The storied realm of Coronation Street has seen its fair share of new characters over the years, and among them was Phill Whittaker, portrayed by Jamie Kenna. Making his entrance onto the illustrious cobbles in 2021, Phill’s storyline became entwined with the character Fiz Stape, who was grappling with heartbreak due to Tyrone Dobbs’ involvement with Alina Pop.
In a whirlwind narrative, Phill and Fiz swiftly moved from romance to cohabitation, engagement, and ultimately marriage. Yet, a mere moment after uttering their vows, Fiz experienced a change of heart. She chose to reconcile with her former partner Tyrone, notwithstanding his prior betrayal. Phill’s initial resistance to an annulment was eventually replaced by attempts to rekindle the relationship. In time, however, after uncovering the truth about Fiz and Tyrone, the embittered ex-lover signed the annulment papers and bid farewell to the cobbles in 2022.
Since his departure from Weatherfield, Jamie, the actor behind Phill, has been keeping busy, sharing updates with fans on Instagram about his various undertakings. Recently, he caught Corrie enthusiasts by surprise with an unexpected appearance in a Hollywood production, sharing the screen with Orlando Bloom and David Harbour from Stranger Things. Jamie has departed from the cobbles for a vastly different role in the upcoming Gran Turismo film, inspired by the popular PlayStation games.
In the film, Jamie joins an ensemble of A-list talents to recount the tale of a Gran Turismo player whose virtual prowess propels him to win a series of Nissan-sponsored video game competitions, subsequently leading to a career as a professional race car driver. Within the narrative, Jamie embodies Jack Man Jones, a member of the Nissan pit crew pivotal in propelling Archie Madekwe’s character, Jann Mardenborough, to Le Mans’ podium.
Taking to Instagram earlier this week, Jamie provided glimpses behind the scenes of the film, captioning the post: “A remarkable time spent with exceptional people filming what has evolved into an exceptional movie! While I can’t tag most of them due to constraints, you all know who you are!! Head to @granturismomovie to discover the incredible story of @jannthaman.”
Swift and effusive reactions from fans ensued. One individual exclaimed, “Well done, Jamie” with clapping emojis. Another account chimed in, “Impressive work! Thoroughly enjoyed the film, and was eagerly waiting for your appearance! Congratulations!” A different viewer expressed their anticipation, “Eagerly looking forward to watching this movie. Kudos, Jamie, for staying active with these film projects; great job, mate.”
However, Jamie’s post-Weatherfield journey doesn’t end here. The actor recently disclosed another “exciting” endeavor in partnership with his wife Claire. In June, Jamie took to Instagram to reveal the inauguration of their café, aptly named The Green Room, located in Brighton, a project they’re pursuing alongside their primary pursuits.
Sharing a video showcasing the venture, Jamie captioned it “EXCITING NEW PROJECT!!!!”, highlighting their café’s tagline, “the goodest cafe in town,” a charming phrase coined by their six-year-old son. Jamie also shared snapshots of the café, captioning them, “The Green Room, The goodest cafe in town….OPEN TODAY!!”
