Peter Barlow - what do you think of him?

I was just thinking about how much I'm enjoying Peter Barlow on Coronation Street these days. I think he's a brilliant male character. I would almost say he's the best in Corrie at the moment. Chris Gascoyne's got that saturnine, Heathcliff-type look going on, which is very engaging. He's someone with a pretty awful past (bigamy, anyone?) but he's tackling his alcohol problem and is genuinely trying to provide a good life for little Simon. I loved the dynamic between Peter and Blanche - the scenes around the Barlows' dining table when Maggie Jones was still with us, were just a joy to watch. And I think Peter and Leanne make a great couple.

Chris Gascoyne "does angry" really really well, and I couldn't wait to see his reaction when he found out Lewis had scarpered with his four grand - however, I wasn't entirely comfortable with the way he snapped at Leanne in recent episodes. I know he was under stress, and that this was setting up the relationship betwen Leanne and Nick, but I felt it was just a bit out of character, given that he and Leanne have been such a solid couple. That's just a niggle though. Anyway - my top three Corrie males at the moment, are Peter, Eddie Windass, and I'm preparing to run for the hills after saying this - John Stape! anyone else got any faves just now?