Jack P. Shepherd

Jack P. Shepherd has vowed to always "stick up" for his 'Coronation Street' character. The 21-year-old actor - who plays devious hairdresser David Platt on the ITV soap - is regularly forced to defend his alter ego when fans approach him on the street, complaining about his plot to frame Gary Windass (Mikey North) for burglary.

The star said: "I'll always stick up for David. I don't think he's really done anything wrong. People keep telling me to leave Gary alone, and I'm like, 'Hold on a minute, I've not done anything!'

"Gary was the one who beat David up and put him in hospital - David's not done anything!"

Shepherd fears his character is about to become even more hated, hinting David might go to extremes to get back at his sworn enemy Jason Grimshaw, who is now dating his ex-girlfriend Tina McIntyre.

He said: "If David were to kill Jason, at least that would get rid of him for good. He needs to do it subtly, though, by slipping rat poison in his beer or something like that."