‘I worry about it every year’: Coronation Street star Sam Aston admits he fears being suspended even after 20 years on the soap
Sam Aston has confessed that he worries every year that his contract at Coronation Street will not be renewed.
The 29-year-old actor has played Chesney Brown in the ITV soap for over 20 years, but is still afraid of being fired.
Coronation Street stars’ contracts are renewed every 12 months, causing a lot of stress for Sam.
He said, “I worry about it 100% every year. I’ve had that thought more as an adult because I have more responsibilities now.
‘I have two children and a mortgage. People say to me ‘you’re part of the furniture, you’ll be here forever’ but I don’t see it that way. I just take it every year.
Worries: Sam Aston has confessed that every year he worries that his contract at Coronation Street will not be renewed (pictured in 2019)
Concerned: The 29-year-old actor has been playing Chesney Brown in the ITV soap for over 20 years but is still afraid of being fired (pictured on soap)
‘I’m lucky to be here. I have never taken it for granted or rested on my laurels. No character is bigger than the show, so I’m always really grateful when I get that call asking me to stay.”
Sam even hopes to emulate his co-star William Roache, who has played Ken Barlow in Corrie for 62 years.
He said, “It would be surreal but cool. People have watched me grow up and I can imagine Chesney being an old man sauntering over to the Rovers. It would be an honour.’
Chesney has been at the center of many dramatic storylines on the popular soap over the years.
However, Sam revealed that in his late teens, the show’s writers struggled to come up with storylines for him.
He said, “It was a strange time when I left high school. It was weird going from child actor to adult actor.
“I had a meeting with the producer. She said, “You’re not cute little Chesney anymore, but you’re not a grown grown man either.” It was a bit quiet.’
Sam was about 10 years old when he joined Corrie in 2003 as the son of Cilla and brother of Fiz.
He said about his experiences working as a child: ‘When you work with adults as a child, you grow up faster.
“My friends would act crazy and I would think it was a little immature. I’ve never been given a fake ID or drunk in the pub. I didn’t want to waste the chance I had.
Beginning: Sam was about 10 years old when he joined Corrie in 2003 as the son of Cilla and brother of Fiz (pictured on soap)
Couple: Sam is now a father of two with his wife Briony, sharing son Sonny, two, and daughter Daisy, one (pictured together in 2019)
My friends say I have an old head on young shoulders. Dolly Rose Campbell [screen partner Gemma] call me Old Man Chesney.’
Sam is now a father of two with wife Briony and shares two-year-old son Sonny and one-year-old daughter Daisy.
The pair started dating when Sam was 18, and he recalled, “We went to the same drama workshop when we were 14. We got together. She never lets me forget it, but I ended it!
“Then, a few years later, I ran into her again. We went out to dinner at an old men’s pub and we’ve never looked back.’