Chesney Brown (also Battersby-Brown and Winter-Brown) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Sam Aston. He made his first on-screen appearance on 10 November 2003. The character is named after the singer, Chesney Hawkes.
Chesney is the younger brother of Fiz Brown (Jennie McAlpine) and son of Cilla Battersby-Brown (Wendi Peters). He is also a father of five and the husband to Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell). Chesney's storylines have included: his friendship with his beloved pet dog Schmeichel and coming to terms with losing his beloved pet, as well as his relationship with Katy Armstrong (Georgia May Foote) who later went on to give birth to his son Joseph Brown (Lucca-Owen Warwick) aged just seventeen. Chesney later began a relationship with Sinead Tinker (Katie McGlynn) in 2013 and was stabbed with a glass bottle during an incident at Nick's Bistro in 2017. Within days of the incident, he made a full recovery.
Creation Sam Aston was chosen to play Chesney after training at a local drama group, Carl Godby's Theatre Workshop. It was revealed by producers that he was named after 1990s icon Chesney Hawkes.
Aston's siblings have also appeared in the show; his sister Emily Aston played Becky Palmer from 1996 to 1997 and his brother Joseph Aston played Tommy Duckworth in 2000.
While his upbringing was not as traumatic as his sister Fiz's (Jennie McAlpine) early years, Chesney was often left home alone and had to put up with the many "uncles" Cilla brought to their flat. Chesney found some stability with Les Battersby (Bruce Jones), but Les abandoned the family after a few years, with his mother Cilla soon following. An increasingly bitter Chesney was left to be taken care of by Fiz, but her relationship problems often overshadowed her duties as his guardian.
Development In July 2010, it was announced that Chesney would have sex with newcomer Katy Armstrong (Georgia May Foote) in a storyline involving the 17-year-old losing his virginity. A spokesperson for Coronation Street said "We have all seen Chesney grow up so it’s going to be a huge milestone for him and the viewers. We all remember that sweet little kid who first arrived in the Street with his mum Cilla. But that was seven years ago and he’s about to become a man. The storyline will be handled responsibly and the two characters will discuss what contraceptives to use."
In February 2011, it was announced that Katy would be involved in a storyline centered on teenage parenthood. The plot involves Katy suggesting to Chesney that they start a family. Although Chesney is initially shocked and concerned about their young age, he eventually agrees to the proposal, and the couple begins searching for a flat to rent.
The storyline also explores the concerns of Fiz, who opposes the decision due to her own difficult experiences with motherhood. Fiz expresses apprehension that Chesney is too young for the responsibilities of being a father. Despite this opposition, the narrative proceeds with the couple remaining together and eventually welcoming a son named Joseph.
In September 2011, it was revealed that Chesney's dog Schmeichel would be put to sleep in an upcoming storyline. "It will be heartbreaking for Chesney - and for viewers," a Corrie source told The Sunday Mirror. "But bosses think the time is right for Schmeichel to leave the show." In response to complaints about Schmeichel's fate, a Coronation Street spokesperson told The Mirror: "Great Danes do not live forever and the storyline has been decided upon." Speaking to Soaplife, Aston admitted that he will miss scenes alongside the Great Dane. He explained: "Having his beloved dog put to sleep is not an option Chesney is willing to consider. Schmeichel has always been there for him; when Cilla, Les and even Fiz let him down, Schmeichel was always there. Chesney would do anything it takes to help out his faithful pal. He would go thousands of pounds into debt if he has to." Paying tribute to Schmeichel, Aston added: "I will [miss him]; he has been such a massive part of Chesney's character. The first thing people want to know when I'm out and about is where my dog is. He's probably one of the most popular characters on the show. It's horrible because I've grown up with him."
In February 2013, it was announced that former Waterloo Road actress Katie McGlynn has been cast as Sinead Tinker, a relative of established characters Beth (Lisa George) and Craig Tinker (Colson Smith) and as a new love interest for Chesney. A statement on the soap's official website teased: "As Katy struggles to resist the temptation of smooth talking Ryan, Chesney faces a heartbreaking few months. Will new girl Sinead be his light at the end of the tunnel?"
Speaking to Digital Spy, Aston said: "Sinead is a very different character and I think her and Chesney would be quite well-suited." However, Aston also hinted that, despite Chesney starting up a new relationship, he believes his alter ego will always love Katy: "I think Chesney's heart will always belong to Katy! But that might just be my own personal take on it rather than the way the story is going!" Aston also admitted that he helped Katie McGlynn, who will be playing Sinead, find her feet on her first day on set: "I've been showing her around the set. Katie knows what she's doing anyway - she knows how it works because she was on Waterloo Road before this. But she was a bit lost on the first day, so I tried to be as helpful as possible!"
On 28 May 2017, it was reported by The Sun that Chesney would be stabbed in an upcoming storyline with the scenes leaving viewers guessing over whether Chesney manages to survive the brutal assault.
Storylines Chesney is the younger brother of Fiz Brown (Jennie McAlpine) and son of Cilla Brown (Wendi Peters). Chesney soon bonds with Cilla's boyfriend Les Battersby (Bruce Jones), and also gets on well with Fiz's then-boyfriend Kirk (Andrew Whyment) who is also a lodger with Les and Cilla. In 2004, Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox) clips Chesney around the ear for repeatedly stealing sweets from her shop; Chesney falls against some shelving, and is slightly hurt. When Cilla learns of the incident, she spots an opportunity for compensation. Chesney is taken to hospital by the Battersby-Browns, with Cilla prompting her son to complain of fake symptoms so that he will be diagnosed with a concussion. Rita is arrested and charged with assaulting a minor, and Cilla coaches Chesney into giving the 'right' answers; Rita is ordered to pay £500 in damages to the family and £500 in court fees. Disappointed with the court payment, Cilla seeks a £3,000 out of court settlement. Rita puts the Kabin on the market and prepares to leave the area, but Les talks Cilla out of any further action. Rita bears no ill will against Chesney, later employing him to do a paper round. Chesney attempts to run away after his mum leaves without him, but Les takes him back in. He receives a pure breed Great Dane dog from the Duckworths, which he names Schmeichel, after the Danish former Manchester United footballer, Peter Schmeichel. He also befriends Sophie Webster (Brooke Vincent). Later that year, Cilla starts to abuse Chesney, such as threatening to hit him if he tells Les about her affairs and also running away with him as she taunts him that no-one loves him. Eventually, Cilla is good to Chesney.
In 2005, he cons several residents at Easter into giving him Easter eggs. That August, Schmeichel is run over by a bus driven by Claire Peacock (Julia Haworth), leaving Chesney devastated, but the dog survives. Chesney accidentally walks in on Sally Webster (Sally Dynevor) when she is in the shower, and Les tells everyone about the incident, threatening his friendship with Sophie. In 2006, is saddened at the news that his mum has cancer, but refuses to go on a holiday with her when he finds out she lied about the seriousness of her condition. In January 2007, when Cilla returns, Chesney begins to feel unwelcome. In May, Les leaves Weatherfield to work as a roadie and has little subsequent contact with Chesney. By October 2007, Cilla also chooses to leave Weatherfield for Las Vegas because she has come into money. Not wanting to take Chesney with her, she gives him £1,000. He spends a third of his money on an Xbox 360, angering Fiz who has been left with nothing. In March 2008, Chesney learns that Les isn't returning, and he is taken to a foster home, because Kirk cannot take care of him properly. Claire later reveals that she reported them to the Social Services, in Chesney's best interests. Chesney is allowed to return home after Fiz agrees to move into Number 5, though with much reluctance, as Kirk, now her ex-boyfriend, is still living there. Later, Chesney is dismayed to see the return of Fiz's ex-boyfriend John Stape (Graeme Hawley), who had cheated on her. John buys Chesney a bike for his birthday which he rejects when he finds out who it has come from. In a fit of rage, Chesney breaks the wing mirror on John's taxi.
On Chesney's fourteenth birthday, he receives a postcard from Cilla and Les. They invite Chesney and Kirk to join them in Sun City, North West. Kirk and Chesney agree to go, but Fiz is dismayed. When they arrive at the airport, they find out that 'Les' is not their Les, but a South African fraudster named Lesedi. Cilla reveals that she had placed their names in a competition to win the "South African sunshine family" award and had got to the final, with a chance to win half a million South African dollars. Cilla pleads with Fiz to join them. Fiz confronts Cilla about her scheme, but Chesney believes Cilla will 'return' to Weatherfield if they win, so Fiz agrees to help. The family gets stuck in a bush and are surrounded by lions, but are saved by Kirk. At the awards ceremony, Chesney reveals that he is not really disabled, and the Battersbys are disqualified. Later, Chesney is horrified to find out that Fiz has been consulting John Stape about his education, and regularly visiting him in prison. This leads to a falling out between the pair, as Chesney is angry that his sister cares more about John than she does him. Chesney later finds out that Fiz and John are engaged and, in a fit of rage, he steals Fiz's engagement ring and crashes Rosie Webster's new car, nearly running over Anna Windass (Debbie Rush) in the process. Chesney relents and attends John and Fiz's wedding.