How I Became A Barlow

Star Rob Mallard on Daniel’s shocking attack on his dad Ken, and what it takes to become part of Coronation Street’s foremost clan...

 

- Alison Slade

Rob Mallard was understandably nervous when, just a few months after landing the role of Coronation Street student Daniel Osbourne, he was told that his character would attack his father, Ken Barlow.

Not King Ken, the Corrie legend? Surely that could only mean one thing: before you could say University Challenge, Daniel would get his comeuppance and be carted off to HMP Weatherfield – or worse – leaving Rob jobless and awaiting his next audition.

‘I thought that the story worked, but I was worried on a personal level because Corrie has got such a moral element to it,’ admits Rob, 25. ‘I thought that any character who did that would ultimately have a very short shelf life. But Kate Oates, our producer, said to me, “Don’t worry”. I think she saw a look of panic on my face!’

From the moment Ken was found slumped at the bottom of the stairs by Pat Phelan, viewers were left wondering whodunit. Was it toxic Tracy? Angry Adam? Eccles the dog?

The answer was finally revealed in explosive scenes – putting viewers out of their misery and meaning Rob no longer had to answer the same question – ‘Was it you?’ – 30 times a day.

‘It wasn’t hard for me to keep quiet, because I didn’t want to ruin the storyline, but people were constantly asking me about it,’ adds Rob. ‘Whenever I was stopped for a selfie, they’d always follow it up by saying, “Did you do it; did you push Ken?”.’