Jack P Shepherd has opened up about the emotional impact of his character David Platt's wife Kylie being killed off on Coronation Street in 2016.
Speaking on his podcast On the Sofa, the actor said that storyline is the only one in his 26-year tenure that he struggled to leave behind after filming.
Shepherd joined the ITV soap in 2000 at age 12, taking over the role from Thomas Ormson.
The dramatic scenes aired a decade ago, with Kylie fatally stabbed by teenager Clayton Hibbs as the family prepared to move to Barbados.
Emotional Preparation
Shepherd described the intense preparation required for the tragic moments.
"It's the first time ever, ever working at Corrie, and still is where I've actually taken a storyline home with me and been really, really upset and feeling a loss when no one's dead," he said.
The actor noted the emotional strain lasted throughout the three-week production.
"It was three weeks of just crying and having to go to like a dark place and think of horrific things to get that emotion," Shepherd explained.
Co-host Ben Price, who plays Nick Tilsley, recalled watching Shepherd process the heavy scenes. "It was like, you actually physically went through it.
We watched it. And then there was all the aftermath and you went, 'Oh?'
We were all involved. It felt literally like she'd gone," Price said.
Shepherd noted the intensity made basic rehearsals challenging. "I remember I couldn't even do the line run.
If I do a line run, I'll go in the line run. I think we did two takes in the end," he said.
Co-host Colson Smith asked about the climactic moment where David silently screamed while holding his deceased wife. Shepherd clarified the decision was spontaneous.
"Nothing. Literally didn't say anything," he said.
When asked if he knew in advance how he would execute the moment, Shepherd detailed his approach to the script's brief instruction: "David lets out like a cry."
He said, "Well, I went, let's just see what happens. And then yeah, did the thing."
Off-screen, Shepherd recently welcomed a daughter, Constance, with his wife Hanni, alongside his three older children. His son Reuben has also begun pursuing acting.
