A Coronation Street star made a return to the world of acting after stepping away from showbiz to become a pub landlord
Actor Rupert Hill as Jamie Baldwin in Coronation Street alongside Jane Danson as Leanne Battersby(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street’s Rupert Hill is barely recognisable as he announces his comeback to acting. The 47-year-old soap star is best known for his role as Jamie Baldwin on Corrie from 2004 to 2008.
The star left the limelight to manage Manchester pubs such as Castle Hotel, Gulliver’s and the Eagle Inn, which he co-owns with his wife Jenny Platt.
However, he has recently been making a return to the acting scene, with his short film Operation Magpie now available on YouTube.
Rupert collaborated with fellow Corrie veteran Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played Hayley Cropper, for the film in which he starred and co-directed.
Earlier this month, Rupert also graced the stage in the Christmas show Tinsel at The Edge theatre in Manchester. His recent theatrical work includes The Fire Raisers at the Hope Mill Theatre in September, and he also directed the tour of Mike Bartlett’s play COCK.
This comes after he took a step back from acting to focus on his career as a pub landlord. Last year, he announced the opening of his Manchester bar on Instagram, writing: “Taking over #lloyds in Chorlton with @jbfotografick.
“Opening this Thursday with a big refurb scheduled for September. Going to create a beautiful drinking venue with an incredible live music and events space! More details coming soon.”
Rupert is no stranger to the bar industry, having previously taken on and renovated The Parlour in Manchester. He once told the Manchester Evening News: “From day one, we’ve found this shared passion for taking weary and underperforming pubs with bags of potential.
“And breathing new life into them, bringing them back into the community, creating places that people love to be in. It’s always felt like a worthwhile endeavour.”
After his stint on Coronation Street, Rupert fell so in love with Manchester, the city where the soap is filmed, that he decided to make it his home.
**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**
He set up residence in the city’s trendy Northern Quarter, an area renowned for its vibrant street art, bustling eateries, bohemian bars, and independent record shops.
Rupert is married to his former Corrie co-star Jenny, who portrayed his on-screen love interest Violet Wilson. His character Jamie, son of Bradley Walsh’s Danny Baldwin, was known as a heartbreaker and was embroiled in a controversial storyline involving an affair with his step-mother Frankie, played by Deborah Stephenson.
Last month, he shared a throwback photo of his character on social media, captioning it: “This young whippersnapper just made his first appearance (again) on the cobbles in #classiccorrie. I think he might get up to some mischief!!#jamiebaldwin.”
In 2008, Rupert featured in a four-part special series of The Bill titled Gun Runner, playing the role of Kieran Wallace, a small-time criminal. He has also made appearances in Hollyoaks and Midsomer Murders.
Coronation Street is on ITV1 weeknights at 8.30pm and on on ITVX