The actor will soon be celebrating a quarter of a century on the Cobbles as David Platt

Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd will soon be celebrating a quarter of a century on the Cobbles – but he originally only signed up for three months as a teenager.

The actor from Pudsey in West Yorkshire, 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.

Things, however, could have been very different as he previously told of how he missed out on his chance of Hollywood success as a youngster.

He had auditioned for the hit film, Billy Elliot, which came out in 2000 – the same year of his Corrie debut. However, he flopped the audition, and Jamie Bell bagged the famous role and ended up winning a BAFTA.

During an episode of his Sofa Cinema Club podcast, which he hosts with fellow Corrie stars Colson Smith and Ben Price, Jack said: “When this film came out, I was like 11 to 12 years old, and I’d obviously been for an audition.

“I was only gutted in the sense that I did not get it because of the success the film went on to do – Academy Award nominations. And I used to watch the Academy Awards religiously, getting up in the middle of the night to watch them.

“So, when you sort of see a film that you auditioned for, it could have been you and you could have been there, it’s kind of like…” He added: “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think I’d have done anywhere near as good a performance as Jamie Bell did.” And when Colson said: “But you’d have liked the chance?” Jack candidly replied: “Well, I did have the chance and I f***ed it up!”

Jack as David during his early years in Weatherfield(Image: ITV)

Jack is now famed for playing David Platt in Corrie, however, 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.

Before making a decision to end his own life, David was confronted by former prison mate Andy Garland, who he had been doing criminal jobs for when he pulled out a knife and said Harvey wanted him dead for his life insurance payout. But he managed to see Andy off without causing any damage.

After taking some time to think, David called Andy back to the 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.

Jack will soon be celebrating 25 years in Coronation Street(Image: PA)

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 has since lost her unborn child.

The pair were rushed to hospital with David’s life hanging in the balance, with medics having to bring him back around before doing emergency surgery and placing him in a coma. Luckily, David has since survived but is now feeling guilty as it was confirmed Daisy had lost her baby.

The drama on-screen, as mentioned, comes as Jack prepares to mark a quarter of a century on the Cobbles. “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’.,” the soap star 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.”