Former Coronation Street heartthrob becomes right-wing influencer after showbiz 'ban'

EXCLUSIVE: Former Coronation Street heartthrob becomes right-wing influencer after showbiz 'ban'Matthew Marsden won Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television Awards in 1997 before leaving Weatherfield in March 1998. He went on to become a successful actor in HollywoodCommentsNewsPatrick Hill Senior News Reporter07:59, 04 Apr 2026Updated 08:04, 04 Apr 2026View 4 ImagesMarsden appeared in 137 episodes of Corrie, playing mechanic Chris Collins(Image: Granada Television)A former Coronation Street star has swapped the cobbles for life as a right-wing influencer.‌Matthew Marsden, who played hunky mechanic Chris Collins in the soap, now spends his days spreading his controversial views on subjects including immigration, liberal women and climate change, on social media. The dad-of-nine, who is now a US citizen, is spouting his political views online after claiming the entertainment industry blacklisted him for publicly voicing his opinions, including raising questions about Covid lockdowns and the vaccine.‌Marsden, who has 192,000 followers on X and more than 17,000 subscribers on YouTube, has repeatedly commented on Tommy Robinson's online posts and was even interviewed by the former English Defence League leader at a Republican party event in the US last month.‌View 4 ImagesMarsden's Coronation Street character provided a personal service to garage customers, including Sally, the wife of his boss Kevin Webster(Image: Granada Television)READ MORE: Beverley Callard suffers cancer setback - 'I cannot paint a smile on my face again'READ MORE: Coronation Street confirms bombshell twist as Maggie lets slip shocking truthA source told the Mirror: "Matthew's reputation as a right-wing influencer is growing. He readily tells people his views, regardless of how upsetting they may be to some. They are likely to shock some Corrie fans who knew him as a lovable heartthrob in the 90s."Videos Marsden has posted on YouTube in recent we...