David Platt (also Tilsley) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. He was born on-screen during the episode broadcast on 26 December 1990. He was played by Thomas Ormson from his first appearance until 15 March 2000, when Ormson left. Jack P. Shepherd took over the role and made his first on-screen appearance on 26 April 2000. In July 2019, Shepherd took a four-month break from the show.
Following the death of his serial killer stepfather Richard Hillman (Brian Capron) and the departure of his biological father, Martin Platt (Sean Wilson), the character took a darker turn in 2006, becoming increasingly rebellious and antagonistic, deprived of a male role model. As a result, he has notably feuded with Phil Nail (Clive Russell), Bill Webster (Peter Armitage), Charlie Stubbs (Bill Ward), Gary Windass (Mikey North), Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas), Callum Logan (Sean Ward) and Clayton Hibbs (Callum Harrison), as well as his sister, Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien), and mother, Gail Platt (Helen Worth). However, in recent years, he has mellowed into a more comedic and rounded character, focused on what is best for his family, opposed to causing trouble for them. He has been married twice, to Kylie (Paula Lane) and Shona Platt (Julia Goulding).
Creation
Casting A character that viewers saw born in the soap, David's birth was part of the Coronation Street Christmas storyline in 1990, since David was days old, and for most of his childhood, the character was played by Thomas Ormson. He was the only child of couple Martin and Gail Platt (Sean Wilson and Helen Worth), although Gail had two children from her first marriage. In 2000, Jack P. Shepherd took over the role. He made his first appearance on 26 April 2000.
Development This was the first time that male rape had been a storyline in the programme's history, although such a theme had occurred on other soap operas. Ryan Clayton was cast as Josh in January 2018.
In January 2018, it was confirmed that Sean Wilson would be returning to Coronation Street after a thirteen-year absence as David's father Martin as part of the rape storyline.
Storylines David is the son of Martin (Sean Wilson) and Gail Platt (Helen Worth). He is born on Christmas Day, in 1990. When David is a toddler, Martin's friend, Carmel Finnan (Catherine Cusack), tries to kidnap him. She also poses as his mother to other characters. Carmel subsequently tries to frame Gail for pushing her down the stairs and is revealed to be mentally ill.
In 2000, a nine-year-old David becomes jealous of the attention his newborn niece Bethany Platt (Amy and Emily Walton) is getting. He decides to get attention by having himself arrested for shoplifting. In 2001, Gail and Martin divorce, after Martin has an affair with Rebecca Hopkins (Jill Halfpenny). Upset, David begins misbehaving in the hope that they will get back together. David becomes the target of a school bully and, despite Gail's advice to ignore him, he becomes violent and gets into fights. His behaviour worsens when Gail marries Richard Hillman (Brian Capron) in July 2002, but he comes to accept Richard. In March 2003, Richard is revealed to be a serial killer and tries to kill himself, Gail, David, Bethany and her mother—David's sister—Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien) by driving them into the local canal. Gail, Sarah, David and Bethany are all rescued, while Richard drowns. In the years following, David develops a penchant for lying and scheming both at home and at school.
David is unhappy with Gail's relationship with Phil Nail (Clive Russell) and does not trust Phil, due to Richard's behaviour. He begins a hate campaign against Phil. Phil reaches a breaking point with David and throws him up against a wall, threatening to beat him up. David tells Gail, but Phil lies to her. Gail believes him and slaps David, unaware that he is telling the truth. Gail receives a card addressed from Richard. She suspects Phil of sending the cards. Realising David is behind the scam, Phil throws David across the table in front of Gail. An angry Gail ends their relationship. The Platt family continue to receive cards from Richard and Gail realises that David is the culprit. Gail blames herself for David's behaviour. In December 2006, David discovers Sarah's grandmother Ivy Brennan's (Lynne Perrie) diary and reads it, and is shocked that Gail had wanted to abort him, but he understands this after Gail told him that Ivy had been having a rough time since the death of her son and Gail's then-husband, Brian Tilsley (Christopher Quinten). He develops romantic feelings for Maria Sutherland (Samia Longchambon), but is annoyed she is enjoying an affair with Charlie Stubbs (Bill Ward). Charlie threatens David into silence. David tries to blackmail Charlie, who tries drowning David in a bath to rid of him, but Maria walks in and saves him. In January 2007, Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) murders Charlie, staging it to look like self-defence. David offers to testify for Tracy that he saw Charlie attack her on the condition that she sleeps with him. Tracy agrees, but the prosecution proves David's testimony to be lies.
In September 2007, David picks up some ecstasy tablets from his neighbour, Craig, who had kept them safe for one of his drug dealers. David hides the pills inside one of Bethany's dolls head, later David babysits for Sarah and Gail and leaves her alone to talk to Craig in the garden. However, Bethany finds the pills and ingests one before going into intensive care. The resulting fallout causes David to be kicked out of the house by Gail, along with Sarah banning him from her upcoming wedding. Now unhinged, David drives into the canal. Gail is overcome with guilt as she believes this is a suicide attempt, and is relieved when David turns up alive. She allows him to move back into Number 8, and promises to never let him down again. Sarah is not convinced, and as revenge, she plants pills in David's drawer at the salon, framing him. This causes her to be given a job originally meant for David, and leaves for Milan with Bethany. Jason however, is disgusted when she reveals her plot to him, and he refuses to go with her.
In January 2008, David begins a relationship with Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) and she becomes pregnant. In March 2008, Gail pays for an abortion and they decide not to tell David. He finds out and, in an argument, he accidentally knocks Gail down the stairs. He persuades Tina to give him an alibi, but she ends their romance. David smashes various vehicles and windows on the Street, attacks Ken Barlow (William Roache) and hits a policewoman. He is sentenced to four months in a Young Offenders Institution. When he is released, Tina reconciles with him but faces more issues when a jealous David reads her emails. He dates Amber Kalirai (Nikki Patel) in an attempt to make Tina jealous, which has the desired effect, and they get back together.
In November 2008, David feuds with the Windass family when they refuse to pay for work that Tina's father Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale) has carried out. David threatens Eddie (Steve Huison) and Anna Windass (Debbie Rush) with a crowbar. Len (Conor Ryan) and Gary Windass (Mikey North) steal Joe's work tools in retaliation. David then destroys their kitchen, so the Windass family remove the Platt's kitchen from their house. Gail and Anna are forced to call a truce to avoid more problems. David spends time away from Weatherfield, when Tina wants nothing more to do with him. Upon his return, he becomes jealous of Tina and Gary's friendship. David frames Gary for theft and also tricks him into buying stolen goods. He then enlists Gary to commit robbery, which goes wrong when Gail's father Ted Page (Michael Byrne), interrupts them, calls the police and has a heart attack. Gary decides to confess to the police, which leads to David being arrested. David becomes jealous when Tina begins a relationship with Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas). David discovers that Joe is addicted to prescription medication, and agrees to supply him with drugs, as long as he tries to break Tina, and Jason up. In February 2010, Joe drowns in a boating accident while on his honeymoon in the Lake District, but the police presume that he has been murdered and arrest Gail. David has to scheme in order to prove Gail's innocence. In late 2010, Tina begins a relationship with David's friend Graeme Proctor (Craig Gazey). This upsets David and he feels betrayed. David suffers a black-out while driving and knocks Graeme over. No one believes David's versions of events and the police arrest him for attempted murder. Before the court case is about to begin, David passes out again and everyone begins to realise he was telling the truth. He is found to be suffering from epilepsy.
David returns from a holiday in Tenerife, and announces his engagement to "Candy", aka Kylie Turner (Paula Lane). Gail is angry, and tries to convince David to change his mind, as she does not approve of Kylie. David and Kylie marry in April 2011. David fights to take custody of Kylie's son Max Turner (Harry McDermott), but ends up feuding with her sister Becky McDonald (Katherine Kelly), with Kylie tries to avoid it. David insists that Steve and Becky, are not fit to look after Max, proving this, when he saves Max from being run over. David deals with Gail and Kylie feuding. He learns that Gail tries to bribe Kylie to leave, and he threatens to leave home. Kylie gets a job at the salon with David. David is upset when Max is put up for adoption, and she does not want to prevent it. He tells her, that they must change their ways, and convince social services, to allow Max to live with them.
In August 2013, David discovers that Kylie slept with Nick but does not confront them. He vandalises Nick's flat and writes poison pen letters to his wife Leanne. While in a vehicle together, Nick tells David that he knows that he is behind the trouble, and suggests they discuss it with Kylie. To prevent Kylie from finding out, David tries to stop Nick from driving by unfastening his seat belt, as he knows Nick won't drive with it unfastened, however Nick keeps driving and a few seconds later they are involved in a car accident. Nick is left in a coma, resulting in permanent brain damage. To his relief, David learns he is Lily's biological father, but when Kylie discovers that he is the reason behind Nick's injuries, she throws him out. Following their reconciliation, and a holiday to Barbados to visit Becky, Max's behaviour at home, and at school, gets worse and is diagnosed with ADHD, in August 2014, and Kylie becomes addicted to his medication. In a quest to get to the source of Max's ADHD, she travels to her old haunt, a pub called The Dog & Gun in Wythenshawe, where she grew up. There, she encounters her ex-boyfriend, and Max's biological father, Callum. The pair continue to have secret meetings for weeks, where Kylie is hooked on amphetamine, and Callum demands to see Max. David throws Kylie out after he finds out about her taking drugs, and she leaves Weatherfield on Christmas Day, 2014.