Jack P Shepherd is reportedly taking a temporary break from Coronation Street as he prepares to welcome his first child with wife Hanni Treweek.
The 38-year-old actor, who has played David Platt for 26 years, is expected to remain away from screens for several weeks while supporting Hanni, 36, during the final stage of her pregnancy and after their baby arrives.
Jack has also timed his absence to coincide with the recovery period following his third hair transplant, which required him to shave his head.
The couple are said to be eagerly counting down to the birth after marrying in Manchester in July 2025.
A source said Jack had transformed his personal life and was “blissfully happy” with Hanni.
“They can’t wait to be parents together,” the insider added.
Jack plans paternity leave
Hanni is expected to give birth within the coming weeks, and Jack reportedly intends to remain at home for a period of paternity leave.
The baby will be Jack’s fourth child and his first with Hanni.
He already has three children from previous relationships.
Although viewers will temporarily see less of David Platt, there is no suggestion that Jack is leaving Coronation Street permanently.
His break appears to have been carefully arranged around the baby’s arrival and his recovery from the cosmetic procedure.
After more than two decades working on the ITV soap, the actor is understood to have planned the timing so he could give Hanni his full support during one of the most important moments of their marriage.
Third hair transplant
Jack recently revealed that he had undergone a third hair transplant after speaking openly about his changing hairline over the years.
Because the latest procedure required him to shave his head, he reportedly scheduled it during a period when he would already be away from filming.
The actor previously documented parts of his hair-restoration journey and has discussed the subject candidly on his On The Sofa podcast.
His temporary absence therefore allows him to recover privately without creating an unexplained change in David Platt’s appearance.
It also means he can focus on family life without immediately returning to the demanding filming schedule of a continuing drama.
Romance began behind the scenes
Jack and Hanni met while working behind the scenes at Coronation Street, where she was employed as a researcher.
Their friendship developed into a relationship, and Jack later proposed during a romantic safari holiday.
The couple married in Manchester in July 2025, surrounded by relatives and close friends.
Since announcing their pregnancy, they have shared occasional photographs of Hanni’s growing baby bump and their preparations for becoming parents together.
Jack has appeared visibly excited about the new arrival, frequently discussing the pregnancy with friends and podcast co-hosts Colson Smith and Ben Price.
Baby-name joke delights co-stars
Earlier this year, Jack joked that the couple could name the baby after his famous Coronation Street character.
During an episode of On The Sofa, he admitted that “David” had been suggested and said he found the idea amusing.
“It was suggested. I actually thought it would be funny — David,” he said in his trademark deadpan style.
Jack then joked that the full name could be “David P Shepherd,” mirroring both his own distinctive stage name and the character he has played since childhood.
He described the choice as a particularly “ballsy” move.
There is no indication that Jack and Hanni genuinely intend to use the name, but the suggestion amused his co-stars and listeners.
Twenty-six years as David Platt
Jack joined Coronation Street in 2000 when he was only 12, taking over the role of David Platt.
He grew up on screen as the troubled son of Gail Platt and became one of the soap’s most prominent performers.
David evolved from a mischievous child into a complicated adult whose life has been shaped by family conflict, crime, trauma and turbulent relationships.
Jack has handled some of the programme’s most sensitive storylines, earning praise and awards for his dramatic performances.
His longevity means that a temporary break will be noticeable to regular viewers, although the soap has not revealed how David’s absence will be explained.
A demanding period for David Platt
David has remained central to the Platt family’s recent storylines, often appearing alongside wife Shona and other members of the long-running Weatherfield clan.
Filming a major British soap can involve long days and rapidly changing scripts, making it difficult for actors to take extended time away without advance planning.
Jack’s decision to coordinate his hair procedure with the birth allows him to step back from both professional demands at once.
It also represents a rare pause for an actor who has spent most of his life working continuously on the same programme.
A fresh chapter after difficult years
Those close to Jack say his marriage to Hanni has brought a new sense of happiness and stability.
The pair’s relationship developed away from the glare of a conventional celebrity romance, beginning with their shared connection to the programme where Jack had already spent decades.
Their wedding and pregnancy have since marked an important new chapter.
Becoming parents together will add another dimension to a relationship that Jack has repeatedly described with warmth.
Although he has experienced parenthood before, welcoming a baby with his new wife is expected to be a particularly emotional milestone for the couple.
Family comes before Weatherfield
Jack’s temporary departure illustrates how significantly his priorities are changing as the birth approaches.
For 26 years, David Platt has been an almost permanent presence on British television.
But in the coming weeks, Jack will step away from Weatherfield and concentrate on life at home.
He will be supporting Hanni, recovering from his procedure and adjusting to the arrival of the newest member of their family.
Viewers can expect him to return to Coronation Street once his leave ends.
Until then, the actor is exchanging the drama of the cobbles for sleepless nights, nappies and the excitement of becoming a father once again.
