ITV have today announced: "Coronation Street have taken the decision to recast the part of Bethany Platt".
Katie Redford, who trained at the National Youth Theatre, had not filmed any scenes before the decision was taken to drop her from the show.
As I said in my earlier blog post, I don't find anything odd about a 25 year old being cast to play a 14 year old when that is what acting is all about. However, it does appear by being dropped by Corrie, that the actress perhaps misled ITV about her real age at the audition stage.
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I read a post in the Daily Fail that seems to indicate that the actress's agent is taking responsibilty, saying they ill-advised her to go audition and saying ITV would not be using that agency again. Allegedly. It's the Daily Fail but they seem to be quoting the agent, Jo McLintock. I wish Ms. Redford the best of luck but it really is stretching it a bit. I'm sure she could have acted the part, but as others have suggested, over time on the show her age would become apparent and after all, now that everyone knows the discrepancy, fans aren't going to accept her as Bethany. I suppose ITV really had no choice now.
ReplyDeleteIt's soap law don'tcha know! You can't get away with lies! lol
ReplyDeleteC in Canada.
Good job too, I'm sure there are other suitably-aged young actresses who would love the chance.
ReplyDeleteCheats and liars never prosper.
respect
ReplyDeleteAfter reading all the comments on the previous post and this one I still don't see the big deal. Bethany and Sarah are probably not sticking around for too long and it sounds like Bethany is going to look older than she actually is anyway. Actors have been lying about their ages for years so I fail to see the drama there. I actually went to high school with a famous actress. In the 90s we were the same age, but over the past few years she's been shaving a couple of years off and over time has become a few years younger than me! That's showbiz though, it's all pretend.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame for the actress, but probably for the best all round.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame for the actress who would have been so excited, perhaps they can still give her a job later on as a different character. I think Stuart Blackburn and ITV are to blame here. Just because she told them she was 19 doesnt anyone i.e. The Producer do a reference check like any other job interview? Surely for her pay to be processed and her contract to be done they would have needed her basics like date of birth.
ReplyDeleteWhy not bring back one of the Watson girls to reprise the Bethany role?
ReplyDeleteWalton twins...sorry
ReplyDeleteIt would probably have been easier to accept if a) Tina O Brien didnt still look so young, its not long since she was playing a schoolgirl in Waterloo Road and b) viewers din't know. I feel sorry for the actress but, as in the real world, if you lie at interview you put your job offer in jeopardy when your employers find out. - Micky
ReplyDeleteOn what planet does this woman look like she could be 14? C'mon. Acting or no acting, that is just a long stretch that surely would not work for me. When something like this is glaringly obvious, it distracts from the story line.
ReplyDelete