Coronation Street star Aaron McCusker is best known for his role as Ben Driscoll on the cobbles but he has lived a very different life away from the soap
Aaron McCusker has swiftly established himself as a popular figure on Coronation Street in the role of Ben Driscoll – but what do we know about his life off-screen?
The actor arrived on the ITV soap last year as Ben, who appeared alongside Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley), his mum Maggie (Pauline McLynn) and his two children Ollie (Raphael Akuwudike) and Will (Lucas Hodgson-Wale).
It wasn’t long before he became embroiled in some major storylines. Ben has not only discovered that Will has been groomed by his teacher, but that Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) is his half-brother, reports the Mirror.
The revelation emerged this week, with the consequences continuing in Wednesday’s episode (April 8), as both Ben and Steve tried to process the shocking discovery. Beyond the cobbles however, Ben actor Aaron enjoys a considerably less dramatic existence with his family. But how many children does he have? And when did he meet his wife?
Aaron’s television background
Aaron is well accustomed to television appearances. Alongside Corrie, he has featured in The Bill, Marcella and Hope Street. He also portrayed Jim Hutton, Freddie Mercury’s partner in the blockbuster film Bohemian Rhapsody.
Nevertheless, he is perhaps most recognised for portraying Jamie Maguire from 2007 to 2013 on Shameless. The Channel 4 drama secured numerous accolades throughout its run.
Discussing his stint on the provocative programme, Aaron previously told The Independent that Shameless achieved such popularity that he “literally couldn’t walk down the street”.
Aaron speaks fondly of wife
Aaron is happily married to theatre producer Jennie Sutton. The couple wed in 2009 following six years together, at Beamish Hall, an upmarket country house hotel.
Speaking previously about their first meeting, Aaron said on Parental Mayhem: “I was living in London and I came to Manchester to do a play and she was working in theatre, and that’s where we met.
“And then we started seeing each other and I went back to London and we were doing weekends and then a job came up in a theatre in London so Jennie talked to me and said ‘I’m gonna apply for this job and I’ll come to London’.
“I was like ‘this is brilliant’ so she got the job in London and two months after I got Shameless and had to go back up to Manchester. So it was weekends again!”
Aaron also expressed gratitude for Jennie’s unwavering support throughout his demanding acting career. During the podcast, he discussed securing a role in ABC series The Astronaut Wives Club, which filmed in New Orleans. At that point, Aaron and Jennie were parents to their two sons.
“I was like we can’t do it,” Aaron admitted before saying: “But Jenny was like ‘listen we’ll make it work just go’. So I flew off to New Orleans and she juggled everything. She was also on maternity leave, but to have a three-year-old and a six-month-old…”
Aaron subsequently praised his wife once more for managing everything while he’s working away: “Three kids, a dog, on your own, it’s unbelievable!”
Aaron on family life
Aaron and Jennie are parents to three children, Sam, 16, Corey, 13, and Rosie. Recently, he offered a rare glimpse into his home life, suggesting his youngest daughter Rosie might follow in his footsteps and pursue acting.
“She often helps me with my lines. She picks it up well actually. I was sitting on the couch with her and we were watching Corrie,” he told the Mirror.
Aaron continued: “Simon Gregson came on screen and she went ‘oh, there’s Steve.’ I said ‘how do you know that’s Steve?’ and she went ‘because I read his lines.’ If any of my kids become an actor it will be her.”
However, Aaron also disclosed that he has forbidden his teenage son from watching his famous father in the raunchy series Shameless.
“My 16 year-old keeps asking if he can watch Shameless and I’m like ‘no, no, no!’ I won’t let him. A 16 year-old should not be watching Shameless. All I ever got in Shameless was sex scenes and all he’d see is dad’s arse on screen!” he said.
Aaron went on: “That’s the last thing I’d want him to see and I’m sure it’s not what he wants to see. He can watch it when he goes to university.”
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX
