Corrie's Chris Gascoyne admits playing an alcoholic has left him with back problems
SOAP star Chris Gascoyne has revealed that playing Coronation Street's Peter Barlow has left him with a bad back.
The 46-year-old actor admitted that pretending to have the shakes and being thrown around on set in fictional fights has caused agonosing pain for his body.
According to The Sun, Chris said: "It is hard work to be drunk and fighting and crying.
"I’ve had to see an osteopath for my back and neck because of all the tension and shaking.
"And every time Jim McDonald gets a chance he throws me all around and he’s a big fella. Sometimes he takes it a bit too seriously - it’s physical!"
I’ve had to see an osteopath for my back and neck because of all the tension and shaking
Chris added: "Sweating and shaking, and then saying your lines on top of all that turmoil, is difficult and it’s mentally exhausting too.
"I end up with a headache. I go home and really feel like I’ve gone through it."
However, it's not just recently that Coronation Street has been taking it's toll on the actor.
Two years ago Chris took a four-month sabbatical from the ITV show and booked himself into a Buddhist retreat in the Scottish Highlands.
"Playing Peter is like living another life really because I’m playing him more than I am myself," he added of the dramatic role.
"I can separate the two, obviously, but it’s always on my mind. I’m always working on him."