Roy has been a fixture on the ITV soap for the best part of three decades – but fans were left stunned as they came across his first appearance

Coronation Street enthusiasts were taken aback after discovering the iconic Roy Cropper’s initial appearance on the ITV soap. Roy (David Neilson) first graced our screens back in 1995 – introduced as Deirdre Barlow’s (Anne Kirkbride) neighbour in a block of flats. He quickly became a fan favourite.

Throughout his 29-year tenure on the enduring soap, the cafe proprietor has been central to numerous significant storylines. Most notably, his marriage to Hayley (Julie Hesmondhalgh) stands out. The couple united in the late nineties and remained together until Hayley’s heartbreaking demise in 2014.

So it’s safe to say that Roy’s stint in Weatherfield has been anything but dull. Particularly in the last year, with Roy finding himself behind bars in March, reports Lancs Live. The much-loved cafe owner was arrested and accused of murdering young Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton).

Roy is a soap legend(Image: ITV)

However, Lauren was later found alive, leading to Roy’s release from prison and the dismissal of the charges. Recently, Coronation Street fans stumbled upon Roy’s inaugural soap appearance in 1995. And they all seem to have the same reaction.

One fan shared a clip of his debut on TikTok. In the scene, Roy is conversing with Deirdre Barlow, who had recently moved into a block of flats. Fans were quick to express their surprise over his first scene and how different Roy sounded back then.

Fans have been left stunned(Image: ITV)

“He sounds so different,” one individual remarked. Another person used the exploding head emoji to express their surprise, while a third noted: “He sounds so different. He still has touches of it now but very different.”

Initially, actor David Neilson was only signed on for six episodes as Roy, but his devoted wife Jane played a crucial role in helping him flesh out his character and add more depth. Neilson once shared: “Roy was a psychopath.”

He made his debut in the ’90s(Image: ITV)

“He was stalking Deirdre and was a bit scary. It’s nice to play psychos but they don’t stay around too long,” he further explained. The actor continued: “My wife is a special needs teacher and she worked with people with autism. She suggested that Roy could have Asperger’s syndrome, making him socially awkward, rather than threatening.”

Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX