Coronation Street Blog: Will newcomer Stella be Leanne's real mum?

Wednesday, 4 May 2011

Will newcomer Stella be Leanne's real mum?

There's chit-chat on the internet Coronation Street fan forums sugesting that the new Rovers Return landlady Stella, played by Michelle Collins, will turn out to be Leanne Battersby's real mum.

I hope not, it stinks too much of EastEnders. "You're not my mother!" "I yam!".

Anyway, I'm still hoping that this actress will turn up on Corrie to play Leanne's real mum.

16 comments:

gab said...: another stupid storyline if it goes ahead -anyway they look about the same age; 4 May 2011 at 09:32
Llywela said...: I quite like the idea, I think it could work well. Leanne needs connections outside of the Barlows - she's been pretty isolated since Janice left and since her bust-ups with Carla and Cheryl. This storyline could be an opportunity to explore her background a little more - to find out why she ended up being raised by her dad, why her mum left her, and how she really feels about it. She has never talked about her mum - is that because she doesn't care, or because she has buried those feelings of abandonment as deep as possible? Does a sense of having been abandoned by her own mother perhaps tie into why she latched onto motherless little Simon so very hard? It could also be another reason why she relates so strongly to Peter, who also has a strong sense of having been abandoned by a parent as a child. Plus, by creating this connection between Leanne and Stella, the new family are given instant links to established characters on the show, which should help them bed in.

I think it has the potential to be a really interesting storyline.; 4 May 2011 at 09:52
Llywela said...: Meant to add - as for looking the same age, Michelle Collins is 49; Jane Danson is 33. Leanne the character isn't quite 30 yet - Stella is definitely old enough to be her mother.; 4 May 2011 at 09:53
Tvor said...: I think it could be interesting and it would carry to the spoiler where Stella defends Leanne against some robbers in the bookies, defending her chick.; 4 May 2011 at 10:16
Tvor said...: Ooh and there's a piece in the Mirror This morning that says just that. And in that pic, i think looks-wise, she's got a similar look to Jane Danson so it could work!; 4 May 2011 at 10:32
John McE said...: Bit of a coincidence though, isn't it? Steve employs Stella, and she just happens to be related to someone that lived 10 yards away?; 4 May 2011 at 11:52
Llywela said...: Shows love their coincidences!

Then again, she might take the job specifically because she knows Leanne lives nearby - time will tell!; 4 May 2011 at 11:56
njblas said...: Leanne's mother has been referred to occasionally in the past, and her name is Babs. So if this latest rumour is true, here comes another retcon.; 4 May 2011 at 13:13
Tvor said...: Easy enough for her to be using her middle name or first if Babs is middle (short for Barbara?); 4 May 2011 at 15:22
Llywela said...: I've seen comments elsewhere that Les's first wife/Leanne's mother had been referred to on-screen as Davina, rather than Babs, so there seems to be some confusion on that point. If the character is going by a different name now than she did 30 years ago, maybe that point will be addressed in the show when she appears on-screen and the story unfolds.

Or then again, the writers might not have managed to dig out the very occasional on-screen references to her that made previously been made and therefore might not think it matters if they use the same name or not, since she has never appeared on-screen before and has hardly ever been referred to.; 4 May 2011 at 15:28
Looney Baloon said...: She has to be someone rough enough to have married Les Battersby! I would expect a Janis type clone.; 4 May 2011 at 17:01
gab said...: i still think it sounds ridiculous but wouldnt put it past them

and jane danson did say there was a massive storyline coming up; 4 May 2011 at 19:00
Tvor said...: WAsn't Babs Greg Kelly's mother?; 5 May 2011 at 10:22
Mark said...: According to the character records I have Leanne's mum was Babs Newton and Greg Kelly's mum was Moira Wood (nee Kelly). But then, Mike Baldwin was once an only child and Betty was once 'our Gordon's' auntie.; 5 May 2011 at 13:05
Anonymous said...: could you not change the title case you dont want to know...?? to something like "big shock for leanne"? or something; 5 May 2011 at 16:19
Tvor said...: Moira Kelly, yes i remember now. Thanks Mark.

To the last commenter, this is not the blog for you if you don't want spoilers! This blog thrives on em!; 5 May 2011 at 16:34