'Jack P Shepherd dead' reports explained as Coronation Street star speaks out

Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd has spoken out after being the subject of a sick online death hoax. Reports have been circulating that the 37-year-old actor had died, and the David Platt star was forced to take to social media to clear things up - and to reassure fans he is in fact still alive.

His Corrie co-star Jane Danson, best known for playing Leanne Battersby on the ITV cobbles, addressed similar rumours she had been axed from the soap after several decades - and Jack rushed to comment, writing: "I was dead online [the] other day Jane!" with a cry-laughing emoji. Jane replied to him: "It's got to stop!" while his co-stars Georgia Taylor and Sally Carman responded with laughing and skull emojis.

A bizarre video was uploaded to YouTube with the title "Coronation Street in mourning: Jack P Shepherd dies at 24! Very very sad news for fans - must see", uploaded earlier this year. Both the age and the death reports were faked, using a hospital snap of Jack from when he underwent a hair transplant.

Jane, meanwhile, slammed rumours she has been axed from Corrie on her own Instagram page.

She fumed: "Can whoever runs Coronation Street Secret News on Facebook stop making up stories and quoting cast members saying things that haven't been said?

"Apparently I've been axed from the show and have written a letter to say how upset I am. First of all, if I had been 'axed' surely I would have been told?

"Had almost 30 years of people feeling the need to say what they want or making up stories and I've never bitten back, but I've had enough of reading absolute crap. Just stop it, it's pathetic.

"And please stop believing the 99% nonsense these sites keep spinning. It can be so damaging and it's really unkind. Think before you type."

Her co-stars chimed in to support Jane, with Georgia Taylor writing: "Amen to this, sis." Andy Whyment echoed: "Well said Jane," while Alex Bain, who played her on-screen stepson Simon Barlow, penned: "Well said Jane, well said."