What Happened to Damon in Coronation Street? Has He Left Coronation Street?
by Venkatesh P
Updated Jun 27, 2023
Who is Damon in Coronation Street?
Damon Hay is acknowledged as the estranged paternal figure of Jacob Hay, with their relationship gaining significance upon his initiation of a romantic entanglement with Sarah Barlow in 2023.
The current portrayal of Damon Hay by actor Ciarán Griffiths in the television series Coronation Street encompasses notable narrative arcs, particularly his involvement in an extramarital relationship with the character Sarah Barlow, who is currently married.
Damon emerged as a controversial persona upon his arrival, as it was unveiled that he is the younger half-brother of the infamous drug lord Harvey Gaskell. Initially, Damon exhibited intentions to perpetuate his sibling's criminal legacy by instilling fear in Nick Tilsley and Leanne Battersby. However, as time progressed, he displayed a more compassionate disposition, opting for a law-abiding existence and contributing to the operations of the Viaduct Bistro, seeking stability.
During their upbringing, both Damon and Harvey were under the care of their paternal figure Wayne, along with their mutual mother, whose untimely demise occurred during their formative years. Following Wayne's passing, their aunt Sharon assumed responsibility for their upbringing.
Before Harvey's apprehension and subsequent incarceration in 2021, Damon had extended a substantial monetary loan to him. Instead of repaying the debt, Harvey distributed a significant portion of the funds to Nick Tilsley, driven by remorse over his involvement in the tragic demise of Sam Blakeman's mother, Natasha. Subsequently, Nick invested the money into the Viaduct Bistro. Damon's arrival in Weatherfield in December 2022 initially appeared to revolve around reconnecting with his estranged son Jacob.
However, he expeditiously divulged to Nick his true motive for appearing, asserting his belief in having a rightful share in the Bistro and intending to exploit it as a conduit for illicit drug activities. Despite Nick's horrified reaction, he chose to withhold this revelation from his partner, Leanne Battersby, as he had neglected to inform her about his acceptance of money from the individual who had previously caused her distress.
By employing blackmail as a means of coercion, Damon secured a job for Jacob at the Viaduct Bistro. Nevertheless, in 2023, his involvement with Sarah escalated into an adulterous affair. Upon learning of the affair, Sarah's husband, Adam, opted to remain in the marital relationship while clandestinely devising a scheme for retribution against Damon. Adam managed to locate an associate from Damon's past, eventually leading to Damon's departure from the locale.
What Happened to Damon in Coronation Street?
Coronation Street delivered an unexpected twist as it bid farewell to Damon Hay (portrayed by Ciarán Griffiths) in a recent episode on the 23rd of June. The departure was orchestrated by Adam Barlow (played by Sam Robertson) seeking retribution with a sense of satisfaction.
Following a brief affair between Damon and Adam's wife, Sarah (Tina O'Brien), Damon found himself rejected and disheartened, realizing he had developed genuine emotions for Sarah. In the meantime, Adam attempted to forgive Sarah, but he couldn't overcome the constant presence of Damon.
After failing to persuade his brother-in-law Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) to remove Damon from the Bistro, Adam devised an alternative plan upon learning from his colleague Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown) that Damon had come to the rescue of Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) during a confrontation linked to a car scam.
However, Dee-Dee became furious when she caught Adam snooping through Paul's file at the office, suspecting his intention to establish a connection between Damon and the car scam. It was only during Adam's interrogation of Paul that he obtained the name "Niall."
Playing the part of the affable friend, Adam arranged a meeting with Niall and informed him of Damon's alleged intentions to expose him to the police regarding the car thefts. Niall found it rather amusing and refused to believe that Damon could be so foolish.
Adam continued weaving his narrative, asserting that Damon was desperate to mitigate his "sentence" for another undisclosed charge. Planting seeds of doubt, Adam confronted Damon on the street, divulging what he had disclosed to the dangerous Niall about him.
Damon was overcome with panic upon hearing Adam's suggestion that he should flee as far as possible. Consequently, he hastily packed his belongings into his car and left a farewell message on Sarah's phone, cautioning her about the depths of her husband's capabilities.
Has Damon Left Coronation Street?
Yes, Damon Hay has left Coronation Street. Portrayed by Ciaran Griffiths, Damon made a dramatic and swift exit from the show on June 23, leaving viewers wondering if he has truly left the show for good. The catalyst for his departure was Adam Barlow, played by Sam Robertson, who couldn't bear the constant reminder of Damon's affair with his wife, Sarah Platt, portrayed by Tina O'Brien.
Adam's resentment towards Damon reached its boiling point, prompting him to take extreme measures to ensure Damon would vanish from his life once and for all. Aware of Damon's involvement in an insurance scam that had serious consequences for Paul Foreman, Adam delved deeper into the case to uncover the mastermind behind the operation.
In a calculated move, Adam orchestrated a meeting with the notorious criminal boss, Niall, weaving a web of lies to turn Niall against Damon. Adam deceitfully informed Niall that Damon intended to expose him to the police in exchange for a reduced sentence on an aggravated assault charge.
Niall, recognizing the danger Damon was in, pointed out the sheer recklessness of such an act, suggesting that Damon must be "suicidal" to consider betraying him. While Niall deliberated on his next move, Adam added another layer of deception by falsely claiming that Damon planned to contact the police the following day.
Enjoying the power he held over Damon's fate, Adam reveled in revealing his manipulations, emphasizing that Damon's best course of action was to flee Weatherfield and put as much distance between himself and the street as possible. Undeterred by Damon's threats, Adam's refusal to relent left Damon with no choice but to face the reality of the dangerous predicament he found himself in.
Realizing the severity of the situation and the imminent danger posed by Niall, Damon quickly arranged his departure from Coronation Street. Whether this departure marks the definitive end of Damon's storyline or if he may make an unexpected return in the future remains to be seen, leaving fans intrigued and eager for what lies ahead on the cobbles of Weatherfield.
Who Played Damon in Coronation Street?
Ciarán Griffiths as Damon Hay in Coronation Street brings an intriguing dynamic to the storyline. While Damon's character is involved in significant plotlines, including his affair with the married Sarah Barlow, Ciarán's real-life circumstances add a layer of uniqueness to his portrayal.
Residing in Australia instead of Manchester, where the show is filmed, Ciarán's limited availability for filming creates an element of impermanence for Damon's character. This adds an air of unpredictability to Damon's storyline, leaving viewers curious about his future on the show.
Furthermore, Ciarán's recent involvement in the Australian thriller Riptide, produced by Fremantle Australia, the same company behind Neighbours, opens up the possibility of him crossing over to the popular Australian soap. With Neighbours returning on Amazon Freevee, fans may speculate about the potential for Ciarán to make appearances on Ramsay Street in the future.
In an interview with Inside Soap magazine, Ciarán expressed his desire to work near his family in Melbourne, highlighting the appeal of playing different roles that deviate from his previous characters. He even jokingly suggested the idea of portraying an old washed-up surfer with a drug-addled past, allowing him to enjoy the sunshine and outdoor lifestyle of Australia.
Comparing the filming experiences in Australia and the UK, Ciarán noted the more laid-back nature of Australian productions, where the pace is slightly slower, while enjoying the advantage of better weather conditions. This contrast in work environments further emphasizes the unique perspective and opportunities that Ciarán's character privilege brings to his portrayal of Damon in Coronation Street.
What happened to Damon in Coronation Street- FAQ
Damon left Coronation Street because Adam Barlow, angered by Damon's affair with his wife Sarah Platt, orchestrated his departure to ensure he would disappear from their lives.
Damon Hay was portrayed by Ciarán Griffiths in Coronation Street.
Adam resented Damon because he had an affair with Adam's wife, Sarah Platt.
Adam took extreme measures by orchestrating a meeting with a criminal boss, fabricating lies about Damon's intentions to expose him to the police, and revealing the information to Damon himself.
Ciarán Griffiths resides in Australia, which limits his availability for filming in Coronation Street. This adds an element of impermanence to Damon's character and raises the possibility of Ciarán appearing in other Australian productions like Neighbours.