Who is Spider in Coronation Street?
SPIDER Nugent’s job had massive repercussions on his private life during a recent trip to the cobbles.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Coronation Street character.
Who is Spider Nugent in Coronation Street?
Long-term ITV viewers will remember that Spider Nugent has been a big part of life in Weatherfield, making his Corrie debut in 1997.
Geoffrey David Nugent aka Spider first appeared in the Manchester-based drama when he paid his aunt Emily Bishop a visit – but he quickly ruffled many feathers during his first year in the Street.
A fervent eco-warrior and former politics student, he not only led a successful campaign to stop the building of a concert bowl on the Red Rec, he also stood against stalwart Audrey Roberts in the council elections.
Despite ultimately losing the elections, Spider’s activities led a teenage Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor) to grow infatuated with him and the pair eventually dated.
In 1999, Spider got a job at the DSS but resigned after being forced to deny benefits to a single mother, feeling he had compromised his own principles.
He left for a spiritual journey in India but returned in 2001 to ask Emily for money in an attempt to open his own juice bar.
Spider settled down in London but returned in 2003 after Emily was attacked by serial killer Richard Hillman.
He reconciled with Toyah, spending several years in London before leaving the country to do volunteer work.
In 2016, it was revealed he was working at a school in Peru which inspired Emily to join him.
Spider tied the knot with a woman named Layla but the pair drifted apart when the death of a friend at the hands of counter-protesters at an anti-fascist protest inspired Spider to join the police, as he decided that his protesting wouldn’t be enough to make a difference.
What happened to Spider Nugent and Toyah Battersby in Coronation Street?
After less than a decade away, Spider returned to Weatherfield in 2022 as an undercover police officer.
This inevitably led him straight back to a recently widowed Toyah as he was asked to infiltrate Griff Reynolds’ gang of far-right extremists.
Although he was simply estranged from his wife, Spider resumed his relationship with Toyah and the lovebirds became engaged.
Unfortunately, recent Coronation Street scenes have shown Toyah could often pay the price of Spider’s job.
Toyah was kidnapped by a woman named Maggie on Friday, July 14, 2023, which resulted in a struggle in her flat.
Fans soon learned that Maggie’s husband was a drug dealer Spider had busted and she was hellbent on revenge.
He received a text from Maggie, detailing a location at some waste ground and made his way there to find her armed with a gun.
Things quickly escalated and Toyah was shocked to see Spider lying on the ground, seemingly fatally injured.
Spider turned everything around after another exchange with Maggie and revealed he had been wearing a bulletproof vest all along, which allowed him to radio for backup.
He reaffirmed his commitment to his job – but could it have a further impact on his relationship with Toyah?
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Who plays Spider Nugent in Coronation Street?
Spider has been portrayed by the same actor since his Corrie debut, Fullham-born Martin Hancock.
The soap star began his career in the 1990’s with several roles in The Bill before moving on to medical drama Casualty, in which he reappeared in 2015 for another stint.
Martin’s stint in Corrie opened several doors for him as his TV credits also include appearances in Doctors, Keen Eddie and Top Buzzer, among many others.
In 2005, he was cast as Reg Lund in Holby City which became another one of his biggest roles.
Along with his many roles on the box, Martin has had plenty of success on the silver screen by appearing in several films throughout the years.
These include Liam, Trauma, Kingdom of Heaven, Hannibal Rising, Defiance, Closer to the Moon and The Last Faust, among others.
But how will the rest of his stint in the cobbles play out?
Coronation Street airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8pm on ITV.