Corrie's Jack P Shepherd subtly marks major milestone after sparking exit fears (2025)

The David Platt actor sparked fears he was quitting the ITV soap just last month

Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd has revealed he reached a major milestone in his time on the long-running show in a subtle way after sparking fears he was quitting just last month.

The actor, from Pudsey in West Yorkshire, is famed for playing David Platt in the ITV soap but he actually started out in drama Where the Heart Is. He has also done stints in theatre and even appeared in BBC's Manchester-based drama Cutting It.

However, as we know, Jack is now famed for playing David in Corrie. But there was a decade when the troublesome son of Gail Platt was played by another actor in the ITV soap.

Born on Christmas Day 1990, David was originally portrayed by Thomas Ormson in the ITV soap until 2000. The same year, Jack was recast in the role at 12 years old and he has since gone on to play a part in the soap's biggest storylines.

Viewers have seen David torment his own family, including pushing his mum downstairs, face a stint in prison, go through a heartbreaking rape ordeal and tragically watching his wife Kylie die in his arms.

It's since been another busy few months for Jack as his character continues to face the threat of Harvey Gaskell. It had become clear in recent weeks and months that David and his family were being targeted by the gangster from behind bars after stealing money which belonged to him.

With his stepson, Max Turner, already behind bars for arson, having started the fire that destroyed No.8 Coronation Street in a botched insurance job, the youngest of Gail Platt's children was seen deciding to take drastic action.

After taking some time to think, David called former prison mate Andy Garland to Audrey Roberts' salon and asked him to take his life as it was the only way to keep his family safe, before planning for Andy to run him over with a car in the middle of the street.

When his final moments began, David stood in the middle of the road. A car then came hurtling at speed, and Shona watched in horror as David was hit, with Daisy Midgeley caught in the crossfire and she tragically lost her unborn child in the aftermath.

David survived the ordeal and it means Jack officially marked 25 years in the role this week. Not drawing too much attention to the special milestone, the soap star simply posted a cropped picture of a trophy with a plaque which read: "Jack P Shepherd 25 years of David."

"I was only in the show for three months originally, and then they kept ringing my mum up and my agent to say, ‘Yeah, we’ll extend it'.," Jack previously revealed to the Manchester Evening News.

Jack, who was 16 when he took on the role, went on: "So 25 years is a long time for anyone, but I get yearly contracts now; I don’t get three-month ones."

He added: "I’m only ever here for a year, and it runs out this year! I don’t know, they might not continue it, they might go for someone else. But I'm still enjoying it."

But he made clear he doesn't mind the regular contract updates and seemingly suggested his future does remain at Corrie as he shared: "So I think it works in both of our favours. If it ends up being another 25 years I don't mind, as long as I'm still happy, that's all matters."