DOB: 24 Jan 1977
Marital Status: Married to Claire
Address: 4 Coronation Street
Occupation: Butcher
Any other fact: Middle name is Sibelius 
 
First arrived
Ashley arrived in 1996 working as uncle Fred Elliot’s YTS apprentice. He was brought up by Beryl and Sam Peacock, but later discovered Fred was actually his father.
 
Character reference
Joined the butcher’s trade and has been flogging sausages and sides of ham ever since.
 
Love life
Ashley dated Ken’s babysitter Kelly but in 1997 fell in love with hairdresser Maxine Heath. They got together, but she left him when he took in homeless Zoe. His relationship with Zoe collapsed after she joined a religious cult and left Weatherfield. He was reunited with Maxine in 1999 shortly after discovering Fred was his dad.

He managed to track down his real mum in time for his and Maxine’s wedding. Maxine had a one-night stand with Dr Matt Ramsden and fell pregnant. She confessed her fling and baby Joshua was born, but Ashley refused to take a paternity test and assumed the baby to be his. In 2003 Maxine was murdered by Richard Hillman and Ashley discovered Joshua was not his.

He took on Claire Casey as his nanny and they fell in love and married in 2004. A year later she gave birth to Freddie, but suffered post-natal depression. Claire recovered, but more heartache was in store for Ashley when his father died suddenly of a stroke.
 
Dicing with death
He was held up in an armed siege in Freshco’s supermarket in 2000.
 
Memorable scene
Meeting his real mum, and discovering Fred was not his uncle but his dad.
 
What next?
Will undoubtedly continue to develop Fred’s business and pour his heart and soul into his family.
 
About the actor
Steven Arnold was born in Warrington in 1974. He was launched into acting by his school drama teacher who put him up for a part in a National Film School movie. He later went on to appear in the ITV drama series Children’s Ward and the BBC’s Hetty Wainthrop Investigates. He’s also been in The Bill and Common As Muck. His main hobby is boxing.