Coronation Street actor Rob Mallard first noticed the tremors in his hands when he was
a teenager – it took more than a year of testing before he was finally diagnosed with a progressive brain condition
Every time Rob Mallard walks into the Rovers Return to play his soap alter ego Daniel Osbourne,
he has to concentrate hard on not dropping his pint.
Thatās because the 32 year old has essential tremor, a progressive neurological condition that causes shaking. Now the star says his condition is slowly getting worse and worries it could be ācareer endingā.
Rob first noticed a slight tremor in his left hand at 14. āIt started to get pointed out more often by people at school, friends and family,ā he recalls. āI eventually went to the doctor to see if I could get a diagnosis.ā
A year of tests followed before his GP diagnosed essential tremor, which affects a million people in Britain, but only 15 per cent have even heard about. Rob adds, āHe said, āIf your symptoms get bad, weāll see if we can medicate to alleviate them, but thereās nothing we can doā.ā
It wasnāt until Rob was in his twenties and starring in theatrical performances on stage that the condition started to become problematic. āIt would distract from the performance,ā he explains.
Beta blockers, which are mostly used for abnormal heart rhythms but can also relieve tremors, made no difference. āIt didnāt stop the tremor, but stopped me being able to do my job, because youāve got to come into a scene at a certain emotional level.ā
Since arriving on the Corrie set in 2016 he has been developing techniques to help him cope with his condition.
āI will practice actions over and over again. Trying to break something down into smaller parts has been the easiest and best way to hide the tremor.ā
Holding a pint is his biggest challenge. āIf Iām already in the scene, Iāll get them to give me a drink thatās two-thirds gone,ā he says. āThereās not much chance of me spilling that. But if I come into the scene and order a pint the chances are itāll be up to the top. Thatās when the issues start.ā
Robās condition has worsened so that it now affects both hands, his arms and neck. āSometimes my voice will shake too,ā he adds.
People often wrongly assume Rob has been drinking. āUsing a chip and pin, and your handās going and you get a ālookā from the cashier. You donāt blame themā¦ my first thought would be, āDid you drink a bit too much last night?ā too.
āIf Iām at a table with people, mine will be the plate that looks like a two year old has eaten. I canāt use gaming devices either. On Call of Duty, I couldnāt shoot straight if you paid me.
āThere have been moments, like in the gym, lifting something when somebody has come over and asked me if I was OK because the weightās shaking above my head. Iāve had to explain itās fine, Iāve got this tremor.ā
Robās symptoms worsen with a lack of sleep or food and heās careful to avoid coffee. āIn the last 10 years it has become a lot more pronounced and if it follows that trajectory in my personal life itās going to be difficult and annoying. Professionally it could be career-ending.
āIt has been suggested that Coronation Street wrap it into the character, which Iām not averse to, but Iād rather not do that now. I donāt want it to pigeonhole me.ā
Rob may consider focused ultrasound treatment in the future, which burns away brain tissue linked to the tremor, but he knows itās not necessarily a cure.
In the meantime, he is working with the National Tremor Foundation to raise awareness and help others not to feel shame. āI was embarrassed about it for years,ā he says. āEventually I just had to choose to own it.ā