Coronation Street Ollie star’s very different voice in real life and fans will be floored
Coronation Street actor Raphael Akuwudike plays Ollie Driscoll with a northern accent but sounds completely different in real life interviews
Coronation Street Ollie star’s very different voice in real life and fans will be floored
Coronation Street‘s Ollie Driscoll has been making himself at home on the famous cobbles, but viewers might be surprised to discover actor Raphael Akuwudike sounds quite different off-screen.
Ollie arrived in Weatherfield last year, enlisting solicitor Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown) after being charged with careless driving. The professional relationship quickly developed into something more romantic.
The plot thickened when it emerged that Ollie’s father is Ben Driscoll (Aaron McCusker), who subsequently relocated to the street alongside Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley) to run the Rovers Return.
Together with his dad, brother Will (Lucas Hodgson-Wale), grandmother Maggie (Pauline McLynn) and Eva’s daughter Suzy (Aurora Bradshaw), Ollie has established himself in Weatherfield, taking up a position as chef at the Rovers.
Ollie made his debut last year(Image: ITV)
Following his break up with Dee-Dee last year when she departed for Thailand, recent instalments have seen Ollie developing feelings for barmaid Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton). This week saw Ollie take Lauren for dinner at the Bistro, before later suggesting they attend a student gathering in Fallowfield together, reports the Daily Star.
For Raphael, the Corrie role isn’t his debut in soaps or television more broadly. Fans of murder mysteries may recall his portrayal of Kit Harcourt in The Marlow Murder Club from 2024.
He has struck up a romance with Lauren(Image: ITV)
Raphael previously appeared in Doctors back in 2019, playing the character Beni Cameron. The performer has an impressive theatrical CV, featuring productions such as The Player Kings (The Noel Coward); Beautiful Thing (Stratford East); Romeo and Juliet (The Almeida) and Sons of the Prophet (Hampstead Theatre).
Whilst portraying Ollie, Raphael adopts a distinctive northern accent for the character. Yet audiences may be taken aback to discover that off-screen, the actor sounds markedly different.
In a recorded interview with Conversation Street last year, Raphael’s natural speaking voice reveals a southern, gentle tone – quite the departure from the northern dialect he employs as Ollie.
The talented actor sounds different in real life
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Speaking to the publication about his experience on the programme thus far, Raphael shared: “It’s been really, really fun. It’s brand new to me because I haven’t really done TV before.”
Discussing the nature of his character Ollie, Raphael characterised him as a “lover”. He elaborated: “He’s a very passionate person, although you might not see that from the beginning. I think he’s quite skilled, competent.”
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX
