can keep throwing it at me and I'm going to keep getting up."
It comes after Chris revealed back in October how he'd suffered a mini-stroke aged 35, in August last year and spent five days in a London hospital after waking up at home unable to speak properly. Opening up about his terrifying health scare in October 2022, Chris recalled how he was left "speaking like a toddler" before doctors discovered he had suffered a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) – also known as a mini-stroke – after a blood clot lodged in his brain.
After several days of tests at a specialist stroke unit at the Royal London Hospital, medics determined the actor had a hole in his heart which had caused the blood clot to travel to his brain, triggering the stroke. Chris has since dedicated himself to raising awareness of the condition and earlier this completed the London Marathon for the Stroke Association.
He has since undergone heart surgery in May and at the time he gave his social media followers an update from his hospital bed as he assured his followers that the surgery had gone well.
Explaining the procedure, Chris said: "What they do is, go in through my groin, go up to my heart and put this thing through where the hole is, and it leaves a metal umbrella, and they pull it through, it leaves another little metal umbrella at the other side," he said.
The soap star continued: "Then my heart grows around it, and hopefully, that should mean no more strokes, and I'll have a little bionic heart." And while Chris admitted that it was a "little bit nerve-wracking", the heart procedure has a success rate of 99.9% successful.
After resharing Scott's post about his podcast interview, Chris was flooded with support. Former Corrie co-star Ryan Thomas, who is also Scott's older brother, shared the clip advertising the chat to his Instagram Story and wrote: "Can't wait to see your dreams come true @fountain1987."
Richard Fleeshman, who also starred in Corrie as Craig Harris before going on to forge a successful TV and stage career, also took to his Instagram Story as he penned: "An amazing podcast with this wonderful human being. I have so much love for you @fountrain1987 and am in awe at how you've hand what's been thrown at you over recent years."
He added: "You continue to inspire all of your friends and I can't wait to see what's in store in this next chapter." Kelvin Fletcher, who is known for having played Andy Sugden in Emmerdale, also commented on the post: "One of the most talented people I’ve come across. Class act too." While Hollyoaks actor Kieron Richardson wrote: "He is a phenomenal actor - with a heart of gold! Him and Lynda need a show."
And fans were also keen to show their support. @nikki44_ said: "I have never in my life wanted for a stranger to be so badly given a second chance…. He deserves it." @cemiskell wrote: "Someone give this guy another chance and cast him in something mega." @carshalton123_posted: "[Chris] is a huge acting talent. Who simply made a mistake it's time he got back to entertaining us. Loved him in @itvcorrie."
@xcath23x replied: "Would love to see you back on tv regularly. One of my favourite actors." @louisesmith_2021 commented: "I've never rooted so much for someone I don't know!! Genuinely wish this guy all the best!!" @clairef89 added: "Come back to our Tv screens @fountain1987! I’ll be one of many to support you. We all make mistakes in our past especially when we were younger. Good luck!"
