Ali Neeson first appeared on 17 December 2007, played by
Dario Coates. He became involved in the show's first ever baby swap storyline, where he had been accidentally swapped with
Ryan Connor (
Ben Thompson), shortly following their birth. The character departed in 2008. He returned ten years later in 2018, now played by
James Burrows. In February 2020, it was announced that Burrows had quit the show and would be departing the following month.
Michelle Connor (
Kym Marsh) gives birth to a son. However, he was accidentally swapped with Ryan, who was born on the same day. As a result, Michelle and Dean brought up Nick and Wendy's son as Ryan, believing him to be theirs, while Nick and Wendy brought up Dean and Michelle's son as Alex. Neither Nick and Wendy nor Michelle and Dean were aware that their sons had been mixed up until Alex fell ill and was rushed into the hospital when he was 14 years old. It was then that his blood group was checked. His blood group was identified as being significantly different from Nick's and as a result Nick was told that it wasn't possible for Alex to be his biological son. Nick subsequently assumed that Wendy had had an affair, causing them to split with her denying any affair. Wendy, however, took a DNA test which revealed that Alex wasn't her son either. The doctor told them that the only possible explanation was that Alex had been mixed up with another baby after being born. Nick hired a private detective who discovered that there was only one baby born in the same ward at the same time as Alex - Ryan, leading Nick to believe that Ryan was his biological son. After Nick began to stalk Ryan around Christmas 2007, Michelle decided to confront Nick after discovering his house in Sale. Michelle was shocked when Alex answered the door as he greatly resembled Dean. Nick later explained to Michelle that he believed Alex and Ryan were swapped at birth but she accused him of lying. However, she was later persuaded by Nick to take a DNA test. Ryan ran away when he found out about Nick's claims and waited outside his house. Alex approached him and demanded to know why he had been hanging around. Ryan refused and walked away from him, but Alex was persistent and wrestled him to the ground. When Ryan refused once more, Alex punched him. Ryan told him that Nick claimed to be his father and that he and Alex were swapped at birth. Alex was incredulous and punched him a second time causing the two to fight. They tumbled on to the road and Alex was hit by a car. The two boys were then taken to the hospital with no major injuries. The DNA test results showed that Nick's claims were true - Alex and Ryan had indeed been swapped at birth and Alex was Michelle's biological son. Nick informed Michelle that Alex, like Ryan, wanted things to stay as they were and he didn't want to see her. Despite this decision, Michelle waited for Alex outside his school and introduced herself as his mother, giving him her number and telling him to contact her if he ever wanted to talk. This led to Michelle feeling guilty and she panicked when Alex arrived at the Rovers to see her. He told her that he had never been happy with Nick and Wendy. When Michelle and Alex arranged to meet again, she was hurt when he stood her up. When Michelle's parents visited for her brother Liam's wedding, Alex insisted that he wanted to meet his family and, much to the annoyance of Michelle, introduced himself to her mother as her real grandson. This made Alex feel guilty and he apologised to Michelle, who agreed to talk with him about the family history. This caused Ryan to clash with Alex once again because he thought Alex was intruding on his life. When Alex arrived on Coronation Street once again to see Michelle, he told Norris Cole in The Kabin that he was Michelle's son and that he and Ryan were swapped. Nick rang Michelle to tell her that Alex had run away, and Alex was caught shoplifting. He was escorted to the Rovers by a Police Officer after telling them he lived there and Michelle agreed to let him stay after he claimed he was not happy with Nick or Wendy. Alex's stay at the Rovers caused much tension and Michelle constantly had to defend him against Vernon and Liz. Alex also constantly refused to move back with Wendy and was allowed to stay for longer and longer. When Alex let Steve's daughter Amy wander off, Alex locked himself in the pub when he realised how angry Steve was. Alex unlocked the door when Michelle told him he could stay as long as he wanted. His prolonged presence at the Rovers caused Ryan to move in with Liam and Maria. Michelle also stopped Wendy from taking Alex home, arguing he could stay as long as he wanted. Michelle, however, soon realised that Alex couldn't stay forever and arranged for Wendy to take him home. This caused Alex to refuse to see Michelle again because she went back on her word. Michelle became upset when Ryan started to see Nick and was especially frustrated because Alex wouldn't see her. Steve, however, persuaded Alex to meet up with her again after seeing how upset she was. Alex met up with Michelle again and she decided to visit her parents in Ireland with Alex so that he could meet the family. Alex (now going by the name of Ali) returned to Coronation Street in 2018 as a trainee doctor, working at the medical centre.
Liz McDonald (
Beverley Callard) recognises Ali and asks why he hasn't spoken to Michelle. He persuades Liz to not tell Michelle that he is back in Weatherfield, and she agrees. However, at Michelle and Robert's engagement party, Michelle cuts her hand and goes to the medical centre where she encounters Ali. Ali treats Michelle's hand but refuses to establish a relationship with her, upsetting Michelle. However, when he finds out about
Aidan Connor's (
Shayne Ward) suicide, he shows concern for Michelle, despite Robert being the bearer of the news. He and Michelle begin to repair their relationship. Ryan (now played by
Ryan Prescott) returns to the street for Michelle and Robert's wedding, and he and Ali clash at Robert's stag do. Ali's medical skills are put to good use at Michelle and Robert's wedding; first when
Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre) forces Ali to tend to
Nicola's (
Nicola Thorp) gunshot wound and again when Phelan takes Michelle hostage and she is shot in the Bistro kitchen in a botched escape attempt. Ali is pulled into Ryan's feud with gangster Ronan Truman (
Alan McKenna) after Ronan swears revenge on Ryan for leaving his son Cormac to die from a drug overdose. Michelle attempts to leave Weatherfield with her sons but they are chased by Ronan. Their car breaks down and Ryan tries to face Ronan himself but is hit by his car. Ali and Michelle tend to him and when Leanne Battersby comes to investigate, Ronan runs her over and crashes. Ali finds him impaled by a broken fencepost. Ronan promises to come after the Connors, so Ali pulls the stake out, causing him to die from blood loss. He lies to his family and the police saying that Ronan pulled it out himself. Ali struggles with his guilt in the following weeks and becomes moody and violent, lashing out at his family and getting into fights. He eventually reveals the truth to Michelle who tells Robert and then Ryan. In 2019, Ali starts a romance with
Maria Connor (
Samia Ghadie). This is complicated by his growing addiction to
diazepam, which causes him to develop seizures. On September 4, 2020 offscreen, Ali was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment for assaulting
Gary Windass (
Mikey North) after a love triangle broke out between him and Maria, later Ali was released off-screen (due to his good behaviour) and has started a new life in
Liverpool. ==Other characters==