UPDATE: |Jack P Shepherd stuns Celebrity Big Brother viewers with admission that could have changed Coronation Street career News

The David Platt actor made an admission about his career that could have changed his time on the ITV soap

Jack P Shepherd has surprised viewers of Celebrity Big Brother as he made an admission about his career that could have changed his time on Coronation Street.

The actor is best known for playing David Platt in the ITV soap. Born on Christmas Day 1990, David was originally portrayed by Thomas Ormson in the ITV soap until 2000.

The same year, Jack was recast in the role at 12 years old and he has since gone on to play a part in the soap’s biggest storylines.

Viewers have seen David torment his own family, including pushing his mum downstairs, face a stint in prison, go through a heartbreaking rape ordeal, tragically watching his wife Kylie die in his arms and more recently he plotted his own death.

However, Jack, from Pudsey in West Yorkshire, actually started out in drama Where the Heart Is. He has also done stints in theatre and even appeared in BBC’s Manchester-based drama Cutting It.

But Jack could have had two other starring roles in huge films, that may have seen him never appear on the iconic cobbles.

Taking to social media, Celebrity Big Brother fans shared their surprise as they heard Jack talking about how he got close to getting the roles of both Harry Potter and Billy Elliot.

On X, @superTV247 said: “Jack P. Shepherd just revealed he got down to the final four potential actors to play HARRY POTTER? AND Billy Elliot #CBBUK.” @R3formite replied: “We need to go back in time and make sure that David Platt was fighting Voldemort.”

@Mr_Goomantash asked: “Wait.. Billy Elliot!? So he can dance?” @AylaxJane added: “Jack made the final rounds to play Harry Potter and Billy Elliot the film!! Imagine!!! #bbuk #CBBUK.”

Jack previously spoke about how he had auditioned for the hit film, Billy Elliot, which came out in 2000 – the same year of his Corrie debut. However, he flopped the audition, and Jamie Bell bagged the famous role and ended up winning a BAFTA.

During an episode of his On the Sofa podcast, which he hosts with fellow Corrie stars Colson Smith and Ben Price, Jack said: “When this film came out I was like 11 to 12-years-old and I’d obviously been for an audition.

“I was only gutted in the sense that I did not get it because of the success the film went on to do – Academy Award nominations. And I used to watch the Academy Awards religiously, getting up in the middle of the night to watch them.

“So, when you sort of see a film that you auditioned for, it could have been you and you could have been there, it’s kind of like…” He added: “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think I’d have done anywhere near as good a performance as Jamie Bell did.” And when Colson said: “But you’d have liked the chance?” Jack candidly replied: “Well, I did have the chance and I f***ed it up!”