Coronation Street fans have been left completely stunned after uncovering an unexpected chapter from one of their favourite character’s past. Even though it seemed like a quiet life on the cobbles suddenly connects to a global Disney phenomenon and viewers are only just putting the pieces together.
Peter Gunn’s Hannah Montana Role Finally Comes To Light
The shock discovery revolves around Peter Gunn, best known to Corrie fans as Brian Packham. While he’s now a familiar face in Weatherfield, it turns out he once played a key role in the Hannah Montana movie, years before joining the ITV soap.
The iconic Disney series first hit screens in 2006 and quickly became a global sensation. It followed teenager Miley Stewart, played by Miley Cyrus, who secretly lived a double life as pop superstar Hannah Montana. After four seasons, the story made the leap to the big screen in 2009.
That film turned out to be a massive success, earning over $150 million worldwide. Fast forward to today, and the franchise is back in the spotlight thanks to a 20th anniversary special on Disney+, where Miley reflects on her journey and performs for fans once again.
But what’s caught Corrie viewers off guard is Peter’s involvement in that very film. He played reporter Oswald Granger, a journalist determined to uncover the truth about Hannah Montana. His character tracked her down to her hometown and ultimately exposed her biggest secret—that she was actually schoolgirl Miley Stewart behind the wig.
“Flipping Hell, She Is Big!” Peter Recalls Miley’s Stardom
Looking back at the experience, Peter admitted he had no idea who Miley Cyrus was when he first auditioned. In fact, he turned to his young son for help, asking if he’d ever heard of her before taking on the role. However, it didn’t take long for reality to hit once he arrived in Nashville for filming. At first, he assumed Miley was simply popular in her hometown, but that perception quickly changed.
He recalled switching on the TV in his hotel room and seeing daily news coverage about Miley’s activities. Confused at first, he soon realised just how huge she was becoming. As he put it, he couldn’t understand why they were discussing her every day, until it finally clicked.
Peter went on to describe how intense things got on set, with crowds gathering everywhere Miley went. Security surrounded her constantly, and fans reacted wildly at every appearance. That’s when he admitted it really sank in, saying he thought, “Flipping hell, she is big, isn’t she?”
The Hollywood surprises didn’t end there. The film also featured a cameo from Taylor Swift, and Peter found himself chatting with her during filming. While sitting in the makeup bus, she introduced herself with a simple “Hi, I’m Taylor,” and the two struck up a casual conversation. Even the most familiar faces on Coronation Street can have the most unexpected pasts. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Coronation Street spoilers.