Former EastEnders and Emmerdale star joins Coronation Street in new role

The actor played EastEnders villain Lewis Butler
Joel Harley

Former EastEnders and Emmerdale star Aidan O’Callaghan is joining Coronation Street, it has been reported. The Irish actor appeared in one episode of Emmerdale in 2018, before starring as soap villain Lewis Butler in EastEnders in 2022.

During his time on the soap, Lewis was at the heart of one of the soap’s most hard-hitting storylines. This included the rape of Ben Mitchell, for which evil Lewis was responsible.

Lewis left Walford after being kidnapped by the Mitchells in revenge for the crime. But who is Aidan playing in Coronation Street?

Ben and Lewis chat in The Albert
Lewis committed a horrific assault upon Ben (Credit: BBC)

Former Emmerdale and EastEnders star joins Coronation Street

According to Radio Times, who sourced the information from the actor’s Spotlight profile, Aidan will play newcomer Alan in two upcoming episodes of the ITV soap. Alan’s introduction comes as Eva and the Driscolls prepare to take over ownership of The Rovers’ Return.

Led by returning character Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley), the Driscoll family will consist of new landlord Ben (Aaron McCusker) and his mum, Maggie (Pauline McLynn). Fireworks will no doubt ensue, but might Aidan O’Callaghan’s mystery role play a part in their arrival?

And what happened to Lewis on EastEnders anyway?

Lewis bound and gagged in the trunk of Phil's car
The Mitchells kidnapped Lewis for what he’d done (Credit: BBC)

What happened to Lewis in EastEnders?

After arriving on Albert Square in April 2022, Lewis soon hit it off with Ben and Callum. Lewis wouldn’t take no for an answer though, and raped Ben when he turned down his advances. With Callum wrongly suspecting that Ben and Lewis had been having an affair, they, in turn, grew close – leading to Ben opening up to mum Kathy and best friend Jay.

Horrified, Kathy fired Lewis from the job and ordered him out of town. Lewis complied, although not without stealing cash from the bar first.

Lewis briefly returned in August, after the Mitchell clan learned about what he’d done. Bundled into the back of a car, Lewis managed to get free of his bonds and steal Phil’s gun. During the ensuing confrontation (in which Lewis copped a righteous battering from Phil), Ben wrangled back control of the gun – ultimately deciding to let him loose after he admitted to what he’d done.

While Lewis never faced justice for what he’d done to Ben, he was arrested the following year, for raping another man.

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