Former Coronation Street star Jack James Ryan has been intriguing fans on his Instagram as he’s been seen sporting ever-more luxuriant facial hair.

In fact his new look is decidedly retro – and Jack has recently revealed that there’s a good reason for that.

He’s set to appear in a major new ITV drama called I Fought The law, and filming is currently underway. The drama follows the real life story of a woman called Ann Ming, who fought for 15 years to bring her daughter Julie’s murderer to justice.

Julie disappeared in 1989 at the age of only 22 after working a late shift in a pizza parlour. Tragically, her mum Ann found her body concealed in the bathroom of her house.

The drama follows Ann as she battles through the justice system to bring the killer to justice despite two mistrials.

Jacob looks worried in Coronation Street

I Fought The Law stars TV and theatre legend Sheridan Smith as Ann, and Jack is particularly excited about working alongside her.

‘I’ve been geeking over @sheridansmithster for as long as I can remember so this is a big one for me. So excited to share what we’ve been up to!’ he enthused on his Instagram, adding, ‘That explains the tash btw.’

Jack played Jacob Hay on Coronation Street between 2021 and 2023. Originally a drug-dealing bad boy who caused trouble for Simon Barlow (Alex Bain), he became a reformed character in later episodes when he started a romance with Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney).

Coronation Street star Jack James Ryan shows off his impressive new moustache

Jack showed off his impressive new look (Picture: Jack James Ryan/Instagram)
Unfortunately he was unable to escape his criminal past when his dad, Damon hay (Ciaran Griffiths) turned up and started insisting that Jacob get involved in smuggling drugs via the bistro.

Jacob tried to resist, and when the police arrived at the bistro with a sniffer dog he disposed of a large stash of drugs down the toilet.

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Knowing that he was now a marked man and the drug dealers would come for him, and worried about Amy being in possible danger as a result, Jacob decided to leave Weatherfield.

Jack James Ryan said it was emotional filming his final scenes.

‘Elle, Harriet [Bibby] and James [Craven] had all come in on their day off to watch me do my final scene. They gave me a massive hug at the end and Iain [MacLeod] came