Matthew Marsden shot to fame playing ex-squaddie Chris Collins on ITV’s iconic soap Coronation Street in the late 1990s and now – as he stars in a controversial new anti-vaccine movie – wants to return to the cobbles

A Corrie heartthrob mechanic who got women’s motors running wants to make a return journey to the soap.

Ex-soldier Chris Collins, played by Matthew Marsden, had a busy year on the cobbles providing services to three women, including to Sally, the wife of his boss Kevin Webster. His secret affair with Sal was followed by flings with Angie Freeman and Samantha Failsworth.

In March 1998, Chris left Weatherfield and his current whereabouts are unknown. But Matthew, now 51, would like to change that.

Matthew said: “I love Coronation Street. I was in it for a year. It was one of the greatest times of my life. I loved living in Manchester. We had an amazing cast.”

Chris certainly had an impact on viewers, who voted Matthew as Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television Awards in 1997 after just months in the role.

In an exclusive interview, Matthew said: “I was very fortunate to be a part of that show. I feel like Chris Collins didn’t really have proper closure. That was my real first big job. So it’ll always have a special place in my heart.”

In 1998, Matthew signed a deal with Columbia Records and released singles The Heart’s Lone Desire followed by a cover of Hall & Oates’ She’s Gone, with Destiny’s Child providing backing vocals.

He has enjoyed a career in Tinseltown – most recently in Prime Video’s hit series Reacher, with Alan Ritchson in the title role.

Matthew has worked steadily enjoying roles in films such as 2000 boxing movie Shiner, opposite Michael Caine, and 2001’s action drama Black Hawk Down. Other highlights in his career include parts in 2003 TV series Helen of Troy, Rambo 4 in 2008, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen a year later, and 2011’s drama Atlas Shrugged.

But modest Matthew credits his success to his upbringing rather than his talent. He said: “I’m from a working-class background, I had to fight for absolutely everything in my life. Nothing was ever given to me, I worked my way up the whole way.”

“I never take anything for granted. I’m very privileged to do this job, and there’s always a line of people that are behind me to take that role. I’ll never lose a job through a lack of hard work. So I approach everything like I did the very first day I started acting.

“It’s 99% perspiration, 1% inspiration. You just have to be dedicated, never ever take no for an answer and never quit.” Former model Matthew, who played Danny Weir in Emmerdale, was in the frame to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in 2005 but lost out to Daniel Craig.

He was also seen as a potential caped crusader and tested for Man of Steel but studio bosses went for Henry Cavill as Superman instead.

He admits: “I am probably a little bit too old for that now. I don’t know if my back would stand up to it. There are younger guys.”

But with Daniel, 56, holstering his Walther PPK for the last time, would he fancy a shot at playing 007? He said: “I would love to do Bond – wouldn’t any British actor?” US citizen Matthew said: “I’m very ­flattered to have been in any discussion about any job, so I’ll take it whenever I can get it.”

Matthew was speaking to us at the premiere of new film Protocol 7, a thriller said to be based on real life events about people working together to highlight a failing vaccine.

The project is the brainchild of anti-vaxxer doctor Andrew Wakefield. Matthew faced criticism online when he questioned the
Covid vaccine. In Protocol-7, plays Dr Jay and said: “I was woken up by reaction to the Covid vaccine. These days people make controversies about ­everything. I wanted to do it because I loved the character and enjoyed the story. I wanted to work with Andy as director rather than the personality he was before. I approached him as a director not as an anti-vaxxer.”

“He’d say I don’t play him in the movie but I do. I wanted to get the essence of who he was.”