Coronation Street’s Marc Baylis Lands New Role After Explosive Rob Donovan Return
From Weatherfield Villain to Indie Film Star
Marc Baylis, best known to Coronation Street fans as the scheming Rob Donovan, has revealed his next project — and it sees him reunited with a familiar face from the cobbles.
Earlier this year, Baylis made a shock return to the ITV soap after eight years away, reigniting chaos in Carla Connor’s life. Rob, Carla’s murderous brother, first left Weatherfield in 2017 after being jailed for the killing of Tina McIntyre. His brief 2025 comeback saw him embroiled in a dramatic sepsis storyline, an attempted prison escape, and a final showdown with his sister that ended with him dragged back to prison.
Now, Baylis is stepping into a new role — swapping soapland for the world of independent film.
Reuniting With His On-Screen Niece
Marc has been confirmed as part of the cast for Through The Eyes of Bairns, a powerful short film exploring domestic abuse. The project also stars Emmerdale’s Michelle Hardwick (Vanessa Woodfield) in the lead role of Rose.
Baylis will play Young Ivan, a seemingly charming but deeply manipulative man whose lies leave lasting scars on his family. Flashbacks will reveal how Ivan’s strength and charisma masked the nightmare he inflicted on those closest to him.
In a twist that soap fans will love, Baylis is reunited with Sydney Martin — who recently played Betsy Crawford, the daughter of Lisa Swain, in Corrie. Martin will portray the young adult version of Rose in the new film.
Fans React to Casting News
The project’s team shared the announcement on Instagram, writing:
“While he might be one of the nicest guys we know, he’s no stranger to playing a villain… that’s why we’re so excited to announce Marc Baylis as Young Ivan.”
Fans quickly flooded social media with excitement:
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“This casting is AMAZING.” — @editsbyxhj
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“OMG this cast is just phenomenal. I am so excited for when it is released!” — @samcgooderham
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“Betsy and Rob meet again.” — @gregayala0010
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“Amazing. So many great things coming!!” — @kc90north
Final Thoughts
From soap villain to indie drama, Marc Baylis is proving his range once again. With Through The Eyes of Bairns tackling hard-hitting themes and uniting actors from both Coronation Street and Emmerdale, fans are already calling the project “phenomenal.”