Coronation Street’s David Platt was ‘killed off’ before Jack P Shepherd move changed future
A Shocking Near Exit
David Platt, one of Coronation Street’s most iconic characters, was nearly written out of the soap permanently—years before Jack P Shepherd celebrated 25 years in the role. Fans have long known David as the troublesome son of Gail Platt, but the character’s future was far from certain during Shepherd’s early years on the cobbles.
Born on Christmas Day 1990, David was originally played by Thomas Ormson until 2000, when Jack P Shepherd, aged 12, took over the role. Shepherd would go on to shape some of the show’s most memorable storylines, but he recently revealed that David’s long-term survival on Corrie was far from guaranteed.
The Writers’ Plan to Axe David
Speaking during An Audience with Coronation Street at The Lowry Theatre in Salford, Shepherd opened up about behind-the-scenes drama that almost ended David’s story early. During a writer’s meeting, he discovered that the team had decided to kill off his character.
“They were going to kill me off because I’d done bad things,” Shepherd explained. “Each character goes through bad scenarios and if they keep doing bad things, they have to get rid of them, don’t they? I found out at a writer’s meeting that they’d just killed me off. They’d just decided to.”
Fans can only imagine how different the show would have been without David Platt—one of Corrie’s central figures for decades.
One Scene That Changed Everything
What saved David from a dramatic exit? According to Shepherd, it was a single scene where he portrayed David differently than scripted. The moment involved David blaming his mother, Gail, for the actions of the villain Richard Hillman.
“The scene was typically written where David would lash out at his mum and storm upstairs, slam the door, like a usual teenage soap scene,” Shepherd explained. “I played it a little differently and was very matter-of-fact and sincere with what he actually believed and thought. And that’s when they went, ‘Perhaps he’s alright and maybe there is a way back for his character. Maybe this lad’s quite good and we’ll try and keep hold of him.’”
This small but pivotal performance ultimately convinced the writers to retain David, cementing Shepherd’s place on the show for decades to come.
Legacy and Live Show Reflections
The revelations came as part of An Audience with Coronation Street, the soap’s first-ever live show, which allowed stars to share behind-the-scenes anecdotes and fan-favorite moments. Shepherd was joined on stage by co-stars Jane Danson, Patti Clare, and Jimmi Harkishin, while William “Bill” Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, shared stories from his career spanning back to the very first episode in 1960.
For fans, the evening offered a glimpse into the precarious decisions and creative choices that shape Weatherfield—and a reminder that David Platt’s survival was never guaranteed.
What This Means for Coronation Street
David Platt’s journey serves as a testament to Shepherd’s talent and the unpredictable nature of soap storytelling. A single performance altered the course of the character’s legacy, ensuring that viewers would continue to follow his highs, lows, and unforgettable storylines for years to come.