Chris Gascoyne has developed crippling back problems working on 'Coronation Street'.
The 46-year-old actor has played alcoholic Peter Barlow on the ITV soap for 14 years and admits pretending to have the shakes from alcohol withdrawal has left him with serious back pain in real life.
He explained: "It is hard work to be drunk and fighting and crying. I've had to see an osteopath for my back and neck because of all the tension and shaking ... Sweating and shaking and then saying your lines on top of all that turmoil, it is difficult and it's mentally exhausting too.
"I end up with a headache. I go home and really feel like I've gone through it."
Chris also admitted that recent scenes that saw Peter clash with hardman Jim McDonald (Charles Lawson) in prison didn't help, as his co-star can get carried away with the action.
He continued to The Sun newspaper: "And every time Jim McDonald gets a chance he throws me all around and he's a big fella.
"Sometimes he takes it a bit too seriously - it's physical!"
The Nottinghamshire-born star is set to leave the soap later this year when his current storyline - which is seeing him on trial for the alleged murder of his mistress Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) - comes to an end but he's confessed it will be hard to let go of the role.
Chris added: "Playing Peter is like living another life because I'm playing him more than I am myself. I can separate the two, obviously, but it's always on my mind. I'm always working on him."

Jessie J has turned down the chance to play superheroes.
The 26-year-old singer has revealed she has rejected several movie offers, including one to appear alongside Chloe Grace Moretz and Aaron Taylor-Johnson in 2010 film 'Kick-Ass', because she didn't have time to star in the motion picture.
She said: "I've been offered superheroes.
"I was also offered a part in the last Kick-Ass movie. There was a role written for me in the film.
"I went and met with them but I couldn't do it. My schedule is ridiculous."
Despite turning down 'Kick-Ass', the 'Bang Bang' hitmaker is hoping to make her movie acting debut next year or the year after, but insists she will only appear in a film if she is happy with her music.
She told the Daily Star newspaper: "I've been approached again about another film but I'm somebody who definitely likes to focus on one thing so it doesn't get diluted.
"My pet hate is when an album and a film suffers because everyone is trying to do too much at once.
"So maybe next year or the year after, if the right role comes along."

Neil Patrick Harris' wedding day is a "blur."
The 41-year-old actor, who is set to host the 2015 Oscars in Los Angeles on February 22, tied the knot with his long-time boyfriend, David Burtka, at a castle near Perugia in Italy on September 6, but claims he can barely remember their special day.
The 'Gone Girl' star said: "So many visuals were seared into my mind that it's only now I'm able to remember certain things."
Neil, who has four-year-old twins Harper and Gideon with David, insists their relationship hasn't changed since they exchanged vows.
He added to Us Weekly magazine: "We've been together 10 years. He's still the same great guy."
The 'How I Met Your Mother' star previously revealed Sir Elton John gave a surprise performance at the wedding after being invited as a guest.
He said: "It was fun! We've both been very busy - David and I - we were looking for a time that was appropriate. We didn't want to have to do it just in a couple days and we wanted to do a destination wedding. Our first trip together was in Italy so that seemed fun. We knew a friend of a friend of a dude who had a castle. So we thought, 'OK, that's fun!' There were about 50 people ... Elton John sang a few songs, which was super cool. He's a friend and I didn't expect that. That was overwhelming."

Blake Lively has wanted a child since she was "a little girl".
The actress and model announced at the beginning of October that her and husband Ryan Reynolds are expecting their first child together, and the blonde beauty has been gushing about how thrilled she is to be expecting a baby.
She told Us Weekly: "It's something that I've always wanted ever since I was a little girl.
"I never knew what I wanted to do for a living but I knew I wanted to have a lot of kids because I had come from a big family, so it was always important to me. So it's just the excitement of that finally being here."
The 'Gossip Girl' star tied the knot with the 37-year-old hunk in 2012 following his split from former spouse Scarlett Johansson, and she has been very complementary about his caring nature as a husband.
She explained: "He's always good to me. That's like a jerky thing to say because you want to be able to complain about your husband and be that person, but he takes pretty good care of me."
And it seems that the 27-year-old star is confident her lover will be an excellent dad to their offspring, praising the 'Green Lantern' actor in an interview earlier this year.
She said: "He's going to be a great father and leader and patriarch - he's so meant to be all of those things."

Emma Stone is "scared s***less" of starring on Broadway.
The 25-year-old actress is set to take over the role of Sally Bowles in 'Cabaret' from Michelle Williams next month, and admits she is very nervous about making her debut in the show.
She said: "I'm scared s**tless! But I've wanted to play that part since I was, strangely, nine years old, which is way too young."
The 'Birdman' star - who is in a long-term relationship with Andrew Garfield - has been "singing and dancing eight times a week" in preparation for the role, which she admits is "terrifying but fun".
While the actress admits she enjoys doing challenging work, she would also love to take some time out and start a family at some point.
Asked what kind of life she would like to have in 10 years, she told PEOPLE magazine: "Family, peace, a home and challenging work."
Should the 'Amazing Spider-Man' star go on to have kids then she will be able to teach them all about astrology as she has admitted being fascinated by the subject.
She said: "I know way too much about it, and it's ridiculous. I know it's not real... but it could be. We don't know."

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini has embraced philosophy for her new album.
The 31-year-old pop star has featured an excerpt from philosopher Alan Watts on her new album, after being inspired by the guru during her musical hiatus.
'The X Factor' judge was inspired by the influential thinker after being introduced to his work by a friend last year, and feels it is so profound that she has added some of his words to her upcoming record 'Only Human'.
Talking about the moment she was introduced to the philosopher's work, she told The Sun newspaper: "It really made me think."
Expanding on why she was such a fan of the late philosopher, she explained that he posed questions which "a lot of people ask themselves when they're not sure what they want to do in life. He says 'Whatever you want your life to be, live it'. I was really moved by it".
The excerpt from an audiobook of Watts' work will open the stunning singer's fourth studio album, and reflecting on how money does not necessarily bring happiness.
In the introduction, Watts shares: "I always ask the question. What would you like to do if money was no object? How would you really enjoy spending your life? If you say getting the money is the most important thing, you will spend your life completely wasting your time."
The 'Crazy Stupid Love' singer's album will be released on November 7, preceded by the record's second single 'I Don't Care' on November 2.

Ashton Irwin has been discharged from hospital after having his appendix removed.
The 5 Seconds of Summer star underwent surgery at a medical facility in his native Australia on Tuesday (14.10.14) after developing appendicitis.
The operation was a success and he has now been allowed to return home to recuperate but he will not be well enough to travel to the UK for the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards on Sunday (19.10.14) and will be taking a break from the band's commitments in Britain and Japan.
The 20-year-old drummer recently took to Twitter to tell his three million followers he would make it up to them for missing the shows.
He wrote: "Sup guys! I'm so sorry too anyone I've let down, I promise we will make it up too ya! I'll be better soon, thanks for all the love xx (sic)."
The 'She Looks So Perfect' hitmakers announced the news on their website earlier this week, writing: "Ashton has come down with a case of appendicitis and had to have an operation. He's doing great and will be back up & running in no time, but he'll need to rest up for the next week or so.
"Unfortunately this means that we'll no longer be able to fly back to the UK this weekend for the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards. We will also be postponing next week's trip to Japan (more info to come soon). We are so sorry to everyone that had planned on seeing us. We were so excited to come see you all and we never want to make any of you sad ... We hope you understand!"
Ashton was struck down with the illness very suddenly, as just a day before he was hospitalised the young star claimed to be having "a blast" in is home country.
He tweeted: "Love you Aussies, good to be home, havin a blast xx (sic)."

Shailene Woodley says filming sex scenes is always awkward.
The 22-year-old actress has a number of raunchy scenes in Gregg Araki's upcoming drama-thriller 'White Bird in a Blizzard' - including one in which her character Kat loses her virginity - and she's confessed she doesn't think there's anything actors can do to avoid the awkwardness.
She explained: "It's always an awkward situation when you have to pretend to be intimate with someone that you're not actually intimate with ... I think the awkwardness probably lends itself to these great virginity scenes."
Woodley's co-star Shiloh Fernandez (Phil), however, claims he didn't find shooting the scenes uncomfortable and admits he even enjoyed the cringey action.
He told the New York Post newspaper: "It was really just sort of fun for us to dive into this and just laugh at the whole silliness of not having anything sexual happen, and having to wear these pads on your private areas."
'White Bird in a Blizzard' premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January this year and is released in cinemas worldwide later this month.

Warwick Davis has been cast in 'Star Wars Episode VII'.
Director J.J. Abrams has brought in the 44-year-old actor to appear in the hotly-anticipated sequel to join returning actors Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher as well as new faces John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Oscar Isaac.
The announcement was made on the official 'Star Wars' YouTube account with Warwick posting a spoof video - titled "Will Warwick Davis Appear in Star Wars Episode VII?" - showing him waiting months by his phone for a call from Abrahams, 'growing' a beard as he waits for an offer.
When he finally gets the call, the actor is heard saying on the line: "Hello Warwick Davis. Yes J.J. hi. Would I like to appear in 'Star Wars: Episode VII'? Let me think about it. Just got to check the diary, yep good. Pinewood, yeah I'll be right there. May the force be with you."
As he hangs up, Warwick shouts out "yes!" in excitement.
His casting has sparked speculation he could reprise his role as Wicket the Ewok, who he played in the final film of the original trilogy 'Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi'.
Warwick - who also portrayed Wicket in two TV spin-off movies 'The Ewok Adventure' and 'Ewoks: The Battle for Endor' - also appeared in prequel 'Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace' playing the character Wald, who was childhood friends with the young Anakin Skywalker.
Shooting on the new film is currently taking place at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, South East England.

Prince Harry partied with over 200 women at a charity gala.
Last night (16.10.14) the 30-year-old playboy royal attended a dinner party in aid of the WellChild charity at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London.
Despite the large amount of female companionship on offer, Harry jokingly complained that the seating plan has left him sitting next to two men.
He said: "Thank you all very much for coming this evening. I am not entirely sure who made the seating plan but I am sitting between two men. I thought it would just be 100 women and myself."
The 100 Women in Hedge Funds Philanthropic Initiatives dinner saw 260 guests - most of them women - arrive in London to celebrate with the royal guest of honour.
He told the crowd: "I am incredibly proud to be the patron of WellChild, the charity being championed by 100 Women in Hedge Funds UK this year.
"I am also delighted to be patron of 100 Women in Hedge Funds philanthropic initiatives for this year also."
100 Women in Hedge Funds - which was founded in 2001 - supports professional women and provides them with educational programming.
Prince Harry became the patron on WellChild in 2007. Last month he attended the WellChild tenth annual awards, where he met the inspirational children who are battling serious injuries.

Kelly Brook has been on a date with her ex-fiancé.
The 34-year-old star split from David McIntosh last month amid allegations he'd cheated on her with his ex-girlfriend Sarah Harper but the pair have now been spotted enjoying a cosy date in Los Angeles, where Kelly is working on US sitcom 'One Big Happy'. A source told The Sun newspaper: "They are back on and giving things another go.
"They met up to talk and realised how much they'd missed each other."
The former couple are said to have enjoyed a romantic Italian meal before heading back to Kelly's apartment in West Hollywood.
However, their reconciliation comes as a surprise as just last week Kelly accused David on Twitter of "banging" German model Metisha Schaefer, who he was pictured kissing while on holiday in Miami, Florida.
The pair also exchanged harsh words after explicit nude photos of them both were leaked online after Kelly's iCloud account was targeted by hackers.
David accused his former fiancée of leaking the photos herself, writing on Twitter: "silly me for sending pictures to someone I thought I could trust but then would leak them #byaccident (sic)."
Kelly then replied: "Your Ego is beyond. David all my US iCloud pics are online not just of you. Be a grown up (sic)."
The 'Piranha 3D' actress has since apologised for her Twitter insults, however, saying: "I'm sorry for how I've behaved."

Lady Gaga requested 1,000 candles for a recent gig.
The 'Pokerface' singer made the bizarre demand prior to her concert at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, central England, on Wednesday (15.10.14) where she requested her backstage area be dressed with the decorations and adorned in white drapes to "calm her down" before her performance.
The drapes and 1,000 candles are reported to be a staple at every Gaga show as the singer - who has been on her 'The Artpop Ball' tour for nearly half a year - likes making herself feel at home.
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Gaga has been on the road for around six months, so she knows what to do to make herself at home. Hanging white drapes and scattering candles everywhere calms her down and comforts her before she goes on stage, so she makes sure tons are there before she arrives."
The 28-year-old star even requests screens be put up in her dressing room so that her pet dog Asia can watch her in action.
The source added: "She insists her dog, Asia, comes to her dressing room. Asia watched the show on screens.