Remember Tommy Duckworth in Corrie? He was bezzies with Tyrone Dobbs, Tina McIntyre’s boyfriend and all-round jolly nice chap – until one day he just disappeared.
Off-screen, actor Chris Fountain, had landed himself in trouble with soap bosses after posting a video on YouTube of him as his rapping alter-ego, The Phantom.
The 30-year-old actor has been given a second chance by Kay Mellor who has given him a role in her new ITV drama Girlfriends.
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The incident in 2013, saw him wearing a dodgy mask and using distasteful lyrics which appeared to trivialise sexual assaults.
He rapped: “I will [expletive] anybody up in the worst way, rape a [expletive] on her birthday.”
The distasteful raps also referenced bombing houses and stabbing people with syringes.
Needless to say Corrie bosses weren’t impressed at all and terminated Chris’ contract with immediate effect in August 2013.
He was then reportedly blacklisted by ITV.
But now he’s set to star in Kay’s Girlfriends, and she’s spoken to The Sun about his role: “He made a mistake, he can’t pay for it all of his life.”
She added: “I think everyone deserves a second chance. If he hadn’t have told me, ‘I was a stupid [bleep]’, he wouldn’t have a job.”
Chris spoke about the role back in July on a private social media account.
According to Metro.co.uk Chris wrote: “After being off the screen for a long, long time, I now have the opportunity to be back doing one of the things I love and I’m incredibly grateful.
“Today is my first day filming ITV’s new drama, Girlfriends by Kay Mellor. Time to get back in the saddle, as they say!”
At the time of the scandal, which left him blacklisted from ITV, Chris made a statement saying: “I would like to sincerely apologise for any offence I have caused.
“I am deeply ashamed by the lyrics and very much regret my behaviour.
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“The videos were made over a year ago when I was experimenting with music and I’ve not done anything like it since and nor will I.”
Girlfriends is due to hit screens next year and also stars Miranda Richardson and Zoe Wannamaker.