OVER the years Coronation Street has seen many villains live on the famous cobbles.
One memorable criminal who lived amongst the residents of Weatherfield was Phil Simmonds.
Phil Simmonds was a Coronation Street villain – seen here with Toyah
Who played Phil Simmonds in Coronation Street?
Phil Simmonds was introduced to Coronation Street viewers in September 2000, before leaving the following August.
The evil character was played by actor Jack Deam.
Before his Corrie stint he starred in the Granada TV soap Families, as well as Heartbeat, and The Life and Times of Henry Pratt.
His other credits include Soldier Soldier, Clocking Off, Hillsborough, and New Tricks.
What did Phil Simmonds do in Coronation Street?
Phil Simmonds was introduced to Corrie viewers when he was evicted from his flat and was made homeless.
However, his kind-hearted neighbour Toyah was furious he’d been kicked out, so she helped him him out.
However, evil Simmonds repaid her by raping her in an alleyway.
Toyah had no idea who attacked her that night and everyone on the street was ordered to have a DNA test.
Peter Barlow was initially arrested on suspicion of rape, but when the DNA results came through he was cleared.
Simmonds was finally caught out when he called Toyah’s name and she recognised the voice she’d heard just before her ordeal.
Where is Jack Deam now?
Since leaving Corrie, actor Jack has continued to work.
He is probably best known for playing Inspector Mallory in BBC One’s Father Brown from 2016.
Although he left the role in 2022, Jack previously revealed why he enjoyed playing Mallory so much.
Talking to the BBC, he said: “I can just get to be grumpy all day.
“I can wake up in the morning and just say; “Can’t be bothered today”, turn up and then use that right the way through the day.
“When you play characters that are like that its true what everyone says, the baddie or the grumpy characters are far more entertaining to play.”
Meanwhile, the actor’s other big role was playing Marty Fisher in Shameless.
In 2021 Jack also appeared in Silent Witness, and then in 2023 he starred in Vera.
