Coronation Street Blog: Richard Hawley interview: Johnny and the truth about Scott

Scott’s arrival on the street has really blown Johnny’s mind. What feelings has it brought back for him and how has he kept these hidden for so many years?

Johnny’s been faced with sheer terror by this blast from the past. Johnny has skeletons in the closet and this ghost from the past, with whom he has a serious common history, is now threatening his future. There’s also real mixed emotions for Johnny, what happened with Scott was a long time go and while Johnny has completely reinvented himself they were once very close, he does feel guilty about his part in it and maybe feels he owes Scott something but he does not want to go back down that route. So Scott turning up has not only brought back the past, it’s threatening to blow his cover and the life he’s created.

How desperate is he to keep the truth from Jenny and his family?

He 100% does not want this to get out, he thinks it will completely destroy his family. Nobody knows about this, not even Carla. He doesn’t want Jenny to know who he was or what he did.

When he hears that Scott is going to be working for Ray does this make him feel uneasy? What does Johnny do?

He pulls a bit of a fast one and talks to Ray about Scott’s past, yes he knows the truth about Scott but he’s no friend of Ray’s either. I think he sees it as an opportunity to try and push Scott out of Weatherfield and get rid of the problem that way.

When Scott finds out that Johnny has been speaking to Ray is Johnny worried? Does Scott still have a hold over him?

Yes Scott still has a hold over him, he’s constantly threatening to tell Johnny’s friends and family about what they did in the past.

How does Johnny react when Scott tells him he wants him to be getaway driver or he’ll tell Jenny everything?

He’s absolutely stuck which brings on massive stress and attacks Johnny’s health. He tries to tell Scott that with his MS he couldn’t do it anyway. They were young and it was a long time ago, Johnny’s changed, he’s tried to build a whole new respectable loving family so why should that be destroyed when he doesn’t want to do it.

Does he think he would lose Jenny if the truth came out or do you think their relationship is strong enough to withstand this?

He thinks he’d lose her but I think their relationship would be strong enough to withstand it. They’ve been through a lot and it’s worth holding onto.

Are you enjoying looking into Johnny’s past?

I’m enjoying it hugely, it’s a different kind of story for me, it’s very much Johnny’s story and it’s great to work with other actors like Tom. My stories so far have been very family based, with Aidan, Kate and Carla, then Johnny’s illness and his relationship with Jenny. This is something that’s taken place outside of all that yet threatens it all. It brings a whole new dimension to the character which is lovely for me to play.

Obviously Johnny’s a Connor, does this show us a bit more about where they came from?

I think so yes, they’re a tough old clan with plenty of tough secrets and some of those come out. Johnny and Carla are constantly realising just how dark some of their histories are and how much they have in common because of that. They come from the same place and it’s a tough place and that’s what’s shaped them.

Glenda Young

Author of gritty, family saga novels with Headline