ITV Coronation Street fans stunned by real-life sibling revelation

Daily Record

14-07-2025

Two former Coronation Street stars are actually siblings in real life - and fans are gobsmacked by the news.
Coronation Street fans have been left stunned by the revelation that two former characters from the popular soap are actually siblings off-screen.
Matt Milburn first graced the cobbles as Weatherfield's footballing sensation, Tommy Orpington, back in October 2016. Tommy was a familiar face until his departure last year, fleeing to Spain with Tracy McDonald amid a scandalous affair plot.
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The ITV soap saw the duo form a connection over shared interests when Tommy took up painting and decorating, with the pair eventually seizing the chance to work overseas together.
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However, it has recently come to light for some soap fans that Matt is indeed the real-life brother of Greg Wood, who played Corrie 's notorious villain Rick Neelan.
Rick made his entrance in 2009 and swiftly became a thorn in the side of locals, particularly plaguing Gary Windass (played by Mikey North), reports Belfast Live.
Gary ended up killing Rick in a bid to protect his family in 2019, concealing his body in the woods. Rick also left behind a daughter, Kelly, played by Doctor Who's Millie Gibson.
Aside from Coronation Street, Greg has taken on other roles in other popular television series, including Trevor Royle in Hollyoaks and Terry Gibson in Brookside.
Following his brother's lead, Matt pursued an acting career, although their paths on Corrie never crossed on screen. Matt revealed that it was the sight of his brother performing in a college play that lit the spark for his acting career.
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He told TV Times: "Watching my brother in his first college play ignited my fire for it [acting]. Seeing the adrenaline surge through him afterwards, I thought: 'I'd love to give that a go.' But I just never did."
Landing into acting unfolded through an unlikely twist of fate for Greg. He had been set to film a university pals play, when he ended up starring in Brookside and unexpectedly suggested Matt for a role.
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Central to their story was the play Dealer's Choice by Patrick Marber, which is set against the backdrop of a poker game. Matt disclosed: "We shot it in the basement at night, and it was such a thrill! About three weeks later, I got an audition for Hollyoaks it felt like my university."
Coronation Street viewers were left astonished after discovering that Matt and Greg are siblings off-screen, as they took to social media. A bewildered fan exclaimed on Facebook: "SAY WHAT? Today years old when I found out Rick (Greg Wood) and Tommy O (Matt Milburn) are brothers in real life."
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The revelation prompted various fan comments, one who noted: "It's funny cause when Tommy came back in I thought it was the guy Gary killed, that would explain why they look so alike lol" Echoing the surprise, another added: "Wow....No wonder I'm thinking it was him who Gary killed."
The comment section quickly flooded with surprised fans, as some remarked: "Didn't know that" and "They look similar."
Matt boasts an acting career that expands well beyond the cobbles of Coronation Street. His varied television roles include a stint on Emmerdale as Nicky Pritchard back in 2011. He also made his mark in Hollyoaks, where he portrayed Joe Spencer from 2003 to 2006.
Matt and Greg aren't the only siblings with ties to Hollyoaks as their sister Jenny Milburn took on the role of Billie Johnson in the series in 2004.