EXCLUSIVE: Coronation Street star Chris Harper reminisced about the moment he was invited back to the soap to reprise his role as Bethany Platt’s manipulative groomer, Nathan Curtis.
Chris Harper revealed that he began “shaking” upon being invited to return to Coronation Street.
The 47-year-old actor first portrayed the sinister Nathan Curtis in 2016, playing a key role in a high-profile storyline centered on teenage grooming and exploitation involving Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon).
In 2017, Chris teamed up with the NSPCC, a UK charity dedicated to child protection and abuse prevention, and has continued his close involvement with the organization ever since.
The former soap actor is currently supporting the charity’s yearly Number Day, where primary schools nationwide participate in various math-related activities and games.
For Number Day 2025, Chris visited Dulwich Wood Primary School to lead an assembly, encouraging students to explore enjoyable ways to connect with maths.
Chris’ involvement with the charity began shortly after he debuted as Nathan and continued even after his departure from the soap in October 2017.
Nathan made his return to the Cobbles in 2024 as part of the investigation into Lauren Bolton’s (Cait Fitton) disappearance.
Reflecting on the moment he was invited back, Chris shared exclusively: “I was sitting on my sofa when they called. I remember exactly where I was and the exact day.”
“When they mentioned the possibility of bringing Nathan back and asked if I was interested, I couldn’t help but start shaking. I got really emotional. I was shaking uncontrollably.”
He added: “The adrenaline just hit me. I think acting the role was tough at times, especially since it was quite unpleasant. But everyone knows it’s all part of the script.”
Chris collaborated closely with the NSPCC and other charities to authentically portray Bethany’s story on the soap. Speaking about the profound effect the charity has had, Chris remarked: “The number of people I’ve met and the events I’ve attended, seeing firsthand the impact of the NSPCC’s work, including being involved in their assemblies, was truly moving.”
“The entire mountain had crumbled over the past year or two, but when Nathan reappeared on the scene, it was a significant moment for me.”
Chris admitted it was an obvious choice to return, saying: “It wasn’t really a decision; I had to do it. I called the charities I was working with, and they were all thrilled that the story would continue.”
After leaving the soap, Chris remained involved with the NSPCC and children’s charity Bernardo’s. He also became a dedicated patron of Voicing CSA, an organization that helps adult survivors of child sexual abuse find their voices.
When asked to return, the actor made it clear he would only accept the offer if the charities were once again closely involved with the storyline.
He shared: “My first question was, ‘Are the charities on board?’ I didn’t want Nathan’s return to be a redemption arc. It had to serve Bethany’s journey, and that’s exactly what it did. So I reached out again to Bernardos and the NSPCC, and the conversation continued.”
The NSPCC’s Number Day has been a tradition since 1999, celebrating its 25th anniversary today (February 7).
Discussing the significance of Number Day, Chris shared: “It’s raised millions for the NSPCC’s services, and it’s not just for Childline; it supports all of their services.”
He added, “It’s also about backing their Speak Out, Stay Safe campaign, where individuals go into schools to talk to children about recognizing the signs of neglect and abuse and what steps to take if they’re experiencing it.”
He went on: “It’s such a powerful and amazing initiative that the NSPCC runs in primary schools nationwide. They provide around 200,000 Childline counseling sessions annually.”
Chris continued, “The funds raised through this are incredibly important. But beyond that, Number Day is filled with exciting activities.”
He concluded: “While the NSPCC’s work carries a lot of important messages, Number Day is really about celebrating numbers in a fun way. It’s fantastic to be a part of this enjoyable experience.”
- Maurice Benard Hits 150K Subscribers On State of Mind?
- General Hospital Comings & Goings February 24-28: Baddie’s Goodbye, Recast Exit, Doctor Status Unknown, New Character Alert
- ‘General Hospital’ Weekly Spoilers: Josslyn The Spy, Brother Against Brother, A Desperate Search
- ‘General Hospital’ Spoilers: 3 Must-See GH Moments – Week Of Feb 24
- Soap stars who auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent – and why they were never seen
