Coronation Street viewers will remember Kylie Platt’s funeral as one of the soap’s most heartbreaking episodes, but behind the scenes, the atmosphere was far less sombre for at least one member of the cast. During a recent instalment of The Sofa Show, the podcast hosted by long-running Corrie stars Jack P. Shepherd, Colson Smith and Ben Price, Jack revealed a moment that had his co-hosts and fans in stitches.
While talking about the realities of filming on location, Jack shared that, during one of the most emotional scenes of his career, Malcolm Hebden, who played the iconic Norris Cole, actually nodded off in the middle of his eulogy.
As Jack put it: ‘I remember doing a eulogy at Kylie Platt’s funeral, Malcolm Hebden was asleep.’
The revelation sparked laughter across the podcast studio and set the tone for a wider discussion about the quirks, challenges and unexpected moments that come with working outside the main set. It also highlighted exactly why The Sofa Show has become such a hit: three actors with decades of combined experience sharing the sort of candid backstage stories fans rarely get to hear.
Surviving long filming days
Jack’s story about Malcolm drifting off led naturally into the week’s ‘trick of the trade,’ as he explained what cast members do to keep themselves awake, organised and entertained during location shoots.
Ben shared: ’I would have said a trick of the trade is have some entertainment. You need to know what you’re doing, plan your day.”
The trio then compared the different ways the cast cope with hours spent standing outside, waiting on cues, or filming takes that require stillness and concentration, something Malcolm proved isn’t always easy. Jack shared that many of their female co-stars come extremely well prepared, arriving with a hot water bottle, a phone charger and deodorant to help them power through the long days.
By weaving in different personal memories and stories, the three hosts brought listeners directly into the lived reality of soap filming, a far cry from the finished scenes viewers see on screen.
What makes these stories work so well is the natural chemistry between Jack, Colson and Ben, whose careers on Coronation Street span some of the most memorable decades in its history. Their dynamic gives the podcast its charm, each offering a different type of insight that fits perfectly with the others.
A window into life behind Britain’s most famous street
Intertwining their experiences, the three actors have turned The Sofa Show into a blend of nostalgia, humour and genuine insight. The Malcolm Hebden anecdote perfectly sums up why it works: it’s a behind-the-scenes moment fans never would have guessed during such an emotional episode.
Listeners tune in because the podcast offers something rare: three Corrie mainstays talking freely, teasing each other, lifting the curtain on how the show is made, and reminding fans that even during the most intense storylines, there are still laughs, naps, and hot water bottles keeping everyone going.
With stories like Malcolm’s unexpected funeral snooze, it’s clear the trio have no shortage of memories to share, and fans will be eager to hear many more.
