Coronation Street's Neil Fearns Star Paul Holowaty Unrecognisable 23 Years Later

Paul Holowaty, the actor who played Neil Fearns—Bethany Platt's father—in Coronation Street, is now barely recognisable decades after his character's on-screen death. The 2000 storyline, featuring 13-year-old Sarah Platt's pregnancy, was groundbreaking for its frank portrayal of teenage pregnancy and the challenges of young motherhood. Neil Fearns, Sarah's schoolmate, never met his daughter Bethany and died in a car accident in 2003, which was a significant moment in the show's history. After leaving Coronation Street, Holowaty took roles in Hollyoaks, Casualty, and appeared in international productions such as NCIS and the Hollywood film Doolittle. Observers note he now looks very different, sporting facial hair and more formal attire, marking a notable transformation from his days on the soap. The storyline remains a pivotal chapter in British television for its social impact and realistic depiction of early motherhood.