Coronation Street Blog: Jonathan Howard interview: Secrets and lies for Carl in Corrie

How is it going at Corrie, have you settled in?

It's going really well. I'm settling in nicely. I feel a part of the family now, of the Webster family. I feel part of the team of Coronation Street. It's true what everyone said. I'm working with a really good family, very talented actors, and just lovely people, which always makes my performance get better. And yeah, it's true, everyone's said it, it's a really nice place to work and I'm getting to grips with the organisation of it. There's a lot, it moves so quickly, it's different from dramas or movies that I've done. There's a lot of responsibility down to the individual actor to make sure they're organised but I enjoy that.

When you started, obviously you knew a little bit about Carl. He's a really complex character. Did you know how complex he was going to be and how many kind of issues he had?

No, not really. I made choices based on what the producers told me about the character: that he's grown up in Germany, away from his mum and his brother and his sister. They kind of left him to live his own life and be brought up in Germany. So I just thought about what that would be like to suddenly be integrated into my family as an adult, as a grown up, with my nephews and to suddenly work and live with my brother. As much as I think Carl would love to rekindle that friendship, that brotherhood, all that family feeling there's going to be some resentment and there's going to be a feeling of like, 'I've been left out a little bit here', you know?

Do you think he does care for them or is there a certain amount of disconnect?

Without doubt a little bit of disconnect. And a little bit of, 'you know what? I don't owe you as much as people may think I owe you,' you know? 'You've never really been there for me.' I think Debbie's been there a little bit more. I think she's visited Germany a little bit more. So he does feel that sibling sort of love a little bit more with Debbie. But with Kev, Carl wants to connect with him, but at the same time, he’s not going to let his own feelings, for who he’s attracted to, get in the way of that, because of any loyalty to his brother. No real brother code as they have never really been brothers.

Is Carl relieved now that everyone else knows about the Dementia? How did he feel keeping that secret for her?

I think he definitely feels better and more relieved that, you know, the truth is out there. I think holding on to that secret, especially with health concerns, with her fainting, other episodes that are starting to deteriorate with her health. Taking the pressure off of, like, 'okay, it's not just me that's in on this,' definitely helps. I think initially, yeah, he didn't want to have that secret, but at the same time there's maybe a little part of him that was kind of happy that he got to have this little thing that his sister just trusts with him. And only him and it's just for the two of them. I think a part of it was he's kind of happy that, you know, she trusted him with this secret. But then more relief now he's not just holding on to this on his own.

He has his own secrets of course about the amount of debt he is in and the pressure he is under. How is he dealing with that?

I think it's a big, big stress factor for him. They are dangerous people that he owes money to. He's come to Weatherfield, supposedly to see how his brother's getting on with his cancer diagnosis, but I think it's also good timing that he's able to make a quick escape from Germany and try and get away from these bad guys that he owes money to. I don't think he ever thought that they would follow him to England to try and get this money from them and I think the fact that they start to show up is a big point of concern for him.

We've obviously seen he's willing to go as far as sort of dodgy MOTs, but how far do you think he would be prepared to go, which might impact his family, to try and get these people off his back?

I don't think Carl has got an evil streak. I don't think he ever is going to want to kill, or to physically hurt people. But absolutely, I think he's going to take advantage of any situation that he gets put in. He knows his sister has got money. And he could do with some of that money. He's going to try and pay his debts off in any way he can. As long as he doesn't hurt people. He's prepared to sort of be slightly on the wrong side of the law.

So what is the situation between him and Fiona? Is he prepared to go deeper into that criminal situation with the stealing of the cars?

Yeah he loves the power and the prestige and I think he sees in Fiona a quick way to make money. Working in his brother's garage for whatever the wage is, I don't think it's going to suffice for someone like Carl. I think he wants to have the big flashy car. He wants to have the money. He wants to look the part and I think he sees an opportunity in Fiona as a quick way to make some money.

He actually decides to ask Debbie for £50k. Is he surprised by Debbie's reaction, does he think that Debbie has got the money that he wants?

Yeah, I think he honestly expected her to give him some money. Especially because he's just overheard her talking about going way over the asking price for a house. So it sounds like for Carl that Debbie's got some excess cash. And I think he expected her to give him some money. But he would be a little disappointed if she didn't help him out. And again, it's just fulfilling that prophecy of 'my family hasn't been there for me.'

Abi knows that he's got the debt and he's worried about it. He obviously does care for Abi, but is he the kind of person who's willing to lie to anybody, just to get himself out of a fix?

Yeah I do think so. Lying comes easy to him. He'll say whatever he needs to say in the moment to get through that moment. And doesn't necessarily think it's a bad thing. I don't think he has a problem with saying what he needs to say to further his ambitions.

So this week Kevin's already got suspicions about him and he's really starting to think that he's not the person he thought he was. What happens when Kevin confronts him about seeing him with Fiona and how Carl reacts with what he's learned from Tyrone?

Carl is frantically trying to make his money to pay off these debt guys that he owes money to. He has a conversation with Fiona about an opportunity to steal a car. He gets in touch with Fiona so she can steal it, and he can make money. He wanted a 50/50 split, he doesn't get that with her, but again, he's desperate, so he takes whatever percentage he can. Unfortunately, Kevin sort of sees this conversation from afar. Next thing he knows, a car goes missing. It doesn't take a genius to put two and two together and figure out that Carl is behind this.

He's already started to have doubts and worries about what's going on with Abby and Carl, and he's ready to go to the police. Fortunately for Carl, he's got something up his sleeve because he's just found out that Kevin is also lying about his cancer diagnosis. So it's like a stalemate between the two of them. It's like, "I can keep your secret, but are you going to keep mine?" Because if you don't, if you go to the police, then I'm telling everyone that you're lying about your cancer.

What does Kevin say? Does Kevin give a reason as to why he's done it?

Carl assumes that it's because he gets attention, he gets sympathy, and it might be a way of just keeping Abby on his side because maybe he is starting to feel a bit threatened by his younger brother that is always around his wife. And if he can keep the sympathy card going, then maybe he just keeps hold of her a little bit longer.

Carl is quite shocked isn't he? Which is quite ironic coming from someone who has got very few scruples himself?

Whether or not he is genuinely appalled by it, or if he's just again, clever and conniving and using that to his advantage. He's using the moral high ground on that occasion. I'm sure if the shoe was on the other foot, Carl would do the same as his brother would. Absolutely. That's why he's getting that.

Is Carl still enjoying the chase with Abi? Does he love the thrill of the chase and the sort of secrecy of it all?

I don't think he's had his fun yet with Abi and I think he's enjoying the thrill of it and the chase of it, and he is attracted to her. All of the excitement and fear of it really turns him on. And he is still enjoying that.

Do you think the danger for her, as she seems to be more invested from an emotional point of view, is that if ever it comes to being the humdrum of a normal relationship, that he's someone who may then look elsewhere?

Yeah, I think she might start to feel a bit like that because she doesn't know a lot about Carl. I think so. She is more emotionally invested in it, and she's got more at risk. Carl’s not been in Weatherfield very long. He can easily pack his bags and get on a plane and off he goes. For her, she's got children, she's got her whole life, her job, everything. She's risking everything.

Do you think Carl would tell Abby about Kevin's lie in order to try and win her?

Yeah, absolutely, no doubt about it. He sees this as the ace in his pack. Yeah.

Do you like Carl? You've been playing him for four months? Would you be his friend?

I do like Carl. I think he's playful and cheeky. I don't think he's evil. He's selfish and he's a bit of a wheeler-dealer. He's going to take advantage of a situation to make some money, to get the girl to fancy him, or do what he needs to do to help his situation. I'm hoping that people will find him quite lovable. Cheeky, fun, but just with a little bit of an edge. And I do like the slightly skewed moral compass. I would have a beer with him, I'd probably keep my wallet away from him!

There's the difference between liking him playing him and whether or not you'd be mates with him. Do you think you'd kind of see him for what he is and just be a little bit wary?

I've got to love my character to a degree. I've got to find a way to like him. And I think if I put myself in his shoes of like, what would it be like if I had grown up without my brother or my sister around me, knowing I have this older brother, successful brother, business owner, never came to visit, don't know his son? Would I feel a bit like I've been left out? Because maybe he doesn't think he's being as selfish as he is. Maybe he's just thinking like this is how you are, you know? I've grown up on my own. I'm going to make decisions based on me, you know? So I have to try to love him. And I think that love comes out a little bit more with his sister.

Is Carl someone who very much lives in the moment?

Yes, and I think he's quite good at compartmentalizing. I think when stressful situations arise, I think he can forget himself in the chase of the tail, in the flirtiness, you know. He has that kind of a way of him where he can distract himself from the stressful things that are going on

What's the public reaction to Carl been like on social media, but also in real life?

Well, I try to stay away from social media. My mum does check it out, and she does read out very funny comments. Some like me, some don't. In the street, people that recognise me, are not quite sure whether to trust me or not. They can't quite work out, "Oh, are you going to be a good 'un?" That's kind of the general one. Or "Stay away from your brother's wife!" That's kind of the main two. It's like, "Can I trust you or not? I want to like you, but I'm not sure if I can."

What's the strangest place you've been recognised so far for Corrie?

When I flew back into Manchester Airport recently. I gave the Customs officer my passport and she said "I've seen you before. Where have I seen you? Did you fly in recently? Where do I know your face from?" I asked if she watches Corrie and she said "I do. That's where I know you from." And then she said, "Stay away from your brother's wife!"

Glenda Young

Bestselling novelist published by Headline