ITV Coronation Street icon now has surprising new high-street job

Steven Arnold's character Ashley Peacock (right) played a butcher in Coronation Street - and he has now reprised the role for real in his day-to-day life
-Credit: (Image: ITV)


A Coronation Street icon who graced the cobbles for 15 years has surprised fans as he has taken on a new role - working a much more 'normal' job on the high street.

Steven Arnold, now 49, will be known to a whole generation of Corrie fans as the gentle and endearing Ashley Peacock, a favourite on the long-running ITV soap who appeared in over 1,200 episodes between 1995 and the tragic death of his character in the 50th anniversary episode in 2010.

During his time on screen, viewers shared Ashley's highs and lows as he lost his first wife, Maxine (portrayed by Tracey Shaw), to Weatherfield's own serial killer, Richard Hillman, in 2003 - and then went on to wed Claire (Julia Haworth) in a festive special on Christmas Day in 2004.

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But tragedy eventually struck for Ashley in 2010, as he met a harrowing and untimely demise during the soap's explosive tram crash storyline - a disaster that commemorated Corrie's 50th year.

And now, having been away from the show for almost as long as he starred in it, life has imitated art for former soap star, Steven Arnold - as he is working behind the counter in a high-street butcher's store, just as his fictional counterpart once did, reports the Mirror.

Customers were gobsmacked to spot the famous face serving up a storm at high-street gem, Bennett's of Yorkshire Quality Butchers in Leeds. Steven turned heads, happily snapping a selfie with an eagle-eyed fan.

The customer couldn't hide her delight, sharing: "What a lovely burger served by an equally lovely guy."

The sight of Steven donning the butcher's apron had others buzzing with disbelief. One customer quipped: "Oh, so he's a butcher in real life and not just on TV."

Another shared a previous encounter: "Last time I saw him he was selling meat from a butchers wagon at Skirlington market." And a third remarked nostalgically: "Lovely to see Ashley. Wondered what had happened to him."

Meanwhile, one fan amusedly observed: "Ashley from Corrie playing the role of a butcher and it now looks like he is (haha)."

Yet another admirer praised Steven's work ethic: "Earning an honest crust like us all x well done son x."

But fret not, Steven hasn't abandoned the entertainment industry. He continues to dabble in acting, featuring in short films.

His roster includes taking part in the 2011 series of Dancing On Ice, and acting in the film Womble with Johnny Vegas and Bruce Jones. In 2020, a nostalgic reunion saw him team up with his on-screen spouse Julia Haworth on Pointless Celebrities.

He's sprinkled charm in pantomimes, and recently shone in an Easter panto at Runcorn's Brindley Theatre, as well as gracing The Big Soap Quiz: Coronation Street v Emmerdale, presented by Stephen Mulhern.