Kelly Neelan is left devastated in upcoming Coronation Street scenes when her father Rick Neelan’s body is discovered.
The notorious loan shark went missing in 2019, but unknown to the Weatherfield residents, he was murdered by Gary Windass (Mikey North).
Rick had terrorised Gary after he failed to pay Rick his money back, with Gary eventually snapping and killing Rick instead.
With the discovery of Rick’s body, it is now only a matter of time before the truth is exposed.
Rick is one of Coronation Street’s most famous villains, and away from the soap, actor Gary Wood has led a very interesting life too – from rival soap roles to a romance with a famous actress.
Rival soap roles
(Image: Channel 4)
Although Greg is best known for playing Rick in Coronation Street, the actor has also had leading roles in other popular rival soaps.
His debut TV role was in Channel 4 soap Brookside as drug dealer Terry Gibson in 2002, before going on to star in TV series including Casualty and The A-List.
He also starred in one episode of Emmerdale as Nick Callow in 2006.
(Image: Lime Pictures)
10 years later in 2016, he starred as gangster Trevor Royle in Hollyoaks, who was stabbed to death on his wedding day to Grace Black by teenager Nico Blake.
However, Coronation Street viewers remember Greg for his role as loan shark Rick , who terrorised Weatherfield residents including Gary.
Between 2009 and 2019, Rick made the lives of characters including Terry Duckworth a misery, before Gary put an end to his reign of terror and killed him.
Since then, viewers could not believe how different Greg looked away from the cobbles, with the actor posing for an Instagram photograph showing his long grey hair, beard and round Harry Potter style glasses.
He captioned the post “Pottering around… Get it… Get it?? #loveadadjoke.”
However, the actor was soon spotted outside the Coronation Street set, sparking rumours that the character could reappear in a flashback or as a ghost.
(Image: Greg Wood/Instagram)
A fan told Sun Online: “Greg was happy to stop and pose for pictures just steps away from the soap set’s gate.
“He said he was happy to be busy and back to work after lockdown but wouldn’t say what he was filming or if he’d be playing Rick again.”
Coronation Street bosses later confirmed that the character would not be returning.
Ofcom controversy
(Image: ITV Pictures)
One year after his Coronation Street debut, the soap came under fire from viewers following a distressing scene where Rick posted a burning newspaper through a resident’s letter box.
The scene caused concern among some viewers, with a total of 31 complaints submitted to Ofcom following the episode’s broadcast on April 14, 2010.
However following an investigation by Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator found that the soap had not broken any guidelines, saying that the scene was “not likely to encourage or incite the commission of crime or lead to disorder.”
Love life
(Image: Greg Wood/Instagram)
Greg was married to his ex-wife Catherine for over 10 years, welcoming two children called Serena and Joel.
However, the actor was later linked to Cilla actress and Starstruck judge Sheridan Smith, with the two dating for a few months in 2015.
During this time they had been spotted out and about together at the opening night of West End production Funny Girl, in which Sheridan was starring at the time.
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Despite this, in the summer of the same year, Sheridan was reported to have split from the actor following rumours that Greg was dating his Hollyoaks co-star Tamara Wall.
However, it was later confirmed that Greg and Tamara were not seeing each other, with the Grace Black actress happily married to her partner Charlie Clapham.
A source told The Mirror: “There is nothing going on between Tammy and Greg despite the rumours.
“Tammy lives with Charlie Clapham, they have been in a really happy relationship for a good while.”
However, it was later reported that Sheridan and Greg got back together again in December of 2015, before finally splitting for good.
A source told Mail Online: “This relationship was always a rocky one and most people thought it was over in the summer.
“She took him back to give things one last try. He came to support her at her opening night and they went on holiday together. But it started to fall apart in December.”
Sheridan later tweeted that she was looking forward to a fresh start, saying: “New beginnings, so excited about the year ahead. And thank you to my pals who came today, lucky to have such special friends xxx.”
Famous brother
(Image: Lime Pictures)
Acting talent seems to run in the Wood family, as Greg’s brother is also a famous soap star too.
Greg’s brother is none other than Matt Milburn, who has played Weatherfield County Footballer Tommy Orpington in Coronation Street since 2016.
He also starred in Hollyoaks as Joe Spencer from 2003 until 2006, as well as Emmerdale as vet Nicky Pritchard in 2011.
Their sister also joined in on the Hollyoaks’ action too, making a cameo as a firefighter called Billy in Hollyoaks: Later.
Both Greg and Matt have starred in the same soaps, but surprisingly, have never shared a single scene together in the programmes.
Fans were shocked to discover the two actors were related, after Greg posted a photograph of him and his brother on Matt’s wedding day in 2017.
The photograph showed the brothers smiling for the camera, with the caption: “Still buzzin…so happy for my bro and his wife Kelly. A day to remember. Love u guys xxx.”
In another sweet snap, the brothers could also be seen smiling for the camera alongside their father, with Greg saying in the caption: “Happy fathers day!!! Love you pops, you make your kids proud xxx.”
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV at 8pm
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
