Simon Barlow (also Richards) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street and was played by Alex Bain between 2008 and 2024. The character was originally played by twins, Jake and Oscar Hartley, on his birth in 2003. Simon is the son of Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) and Lucy Richards (Katy Carmichael), the adoptive son of Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) and the grandson of Ken Barlow (William Roache) and Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride). His storylines have included his mother's death, a custody battle between Peter and his maternal grandfather, a custody battle between Peter and Leanne, physically abusing Leanne, and dealing drugs. In December 2023, it was announced that Bain would be leaving the show after 16 years and the character departed on 3 June 2024.
Development Reintroduction The character of Simon was re-introduced in late 2008 when his on-screen father Peter (Chris Gascoyne) also returned to the soap. Peter had been given custody of his son after his mother Lucy Richards (Katy Carmichael) was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Both characters' returns saw them slowly develop a father-son relationship.
Domestic violence towards Leanne Battersby In March 2015, it was announced that the character of Simon would be involved in a domestic abuse, with it being where Simon is the perpetrator and his mother Leanne would be the victim. Executive producer Kieran Roberts said "It's a really interesting story. It's come from character, as Simon is a child who has obviously been through a very difficult few years with the death of his mother, his dad’s alcoholism and then being passed around by the adults in his life. He's seen a lot of difficult things and he's got some more difficult things to go through this year in the next few months. I can't give much away, but there is at least one other major trauma that Simon is going to have to go through. I think it's fair to say that he’s going to come through all of this a little bit damaged. We’re going to explore how that impacts on his relationship with Leanne, and we're going to touch on this issue of domestic violence from a child against a parent."
Jane Danson, who plays Leanne Battersby, said of the storyline in September 2015 that she had doubts when she heard about the domestic abuse plot "It's quite interesting. When they proposed this storyline, I was a bit concerned because I thought historically, as we've seen, Leanne's quite a strong character. I thought, 'She wouldn't take that from a child!' But the way it's been done is quite clever. He's a child who's been through so much with his dad, with the alcoholism, and he's lost so many people in his life. She's been the one constant, so she'll never give up on him. It's been really great to play out, because they've pretty much done it in real time. It's not just been two weeks of a storyline, they've played it out and we continue to play it out with what we're filming at the moment. It's been quite interesting to see a different side of Leanne as well."
In November 2015, it was announced that Simon would lash out at Amy at Christmas as part of the domestic abuse plot. A source said that "The Barlows are going to be central to Coronation Street in the run up to Christmas. The close-knit family will be put under extreme strain and viewers will be left wondering if they can get through the turmoil."
Departure (2024) On 27 December 2023 it was announced that Bain would be written out after 16 years and is set for an ‘explosive’ exit in the summer.
Storylines Simon is born in July 2003 to Lucy Richards (Katy Carmichael), who had already split up with Simon's father Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne). On learning that Peter has married his girlfriend, Shelley Unwin (Sally Lindsay), though he is already married, Lucy tells Shelley that her marriage is illegal. Lucy tricks Peter into thinking they have a future together by moving Spain for a fresh start, then, in front of pub regulars, announcing she and Simon are emigrating to Australia to get away from Peter. Peter races to the airport and catches up with them to try to stop Lucy from boarding the plane, however Peter’s father, Ken Barlow (William Roache) stops him from trying to take Simon, knowing that Lucy will tell the police about his bigamy. Peter resigns himself to never knowing Simon, and leaves Weatherfield soon after.
Peter is awarded custody of Simon when Lucy dies from ovarian cancer in October 2008 and they move in with Ken, his wife Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride) and her mother Blanche Hunt (Maggie Jones). Peter, at first reluctant to take an active role in raising Simon, changes his mind when he finds out that Lucy has left her estate to him on the condition that he raises Simon. Peter buys the local bookmaker's shop and moves in there with Simon. Peter's drinking problem becomes evident when he comes to Simon's Nativity play drunk and has a row with teaching staff in December 2008. Simon stays with Ken, Deirdre and Blanche until Peter agrees to stop drinking, but in March 2009, Peter passes out with a lit cigarette in his hand, and the flat catches fire. Luke Strong (Craig Kelly) and Tony Gordon (Gray O'Brien) break the door down after Deirdre alerts them, having received a telephone call from Simon before he passed out due to smoke inhalation. Peter and Simon are rushed to hospital and make a full recovery. Peter vows once more to give up alcohol.
Learning that he has a grandson, Peter is surprised to meet Lucy's father, George Wilson (Anthony Valentine) in November 2009. He had separated from Lucy's mother when she was very young and their relationship had suffered. George is determined not to make the same mistake with Simon, and Peter's girlfriend Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) persuades Peter to allow George and his partner, Eve, access. George also invests in the bar that Peter and Leanne intend to open but Ken's worst fears come true when Peter falls off the wagon again and George wins interim custody of Simon in February 2010. In March 2010, while on holiday in Blackpool, Simon runs away after hearing George telling Eve that he intends to take Simon down to Kent to live and he makes his way home alone, scaring everyone in the process. While Peter and Leanne are proud that Simon travelled all that way alone, they make sure he knows that was very wrong. Simon is devastated when Blanche dies in May 2010. In August 2010, Simon has a fight with Aadi Alahan (Zennon Ditchett) while playing a game, and Aadi hits his head on a table, falls unconscious, and is rushed to hospital. Simon does not tell anyone and feels guilty over the incident, while Aadi's parents Dev (Jimmi Harkishin) and Sunita Alahan (Shobna Gulati) accuse Claire Peacock (Julia Haworth) of negligence. Simon reveals the truth about Aadi's injury after Peter questions him about his erratic behaviour. Peter tells Dev and Sunita the facts, clearing Claire's name.
In December 2010, Peter is in the Joinery bar when it explodes, causing part of the viaduct to collapse, and a tram comes off the viaduct, crashing into the Corner Shop and The Kabin. The results of the destruction bring down a power line (plunging the street into darkness in the process), destroy the post box, and set No.13 on fire. Simon is found at home and rescued by Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas). He is devastated to find Peter on his death-bed, but relieved when Peter pulls through; his severe injuries leave Peter temporarily unable to walk. Simon is thrilled when Peter and Leanne renew their vows in February 2011. In June 2011, Simon meets Stella Price (Michelle Collins), her boyfriend Karl Munro (John Michie) and her daughter Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley). Stella is revealed to be Leanne's biological mother at Leanne's 30th birthday in July 2011. Simon is impressed and Stella later gets him a Nintendo DS game for his birthday. He also finds out that Leanne is pregnant with Peter’s baby but she miscarries after a fall from the stairs.
Just before Christmas 2011, Peter begins a clandestine affair with Carla Connor (Alison King), and Simon is devastated when Leanne, learning the truth, leaves the Street in February 2012. Simon gives Carla a frosty reception when she moves in, insisting that he wants Leanne back and spends as much time as he can at Ken and Deirdre's house. Peter, however, does everything he can to make Simon spend more time with Carla, in the hope that Simon will warm to her. However, in July 2012, Peter allows Simon to go and live with Leanne, and Peter and Carla leave the country as Peter takes an opportunity to sail a yacht from Southampton down to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.
Simon lives with Leanne and her boyfriend Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) until Peter and Carla return unexpectedly in December 2012, just as they are about to leave for Las Vegas, where Leanne and Nick plan to get married, but Simon now refuses to leave, as he wants to see Peter, so they stay. Carla is unhappy as they had only planned to stay in Weatherfield for a couple of days but Peter can't bring himself to leave Simon again so Carla returns to Los Angeles alone.
Leanne and Nick reschedule their marriage for Christmas Day 2012 but after what Peter says on her hen night, Leanne visits Peter and suggests they get back together, but Carla has returned and is having none of it! She runs back to the car and plans to marry Nick but before she can say "I do", Eva proclaims what Leanne had done that morning and Nick refuses to go through with the wedding. Simon is devastated and blames Carla. In August 2013, Simon is upset when Peter and Carla tell him that Nick is in hospital, after a car accident that leaves him in a coma with brain injuries. They take him to visit Nick. Simon is concerned when Nick has mood swings from his brain injury. After Nick is discharged from hospital, he gets confused and picks Simon up from school early, without anyone knowing, and shouts at him whilst helping him with his homework. Leanne sends Simon to stay with Peter until Nick recovers. Simon befriends Faye Windass (Ellie Leach) and Grace Piper (Ella-Grace Gregoire), and they get him to shoplift at Dev’s shop. He is caught stealing some supplies by Dev and Mary Taylor (Patti Clare) and is taken home by Leanne.
In November 2013, Simon falls victim to a happy slapping attack orchestrated by Faye and Grace. He is beaten and forced to wear a dress and lipstick. He is later delighted when Peter and Carla hire Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) as his nanny. Simon confides in Tina about the happy slapping attack, which later leads to Faye and Grace being questioned by the police. Unknown to Carla or Simon, Peter begins an affair with Tina, which is not revealed until May 2014.
In June 2014, Carla's brother, Rob Donovan (Marc Baylis), confronts Tina and attacks her in her own home, leading to an argument on the balcony of her flat. After a scuffle, Rob pushes Tina away, causing her to lose her balance and plummet onto the cobbles below. Tina survives the fall, but Rob later beats her with a metal pipe, when she threatens to tell the police that he tried to kill her. Tina later dies in hospital, devastating Simon, who believes that Peter has murdered her. Peter's relationship with Simon thaws a little and he promises him that he did not kill Tina. However, in July 2014, Simon is even more devastated when Peter is arrested and charged on suspicion of killing Tina. When Ken returns from Canada in August 2014, he persuades Simon to go and visit Peter in prison. He agrees at first, but Rob, wanting Peter to plead guilty, asks Simon if he would like to go to Chester Zoo with him, his fiancée and Ken's daughter Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) and her daughter Amy (Elle Mulvaney).