There was a lot to love about the ’80s; MJ was in his prime, everyone was dressed to the nines and The Breakfast Club had just landed on the big screen.
But while the movie choices were epic and cinema entry fees were cheap as chips (literally!), we still had to rely on the bulky television set in the middle of the living room and a multitude of soap operas to keep us amused on the daily…
Things have changed a lot since then, and even our beloved soap stars a look completely different. Join us as we uncover what they’re up to now…
1. Beverley Callard (Liz McDonald in Coronation Street) – THEN
Steve McDonald’s mother Liz made her debut appearance at the same time as her son however, actress Beverley Callard opted to leave the show nine years later in the hopes of taking her career in a different direction. Fortunately for fans of Liz, the fiercely protective mother figure has returned as a regular character.
Beverley’s life extends outside of Corrie, and in 2010 the actress was welcomed as a recurring panellist on ITV’s Loose Women. She has also performed on stage in a variety of pantomimes with her most recent being The Rise and Fall of Little Voice where she played Mari Hoff!
Much like her on screen son, Beverley Callard hasn’t had much luck with love which has resulted in three divorces! These days she lives with her fourth hubby in Salford.
Beverley Callard (Liz McDonald in Coronation Street) – NOW
2. Jack P. Shepherd (David Platt in Coronation Street) – THEN
Can you believe that Jack P. Shepherd was only 12 years old when he took over the role of David Platt in Coronation Street?!
It wasn’t long after Shepherd first joined the cobbles that his character began acting up by getting arrested for shoplifting, getting into fights at school and using manipulation tactics to get his own way. If only things got better with time but as us Corrie fans know, that’s not how David plays…
Unlike many stars, Jack P. Shepherd has remained on the show and has been at the centre of some of the soaps most hard-hitting story-lines and his successful performances throughout is what helped him to pick up the British Soap Award for Best Actor in 2018.
In real life the actor shares two children with his ex-girlfriend of fifteen years Lauren Shippey, and reportedly he fathered a son following a one-night stand in 2010.
Jack P. Shepherd (David Platt in Coronation Street) – NOW
3. Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald in Coronation Street) – THEN
Steve McDonald arrived on the cobbled streets of Coronation Street in 1989 with his family, and quickly became a pivotal character in the soap. Much of his story lines over the years have centred around his unsuccessful relationships (seriously, the guy has been married five times!) and his custody battle over his daughter Amy.
Similarly to his co-star Jack P. Shepherd, Simon Gregson has been a constant feature of the soap -although he did take a year break back in 2015 for ”personal reasons.”
Believe it or not, Corrie isn’t the only on-screen appearance Gregson has made! In 2011, the actor appeared on All Star Family Fortunes with his family and has since competed on Tipping Point: Lucky Stars and Through the Keyhole.
Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald in Coronation Street) – NOW
4. Anita Dobson (Angie Watts in EastEnders) – THEN
Angie Watts was one of the OG EastEnders characters who was best known for her voluminous perm, cheeky humour and of course her disastrous relationship with Dirty Den which sent the character into a spiralling alcohol addiction.
Actress Anita Dobson made the decision to leave the soap in 1988 at which point the character was written out of the show. It was revealed fourteen years later that the character had passed away from cirrhosis of the liver.
Since her exit from the show, Anita has appeared in Red Dwarf, Rab C. Nesbitt and Split Ends. What you might not have known is that the actress spent a number of years performing on stage and trying to make it as a singer which had varying levels of success.
Anita Dobson (Angie Watts in EastEnders) – NOW
5. Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale in EastEnders) – THEN
Did you know that Ian Beale is the longest-serving character, and the only remaining OG character who has appeared continually since the soap’s pilot episode in 1985?! Not only that, but he is also the most married person in Albert Square and has five marriages to four different women under his belt. Crazy, right?
Ian Beale certainly knows how to push our buttons and can often come across as argumentative and insensitive, but we’d be lying if we said he wasn’t one of our all time fave soap heroes.
Due to his impressive performances throughout the years and his ability to tackle any issue with professionalism, Adam Woodyatt has received five British Soap Awards including one for Best Actor and one TRIC Award!!!
He is also hugely involved in charity and is set to take part in the London Marathon which will raise vital funds for a dementia campaign.
Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale in EastEnders) – NOW
6. Adele Silva (Kelly Windsor in Emmerdale) – THEN
Kelly Windsor has been an on-off Emmerdale character for years but we think she still deserves a spot on our list considering how memorable her plot lines have been. From her steamy affair with her teacher Tom (which ultimately lost him his job) to her developing feelings for her step-brother (yes, you really did read that right) it’s fair to say Kelly has brought some serious drama to the table!
It turns out Emmerdale isn’t the only soap opera that Adele Silva has appeared on! In 2015, she joined Channel 4’s Hollyoaks for a brief stint as Angela Brown but in 2017 she left the country and relocated to Hollywood where she had hopes of making it big in the film industry…
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like things have gone exactly to plan for Adele and soon after moving she was spotted working as a shop assistant in a Ted Baker store.
Adele Silva (Kelly Windsor in Emmerdale) – NOW
7. Paul Usher (Barry Grant in Brookside) – THEN
Remember Brookside? Duh, of course you do! But just in case your memory is a little rusty (it has been 16 years after all!), this iconic soap opera followed the lives of six households in Liverpool, England from November 1982 until November 2003.
As a member of the Grant family, Barry Grant was one of our main characters and even though he took a large gap before returning to Brookie for the final season, actor Paul Usher is to this day best known for his role in this programme.
We haven’t seen much of the star in recent years but soon after leaving the well-loved soap, he appeared in Liverpool 1, London’s Burning and he even played a recurring role in The Bill as PC Des Taviner.
Paul Usher (Barry Grand in Brookside) – NOW
8. Gillian Kearney (Debbie McGrath in Brookside) – THEN
Debbie McGrath was first introduced to us as Damon Grant’s girlfriend, but as she was younger than her boyfriend and younger than the age of consent both of their parents were very against the relationship going any further. At the time one critic even commented in jest that it was like “Romeo and Juliet in trackies”.
As far as first roles go, Gillian Kearney couldn’t have asked for a better part than that of Debbie McGrath which at the time launched her into the public eye and led her on to bigger and better things.
In 2005, the actress appeared in Shameless as Sue Garland, a role which she quit two years later in order to pursue a regular part on popular medical drama Casualty.
Gillian Kearney (Debbie McGrath in Brookside) – NOW
9. Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson in EastEnders) – THEN
Feisty red head Bianca Jackson (then, Butcher) rocked up in Albert Square wearing the iconic silver puffer jacket we all still associate her with -well, that and screaming “RICCKKKAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!” at her ill-fated hubby of course!
But underneath her rough exterior, Bianca was a very loyal friend and protective mother who just wanted the best for her family. You just had to dig a little deeper to find her true nature.
The character of course left the soap in 2014, but what you probably didn’t realise is that when Bianca left Albert Square for good, actress Patsy Palmer left the country!
Yep, she and her family packed their bags and jetted off to Malibu, California where Palmer now works as a DJ!
Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson in EastEnders) – NOW
10. Chris Chittel (Eric Pollard in Emmerdale) – THEN
Chris Chittel first appeared as Eric Pollard in Emmerdale Farm back in 1986, making him the longest-serving character in the history of the soap!
At first he was introduced as the show’s main antagonist as he was always getting involved in illegal schemes and threatening local residents with violence along with his crooked business partner, but in recent years the character has become much more likeable for us fans and more tolerable for the villages residents!
Chittel, who has been and Emmerdale resident for over three decades now was lucky enough to find love while filming the soap, and in 2016 he and co-star Lesley Dunlop (you might know her as Brenda Walker) tied the knot surrounded by their cast mates!
Chris Chittel (Eric Pollard in Emmerdale) – NOW
