Ryan Clayton is currently known as Josh Tucker on the cobbles of Coronation Street. He plays the leading role in one of the soaps most sensitive and controversial story lines to date.

From 2008-2010 Ryan studied Drama and Theatre, Acting, and Media Studies at Ashton Sixth Form College. He joined the college having never previously acted before. When he began his course, he said he was extremely nervous for the first two months. Since then he has shone and his work within the industry has gone from strength to strength.

In Coronation Street’s long-standing history of almost 58 years, the programme is approaching the subject of male rape and has received an incredible amount of media and social attention as a result. The storyline is not only raising awareness of the topic to viewers but it is also helping those who have been victims to come forward and seek help. ITV recently reported that the charity Male Survivor, “a national male rape charity has seen a 1,700% increase in calls from people asking for help following a Coronation Street storyline.” (ITV News, 20th March 2018)

Ryan came from Hyde, Tameside and he explained that growing up he never saw a career in the acting industry as ‘socially acceptable’ and as a result, he never really considered it. He said of Ashton Sixth Form College,

“Because of the staff there, and the people there, they encouraged me to do it and allowed me to do it.”

“Because of the belief and the support from all the teachers there, whether it be dancing, singing or acting… I was able to pursue a career in this industry and I’m still here seven years on.”

He began his early education at Longdendale High School and following the completion of his studies at Ashton Sixth Form College, he gained a place at ALRA, the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts. While at drama school, he gained a 2:1 in Acting (BA Hons). Ryan spoke of his decision to study A-Levels before auditioning to join Drama Schools and the skills he gained studying at college

“The skills you gain are vital.

I never thought I’d enjoy the theory as much as I did when I did the Drama and Theatre course. It was so useful especially when I went in to drama school because we’d learnt about Berkoff, we’d learnt about Stanislavski, we’d learnt about all these different styles – the naturalism, the surrealism – and that enabled me to just get on with the practical because Drama School was very practical. But I had a great understanding of it, and I had a great understanding from perhaps if you wanted to go down a directorial route.”

Ryan Clayton’s outstanding portrayal of Josh Tucker in Coronation Street currently airs on ITV throughout the week.

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Find out more about the Performing Arts Department at Ashton Sixth Form College here.

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