Channique Sterling-Brown: “Dee-Dee’s World Will Come Crashing Down!”

Our latest Coronation Street Blog Cast Chat is with my favourite Bailey* Dee-Dee, as actress Channique Sterling-Brown tells the blog all about the proposal, working with Roy Cropper, and what comes next for the feisty lawyer?

READ ON!

Hi Channique! 

How has Dee-Dee been feeling about the proposal? 

“She’s head-over-heels for the guy, and for her, she sees him as someone who supports her protects her, and sees her as an equal. He supported her through her Dad’s gambling and with death threats. It's nice for her to have someone as safe and he represents that"

What has the general public's reaction been like? 

“It's been brilliant, people are so invested in it, and it's exciting! Some people have been quite disappointed as he’s turned out to be a baddie!” 

How has it been working with Calum? 

“We get on really well and have such a good laugh! I think it's good as it means we are open to playing and trying new things. When we filmed the proposal in the flat (studio set) we were filming for 12 hours straight, just us two. You have to bash it out, so it's great to be in that environment with someone who you can trust”

Away from that story - You’ve worked with a lot of other actors as Roy’s solicitor? 

“Playing across from David (Neilson, Roy Cropper) has been brilliant, he’s incredible! I’m (Dee-Dee) also everyone's lawyer so I get to work with loads of cast. I love it - it's a real privilege seeing what everyone does! I've been in the funeral parlour, the garage - it's just amazing”

Dee-Dee’s also been helping Bethany solve who’s been using her credit card. Have they considered that it might be Lauren? 

“I don't think that crosses anyone's mind at this point. We think she's dead and she’s seen no sign of anything from Joel -she’s not reconciled the two situations. In the coming weeks, we will see that change. She’s got her rose-tinted glasses on (when it comes to Joel) but she’s also a smart woman and we will see Joel come under pressure.” 

Are you looking forward to filming scenes where Dee-Dee finds out about Joel’s secrets? 

“Yes, it's exciting. But I do feel sad. Her world is going to come crashing down, but it has to. What’s in the dark must come to the light. I’m also looking forward to the aftermath of it. I think, for Dee-Dee, we are going to see different sides of her. We know she's feisty and strong, but I think there will be an element of vulnerability. I am excited to film that and flesh the character out more”

Thanks, Channique! 

*With Ronnie being second - I love that guy! 

What do you think will happen to Dee-Dee? Is she in danger as well? Let us know in the comments section. 

I am @rybazoxo on X

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Cait Fitton On Lauren’s Return: "It Was Mental!"

On 24th June 2024, I sat in the cinema at the Coronation Street Experience, alongside the assembled Corrie cast and soap journos’  to watch last night's episode (09th July - Ep 11309/10) in its entirety. Sitting in a cinema watching an episode of Coronation Street, whilst cast members are in the audience watching it with you, is superbly surreal, and a bucket-list fanboy moment to treasure.

Lauren's return was quite the surprise, and following the episode’s exclusive airing, we headed to a floor 3 media suite* where actress Cait Fitton (who plays Lauren) was interviewed about her character's shock-fuelled return!

READ ON!

Hi Cait, 

The truth is out and Lauren is alive! How difficult has it been to keep that a secret? 

It's been mental and so much fun! I knew, early on, that I was returning, which is very fortunate in this industry. I started filming again in April, and had to sneak in and out of the building with Cal (Callum Lill, who plays Joel) having to put me in his car boot to make sure we weren't being seen - it was chaotic. I’ve had to get on the floor of taxis when leaving and it’s been a whirlwind of emotions. We filmed on location for some scenes, and I was hiding in a big black coat and sunglasses - luckily I wasn't seen” 

Tell us what's coming up for Lauren. Why has she only returned now? 

“She wanted to put the trauma to the back of her mind and move on. She rushes the process though. Since she left Weatherfied, she's been going from hostel to hostel, sleeping homeless, and not being able to pay the rent, so she’s been getting booted out of different hostels. She’s not been able to come back as she doesn’t know where Joel is: he could be in Weatherfield or away from Weatherfield, but she doesn't want to take that risk. It was a near-death experience and she doesn’t want to face that again. Only when she hears that Roy is in the hospital, it’s affected him physically, so she decides to go back to put things right. She's in survival mode ”

When did you find out about this element of Lauren’s story?

“When I started in 2022, Lauren was supposed to be just a three-part character / three-month stint as a supporting role in Max’s far-right storyline. I didn't know much about her, I knew things were being aired on screen, but I didn't know why she was the way she was. Coming in as a supporting character, you don’t get that opportunity. Was she a racist or was this inherited from her Dad?  I then got asked back and little hints of what she’d been through rose to the surface. I think I found out about this latest element just before Cal started, but I did not know how long it would go on for, or tense it would have been”

How would you sum up Lauren’s character? 

“Strong, very strong, and very caring. She doesn't trust (a lot of) people, but the people she does trust, she cares about a lot. She was very naive and a different person before she left. If anything she doesn't trust anyone now, even those she had a bond with. It will take a long time to break down those barriers. She's a brilliant character to play. She's a lost little girl and from the wrong side of the tracks” 

Lauren’s return also reveals that she’s pregnant!! How does she feel about that? 

“She’s never had unconditional love, so she doesn't know what that is. But, with a child, her child, she's that child's role model and that baby’s going be with her through everything. She's got someone that's going to love her unconditionally”

How does she feel about Joel’s reaction? 

“She’s petrified, terrified, as she knows what this man can do. She knows he won't stop at anything and now it's not just her she’s got to worry about, it's the baby as well. She wants to keep the baby safe but because of his authority and power, and the fact she’s from the wrong side of the tracks, she’s worried it (the baby) could be taken from her” 

Thanks, Cait! 

* I've got some superb behind-the-scenes photos. I'll share them in a separate post. 

I am @rybazoxo on X

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Cast Interview : Georgia Taylor Talks About Toyah's Troubles!

It's been a tumultuous time for Toyah Battersby, to say the least. Sleeping with Nick, a cancer scare, an arrest, and a legal threat, all whilst Leanne goes gaga for the institute!

Interviewing Georgia Taylor for Coronation Street Blog on a sunny Monday at Corrie’s media suite, I was intrigued to listen to her thoughts on Toyah’s problematic recent history! 

Read On!

Hi Georgia, Leanne is getting deeper and deeper into the institute's dogma. How worried is Toyah about her sister? 

“Concerned - she has been from the off. I was thinking about this, this morning. It's true to the character. Historically, Toyah was always someone who, if she felt strongly about a cause, or someone, was always quite dogged about it, and that's what happened in this instance. She’s not letting it drop”

Does Toyah realise how dangerous Rowan could be? 

“I don't know. I think she must have an idea but why is she then constantly putting herself in danger with the NDA and the blackmail? In some ways, I think it's a distraction from the truth coming out about Rose, processing that, and her arrest. In a way, it's kind of given her a project to focus on. Maybe she’s not fully aware of the danger she's putting herself in”

Nick and Toyah have grown a lot closer. Have these feelings taken her by surprise? 

“Yes! When Toyah told Nick about Rose, he was so understanding, sympathetic and gentle. I think she saw Nick in a light that she’d never seen before”

Is a full affair on the cards? 

“It's a soap, so I would hope so! When Ben (Price, Nick Tilsley) and I spoke to the Corrie execs, we wanted to make this an emotional affair rather than the obvious. We wanted to make it a deeper thing to make it more interesting”

As the drama ranks up, Toyah is mistakenly told she’s pregnant, only to find out it might be cancer! It’s a whirlwind of emotions for her. Who do you think will be there to support her? 

“It's difficult isn't it - Nick wants to be there for her and he's emotionally invested, but on the other side, the institute is affecting Leanne’s behaviour. However, as the storyline moves on, Leanne starts to become emotionally disconnected from her, and as Toyah has no friends, then it is going to be Nick”

How are you feeling playing this juxtaposition of Toyah’s emotional state? 

“It's really fun, I love working with Jane (Danson - Leanne)  and Ben (Price, Nick) - we have a proper laugh. We sometimes share screenshots of scripts about what the characters are going to say to each other. There was a scene played out last week, and Jane said to me the next day ‘’You went through every single emotion". Toyah had buried the baby, went for Rowan, had a huge fight with Leanne, and then had sex with Nick - it was about 18 stories in one episode. It was challenging but as an actor, it’s exactly what you want!” 

Thank you, Georgia! 

Interviewing Georgia Taylor, in person, was a huge treat for this Corrie blogger. Aside from her two separate tenures, and having originally joined the show when I first started watching, Georgia also starred in one of my favourite films: 'The History Boys’ based on the magnificent play by Yorkshire playwright Alan Bennett.

Have you seen any Corrie stars on the celluloid screen, and what do you think of Toyah’s latest dramas? 

I am @rybazoxo on X

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