Coronation Street’s Chris Fountain details depression he went through

Chris Fountain has spoken about the depression he went through after being axed from Coronation Street when a video of him rapping about women was posted online.

The actor, 34, who played Tommy Duckworth on the soap until he left in 2013, rapped about rape in the shocking clip which he said has left him with ‘bleak’ career prospects to this day.

Chris discussed his difficulties with fellow Coronation Street actor Ryan Thomas and his brothers Adam and Scott on their Mancs On The Mic podcast.

Candid: Chris Fountain has spoken about the depression he went through after being axed from Coronation Street when a video of him rapping about women was posted online

Discussing his mental health struggles, Chris said: ‘I’ve been in some very dark, horrible places, to the point where I realised I needed to start changing the way that I was thinking – otherwise I might not have been here.

‘My life, my job, my image, my reputation – everything was just ripped away. Within 24 hours. I didn’t leave my house for four days.’ 

Chris said he realised he was suffering from depression as his head was like a ‘swamp’. 

He added: ‘I’d never been this discombobulated before. I was meant to go on This Morning and then that got cancelled because they didn’t want me on there. After a while, I was like, “I think I’m going through depression here.”‘

Controversy: The actor, 34, who played Tommy Duckworth on the soap until he left in 2013, rapped about rape in the shocking clip which he said has left him with ‘bleak’ career prospects to this day (pictured in Coronation Street)

After leaving Coronation Street, Chris appeared on the show Girlfriends in 2018 and has also acted in regional plays, but suspects his work prospects are still impacted by the video.  

He said: ‘As much as I like to say everything’s alright and everything’s cool, work-wise at the moment, it’s bleak.

‘Am I not getting jobs because of that [the scandal], or am I not getting jobs because I’m not as good an actor as I once thought I was? I don’t know if I’ll ever find that answer.’

However, Chris insisted he has not given up on his acting ambitions, saying: ‘I’ve been really upset and really angry and really frustrated, but now, I kind of just don’t give a f**k anymore. 

READ RELATED: Bill Oddie, 80, admits to feeling 'not wanted' and losing his enthusiasm after 'grim' few years

‘I can’t do anything else. Just because that happened, I can’t just go, “Right, I need to stop being an actor now”. I’ve been an actor since I was ten years old.’

Interview: Chris discussed his difficulties with fellow Coronation Street actor Ryan Thomas (pictured) and his brothers Adam and Scott on their Mancs On The Mic podcast

The actor added that he knows the rap video was a terrible mistake.

He said: ‘I can’t condone anything that I said. I’m ashamed of it, I’m embarrassed of it, but at the time, I wasn’t thinking, “Yeah, I want to be really vicious towards women”. That wasn’t the case at all. 

‘I’ve got more respect for women probably than men, because the way that I was brought up and the passion and care and protection I’ve had from women has been incredible throughout my life.’

Chris described some of the thoughts that went through his head after the fallout from the video.

He said: ‘You’re just sat in that hole, going, “Oh my God, I’m just awful. I’m a horrendous person. I’ve got nothing to offer to anybod”’. And that’s when I was in my darkest moments.’

Chris said: ‘I’ve been in some very dark, horrible places, to the point where I realised I needed to start changing the way that I was thinking – otherwise I might not have been here’

The actor added that his family and friends – including former co-star Ryan – helped him to get through the tough times.

Chris said he still sometime suffers with panic attacks, saying: ‘All of a sudden things start getting thrown at me and I can’t breathe.’

The soap star said he ‘made good money’ from his six-year long stint as Justin Burton on Hollyoaks and continues to live off those funds.

However, career-wise he feels he is on a ‘cliff’s edge’, saying: ‘Don’t get me wrong, I’m still really worried about my career. I’ve never done anything else. I’ve never got any other job, ever.’

In 2013, videos emerged of Chris rapping under an pseudonym, and in one distasteful clip, he rapped about dragging a girl upstairs, adding: ‘I will **** anybody up in the worst way, rape a b***h on her birthday.’

At the time of the incident Chris said the explicit lyrics were ‘blurted out in a moment of madness’.

The actor added: I’m still really worried about my career. I’ve never done anything else. I’ve never got any other job, ever’ (pictured in 2011)