Coronation Street actor Luca Toolan, who joined the ITV soap as school bully Mason Radcliffe in September, is no stranger to the showbiz world and has a well-known parent

Coronation Street school bully Mason Radcliffe has been part of some intense storylines on the soap – but off-screen, actor Luca Toolan is far removed from his troubled character.

In recent episodes, Mason has been at the centre of the ITV soap’s bullying plot, picking on Liam Connor at school – and it’s left fans predicting a shocking twist. Some viewers have guessed that Mason might actually be the long-lost son of Liam’s step-dad Gary Windass.

One person wrote on Facebook: “They look alike… imagine if the twist was Mason is Gary’s secret son and he’s such a bully because he didn’t have a dad!” While another said: “I think Gary will be related to Mason.”

Liam has been relentlessly tormented by Mason and his pals for months – but thankfully in real life, they all get along. The official Corrie Instagram page reposted a photo earlier this week of Mason (Luca) and Liam (Charlie Wrenshall) smiling and hugging with the caption: “All friends really”.

Aside from his friendship with his co-stars, what else do we know about the 19-year-old actor? Here, the Mirror takes a look at Luca’s life away from the cameras and his links to a rival soap.

Luca’s character Mason has caused a stir since arriving in Weatherfield ( 
Image:
ITV)

The actor is the son of radio DJ Mike Toolan ( 
Image:
Insatgram)
Luca, who joined Corrie in September, comes from a famous family and it’s not the first time he’s been in the limelight. He is the son of a well-known radio DJ who hosts a show with a former soap star. DJ Mike Toolan is known for spinning records on The Hits Radio with the help of former Emmerdale and Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson.

It’s clear that the father-son duo share a close bond, as the hunk revealed the first person he called after he landed the role was his dad. A super proud Mike shared the news with his friends and listeners: “Luca has been unveiled as the new baddie (Mason) on Coronation Street. Absolute dream come true for him. Liam McCheyne and all the amazing Corrie cast and crew have made him feel so at home.”

Away from set, the actor regularly shares snaps from his lavish family holidays and wild nights out in London. In July, he left his fans green with envy when he documented his idyllic getaway to Greece. Luca could be seen posing on a luxurious yacht with the crystal clear blue sea behind him.

He also gave fans a glimpse inside his stunning hotel which was complete with a sprawling outdoor pool and gorgeous ocean views. In another string of snaps, the teen shared his latest adventures when he ventured out in London, took a trip to Canes and went jet skiing.

Luca couldn’t contain his excitement as he shared a series of selfies from the ITV set. He wrote: “There’s a new kid joining the cobbles Mason Radcliffe. It’s an honour to be a part of a show that I’ve grown up on that has some of the warmest and most talented people. Thank you to everyone that supported me, you know who you are. Thanks God always. And my bigger smaller brothers Liam and Charlie.”

Luca enjoyed a lavish holiday before appearing on Corrie ( 
Image:
Instagram/Luca Toolan)

Mike and Luca have an extremely close bond ( 
Image:
Insatgram)
The actor also spoke about his experience since joining the soap, saying: “It really is amazing. I feel very lucky because I’ve had Liam with me and he’s been like an older brother to me, even though he’s actually younger than me.

“He’s such a nice dude and he’s really walked me through everything, showed me where the teas are and the cups and what have you, and he’s made it a lot easier. If I was going in on a storyline by myself, I feel like it’d be a lot more daunting, but everybody’s so nice. I didn’t know what to expect, but everybody’s genuinely lovely.”

As his character continues to stir up drama on the show, Luca offered some advice to his onscreen alter ego: “Go to therapy, mate! He’s a very angry and disturbed soul. People are like that for reasons. Hopefully, in the future, we might be able to explore a little bit more of why he’s become the way he’s become.”

Luca, a star of the show, confessed that he wouldn’t be friends with his character Mason in real life. He said: “No! He’s a lunatic. I would stay away from people like Mason.” He also admitted that it’s “fun” playing Mason because he’s so close with his co-stars Liam and Charlie.

He revealed that their growing bond has made it “a lot easier” to film the difficult scenes. Luca explained: “If I wasn’t really close with them and I didn’t spend as much time with them, I’d probably find it more difficult. But because we have that bond and trust each other so much, it’s a lot easier.

“My favourite film is The Joker, so I like looking at characters that are damaged. One thing I really want to do with a character is show the vulnerable side. So there’s a lot of room and a very high ceiling for the exploration of the character.”