Channel 5’s The Teacher made its debut on Monday night with a former Coronation Street favourite joining the season 3 cast
Channel 5’s The Teacher made its debut on Monday night with a former Coronation Street favourite joining the season 3 cast
Olivia Wheeler Content Editor Screen Time
12:06, 31 Mar 2026
Coronation Street enthusiasts spotted a recognisable face while watching Channel 5’s The Teacher on Monday evening.
Soap actor Peter Ash has joined the series 3 cast as Sebastian Blake, appearing alongside Victoria Hamilton who plays Helen Simpson, Steve Edge who plays Terry Simpson, Rochenda Sandall who plays Tessa Stewart, Alice Grant who plays Cressida Bancroft, Olly Rhodes who plays Sam Simpson, Navin Chowdhry who plays Simon Cookson, Shak Benjamin who plays Leo Dalton, Malek Alkoni who plays Miles Crawford and Natalie Gavin who plays DS O’Brien.
The school-based anthology, which debuted in 2022 with Sheridan Smith, sees Victoria, 54, recognised for Unforgotten, Doctor Foster and The Crown, assume the leading role. Series 3 follows the second run which aired in 2024 and featured Kara Tointon starring as art teacher Dani.
In the most recent chapter, Victoria portrays Helen Simpson, “a teacher with 30 years” experience who “dismisses the woke ideologies of the younger generation”.
The synopsis continues: “Influential female student Cressida Bancroft dislikes Helen for accusing her of being a woke warrior to gain popularity. After this clash of ideals, Cressida sets out to turning the world against Helen, before focussing her attention on Helen’s family, including her son Sam.”, reports the Mirror.
“As Helen delves deeper into Cressida’s past, she uncovers a world of sadness and neglect. But has she learnt enough about Cressida to stop her final act of revenge?”
Posting to Instagram last week, former Coronation Street actor Peter, 41, announced he would be appearing in the Channel 5 series and posted photographs of himself in character. He wrote: “‘The Teacher’ @channel5_tv Monday 30th March, 9pm.
“‘In the new series of The Teacher, Victoria Hamilton stars as Head of Drama, Helen Simpson – experienced, outspoken, and unwilling to change.’ Great to be part of this incredible cast and crew!”
Meanwhile, audiences watching episode one on Monday evening were swift to comment on Peter’s appearance in the programme. Writing on Twitter, now X, one viewer said: “Paul from Corrie (Peter Ash) has turned up at Cheetham Hall, an elite private school in Channel 5’s #theteacher.”
A different account wrote: “Oooo, look….Paul from #Corrie is in #TheTeacher . @PeterAsh_85” while another fan commented: “Paul from Corrie #TheTeacher.”
Peter portrayed Paul Foreman on the cobbles from 2018 to 2024, with his character tragically passing away following his motor neurone disease (MND) diagnosis.
After departing Weatherfield, Peter featured in Peter James’ Picture You Dead at Salford’s Lowry arts centre from 16 to 19 April 2025. He has now become part of the cast for Channel 5’s The Teacher series 3.
The Teacher continues on Monday nights at 9pm on Channel 5.
