Coronation Street star Emrhys Cooper says his own new age parents were once sucked into a bizarre wellness cult - as actor stars as sinister self-improvement guru in ITV soap

Coronation Street fans will know him as greasy-haired guru Rowan Cunliffe, a self-styled prophet of self-improvement. But for actor Emrhys Cooper, his introduction to the ITV1 soap opera as the charismatic leader of an ominous cult - part of a dramatic new storyline that will unfold over coming weeks - mirrors his own upbringing in rural Devon. The British star, 39, grew up in Totnes with parents Christopher and Raphaela, new age hippies with an open-minded attitude regarding unconventional lifestyles. Emrhys Cooper says his introduction to Coronation Street as the charismatic leader of an ominous cult mirrors his own upbringing in rural Devon Coronation Street fans will know him as greasy-haired guru Rowan Cunliffe, a self-styled prophet of self-improvement Raphaela eventually suffered a severe stroke that left her paralysed, and Emrhys believes it could have been avoided had she resumed taking her regular blood pressure medication. The British star grew up in Totnes with parents Christopher and Raphaela, new age hippies with an open-minded attitude regarding unconventional lifestyles Meanwhile the soap is reportedly planning one of their most grisly storylines ever as they bring back a dead baby for an upsetting storyline Meanwhile the soap is reportedly planning one of their most grisly storylines ever as they bring back a dead baby for an upsetting storyline.