CORRIE bosses are facing a backlash over actor James Cartwright’s violent past – after scripting a storyline for his character that mirrors real life events.
Back in May The Sun on Sunday revealed how the 40-year-old actor nearly blinded his victim in an unprovoked nightclub attack.
2
2
Footage showed him lashing out at innocent dad Phil Mason despite the pair never speaking.
Cartwright was subsequently found guilty of grievous bodily harm and sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for a year.
Bosses at the ITV soap had no idea about his criminal past when they cast him in the role of scaffolder Theo Silverton earlier this year.
And had already given the character a back story that involved Theo hiding a dark secret – that he too had been involved in a violent and unprovoked attack in a public place.
Viewers will discover that Theo, currently dating Todd Grimshaw in the soap, had been convicted of the attack in a restaurant – as it becomes clear the scaffolder has been hiding a dark and violent past.
Cartwright was filming the hard-hitting scenes when The Sun on Sunday broke the news of his real-life violent past.
A Corrie source said: “It’s all rather unfortunate. The storyline was scripted before bosses found out about James’ violent criminal past.
“It’s been quite embarrassing and a little awkward for him having to act out Theo’s secret past because it’s been art imitating real life events.
“There have certainly been a few raised eyebrows about it all on set but bosses are standing by him.”
After arriving on the famous cobbles back in March, Cartwright’s character started seeing Todd, played by Gareth Pierce, behind his wife Danielle’s back.
At first he struggled with his sexuality but the couple have given their relationship a go.
The source added: “We’ve already seen that Theo has a dark side but viewers will finally discover the full extent of his violent tendencies in the coming weeks.
“Todd has no idea what Theo is really like, and everyone will have to wait and see if he finds out the shocking truth. But he is not all what he seems and this is just the beginning.”
James is the son of author and playwright Jim Cartwright, whose works include Road and The Rise And Fall of Little Voice.
