Coronation Street star Peter Gunn has been celebrating as he marked a milestone birthday on the cobbles. The actor is known to viewers for playing Weatherfield's Brian Packham. Peter joined the ITV soap back in 2010 when his romance with Julie Carp, who was originally induced as the girlfriend of Kirk Sutherland in 2008, began.
He became a more regular character in 2011 but when Brian's relationship with Julie ended, Peter left the cobbles after three years. But that wasn't the last we saw of him. Brian felt he and Julie still had a chance and returned in 2015 in an attempt to win her back.
They separated again the following year, and by 2016 Brian was working as an Environmental Health Officer for Weatherfield Council and we've seen him on-screen ever since but this time in The Kabin with Cathy Matthews until she ended their relationship and left him on the street, alone, in June last year.
But back to now and Peter, who has remained on the cobbles as Brian since Cathy's exit, had some celebrating to do with the help of his co-stars as he turned 60 on Monday (February 13). Coronation Street took to their social channels to share a snap of the soap star holding on to a cake with '60' candles on top.
Wearing his character's smart attire under an ITV-branded blue puffer coat, Peter smiled for the camera as he was joined by co-stars Patti Clare, who plays Mary Taylor, and Rita Tanner actress Barbara Knox, outside The Kabin. "Happy 60th birthday Peter Gunn!" the soap typed alongside the snap.
They added: "Thanks for making us smile every day. Have a great time celebrating." And fans were quick to rush to share their birthday wishes to Peter whilst also revel at his youthful looks.
@lauren_benjamin_2001 said: "60? Looks good on him can't lie. Happy birthday, love him and his character." @stephen_guylewytaz7391 commented: "Happy Birthday mate you don't look 60." @carolwithan_e added: "Wow, looking great for 60."
Prior to his role in the Salford-based soap, Peter had appeared in various other TV shows. He is probably best known, after Brian in Corrie, for the character Len Cosgrove in the BBC series Born and Bred. He's also appeared in films such as Frost, Heartburn Hotel and Sunshine.
But younger fans may just recognise the East Lancashire actor for another role. Back in 2009, Peter had a role in the award-winning film, Hannah Montana: The Movie, working alongside popstar and actress Miley Cyrus. He played British journalist Oswald Granger in the film and spent three months filming in America.
It turned out that one of his mates, also from his hometown, Peter Chelsom was directing the film and thought the soap star would be perfect to play the part. “I spent one month filming in Tennessee and two months in LA filming the Hannah Montana movie and it was incredible," Peter previously told the Lancashire Telegraph.
"It was amazing and to get the job I needed to submit a showreel or something similar. I didn’t have one at the time so my mum Barbara came to the rescue. She has got a cuttings book called Peter’s Progress. There’s everything in there from my first theatre performance to the movies I have done. So yes, that’s how I landed my Disney film role," he added.
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