What Do We Know About Martin Hancock
Coronation Street is one of the longest-running and most beloved British soap operas, with a rich history of iconic characters and storylines. One of the most memorable characters to grace the cobbles was Spider Nugent, played by the talented Martin Hancock.
When Martin Hancock left Coronation Street, fans were calling for him to return. His character Spide Nugent was a much-loved character, so when he finally returned fans were overjoyed.
However, there is much more to Martin Hancock than Coronation Street. Let’s delve into his fascinating life beyond Coronation Street, including his Hollywood roles, surprising Corrie connection, and personal life.
Martin Hancock Early Life and Career
Martin Hancock was born in Fulham in 1973, to an English father and a mother from New Zealand. He attended Drayton Manor High School in West London before training at the Drama Centre London. After graduating, he landed his first major role as Spider Nugent on Coronation Street in the late nineties.
During his time on the show, Martin’s mother, Vi, passed away. Martin was an only child and was particularly close to his mother, who had always been supportive of his acting career. Despite this devastating loss, Martin continued to excel in his career and eventually left Coronation Street in 2000 after feeling that his character had run its course.
Martin Hancock Hollywood Roles
After leaving Coronation Street, Martin Hancock continued to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. He landed roles in various British television shows, including Holby City and Doctors. However, he also began to break into Hollywood and starred in several notable films.
One of Martin’s most significant roles was in the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People, directed by Michael Winterbottom and starring Steve Coogan. Martin played the lead role of music producer Alan Erasmus, and the film was a critical and commercial success.
Martin also appeared in Ridley Scott’s 2005 epic Kingdom of Heaven, alongside Orlando Bloom and Liam Neeson. In this film, Martin played Gravedigger, a minor but memorable character.
Martin further cemented his Hollywood credentials with a role in the 2008 film Defiance, starring Daniel Craig. In this film, Martin played Asael Bielski, one of the Jewish brothers who formed a resistance group against the Nazis during World War II.
Despite his growing success in Hollywood, Martin continued to appear in British television shows, including Casualty and Cradle to Grave.
Martin Hancock Return to Coronation Street
In 2021, Martin Hancock made a triumphant return to Coronation Street as Spider Nugent, after over 20 years away from the show. Martin was initially nervous about returning to the cobbles after so long, but he quickly settled back into the role and received rave reviews from fans and critics alike.
In his return storyline, Spider came back to Weatherfield to ask his aunt Emily Bishop for money to invest in a juice bar in London. He also reunited with his old flame Toyah Battersby and convinced her to move to the capital with him.
Martin Hancock Personal Life
Martin Hancock has always been a private person when it comes to his personal life. However, he has been in a long-term relationship with his partner, who he lives with in London. Martin is also a big fan of West Ham United Football Club.
In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Martin revealed that his wife was instrumental in convincing him to return to Coronation Street. After seeing a photo of Martin and his former co-star Georgia Taylor in the papers, Martin’s mother-in-law encouraged him to make a comeback. Martin’s wife then urged him to pursue the opportunity, reminding him that he had always said he would return to the show one day.
Surprise Corrie Connection
In a surprising revelation, Martin Hancock revealed that he has a connection to one of his Coronation Street co-stars. In an interview with the Mirror, Martin said that he went to drama school with Joe Duttine, who plays Tim Metcalfe on the show. Despite both having long and successful careers in acting, Martin and Joe had never worked together before. Martin expressed his admiration for Joe’s character on the show and said that he would love to work with him.
Martin Hancock’s life and career have been full of fascinating twists and turns, from his iconic role as Spider Nugent on Coronation Street to his Hollywood film roles and surprising connections to his former co-stars. Even after all his success, Martin remains grounded and dedicated to his craft. His return to Coronation Street was a welcome surprise for fans of the show, and we can’t wait to see what he does next.
