Coronation Street star John Thomson has never been afraid to reinvent himself – on and off the screen. But in private life, he‘s tackling a challenge most wouldn‘t even think: how to open up his heart once more. Following a difficult personal chapter, the much-loved actor is exploring new waters. As he prepares to begin anew, he faces a digital-age rejection from an unlikely source.
A Year of Healing and a Quiet Readiness to Move On
At 55, John has experienced the kind of emotional blow that doesn’t fade overnight. His long-term relationship ended last year, bringing five shared years to a close. On the We’re Not Getting Any Younger podcast, he reflected on the difficulty of that time, admitting that being alone again after such a committed bond wasn’t something he took lightly.
He told her he deliberately allowed a whole year to pass before even considering dating again. It had not been easy, he said—necessarily even rough—but once it was, something needed to happen.
He discussed that five years in a relationship is draining, and there wasn’t a good enough reason. Now, he is ready to reconnect—enough to stick a toe in the dating scene. And in 2025, that means often dating apps. But even that hasn‘t been easy for John.
Coronation Street: Shut Out From the Inner Circle of Celebrity Dating
In a surprise even to him, John opted to try the exclusive dating app Raya—a service specifically designed for celebrities and industry creatives. With his extensive career, one might think he‘d be a sure thing. But that hasn‘t been the reality.
He disclosed that, even after submitting his application and obtaining 15 referrals from existing Raya users, he’s still waiting on the waiting list. In John’s opinion, the app’s unstated atmosphere appears to be “celebs date celebs”—but even with years of TV success, he believes he’s been overlooked.
John said he‘d rather meet someone who works in the industry, someone who appreciates the nature of his job, but he teased that Raya just “won‘t go near me.”
That‘s not an uncommon experience, though. Raya is famously exclusive—according to some reports, just 8% of applicants make the cut. In statistical terms, getting into Oxford is easier than scoring a Raya profile. But that’s not deterring John from leaving the door open to a connection.
A Quick Return to Weatherfield, Then Back to Reality
Though he‘s been living life out of the camera’s eye, John did pop up briefly on Coronation Street this year in a plot that kept viewers smiling. His Jesse Chadwick character cropped up just when Helen Worth‘s legendary character Gail Platt was saying goodbye to the cobbles.
The surprise? Jesse and Gail had secretly rekindled their romance abroad in Thailand and got married in an impromptu Christmas Day wedding before departing Weatherfield for a more peaceful existence free from the soap’s never-ending drama.
That storyline may be wrapped up, but John’s own is still unfolding. We will keep you posted about his dating life. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Coronation Street updates.