Corrie's Tommy star's real-life brother's link to cobbles amid 'twist'

21 February 2024 , 11:16

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Corrie's Tommy star's real-life brother's link to cobbles amid 'twist'

Coronation Street fans were in for a surprise on Wednesday as Tommy Orpington star Matt Milburn revealed his real-life brother's link to the cobbles.

The actor appeared on Lorraine to talk about his character Tommy's current affair storyline with Tracy Barlow. However, chat soon got onto Matt's famous brother, who previously played a huge villain on the ITV soap.

Matt is the real-life brother of actor Greg Wood, who played evil loan shark and villain Rick Neelan on the ITV soap, who was the father of Kelly Neelan, played by Millie Gibson. Greg, 44, has also starred in Brookside, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Brassic.

Coronation Street fans were in for a surprise on Wednesday as Tommy Orpington star Matt Milburn revealed his real-life brother's link to the cobbles (ITV)

Talking on Lorraine, Matt said: "My big brother is the whole reason why I'm sat here with you, which is lovely. I would never have got into acting in the first place, I used to go watch him in plays in his early years. To see the buzz he got, excitement, it made me think I've got to try it", adding that his brother put him forward for a role. He continued: "He's an amazing actor and someone who I look up to."

Matt added that he's never worked with his brother before but would love to in the future. Talking about his brother's past cobbles stint, he said: "He played Rick Neelan in Coronation Street, the debt collector. It would have been lovely if our paths [on Corrie] crossed."

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It comes as fans are convinced that school bully Mason could be linked to Rick Neelan amid the ITV soap's harrowing bullying storyline. Some viewers have been left convinced that Mason is actually a secret son of Gary Windass but others have come up with a brand new theory, and they think it explains why Mason has decided to target Liam of all people.

Matt is the real-life brother of actor Greg Wood, who played evil loan shark and villain Rick Neelan on the ITV soap (ITV)

Giving their verdict on the bullying storyline, one fan suggested that Mason isn't related to Gary as some thought but is actually related to none other than Rick, the loan shark who Gary killed several months ago.

Rick did have one daughter Kelly but fans are convinced Rick could have had another child with another woman and that Mason was the result of their relationship or one night stand. Little is known about Mason's past, but it is likely that the soap could explore his behaviour and why he acts this way, looking at what happened to him in the past.

Could it then be revealed that Mason is actually the son of Rick Neelan and is deliberately targeting Liam because Rick's killer Gary is his stepdad?

Olivia Wheeler