David Neilson Interview: "Roy's Capable of Anything!"

After an emotional few days on Coronation Street, Roy Cropper is left wondering how to pick up the pieces and get his niece through the most difficult time of her life. Nina has survived the attack but Seb is dead. It’s been one of Coronation Streets most hard-hitting and important storylines, based on the real-life murder of Sophie Lancaster. Following a series of interviews with cast members and crew involved in the tragic telling of this hate crime story, the Blog got to speak to actor David Neilson about where Roy and Nina go now, and whether revenge could be on the cards for Corrie's quiet cafe owner.

Nina struggles after Seb's death

What has it meant to Roy to have a family member to care for?

A lot of people have been through that flat! He realises during this event, he took Nina in through duty, it’s his moral code. He doesn’t always want to do what he does. Over this period, and certainly brought into sharp focus by the attack, he feels a tremendous sense of loss. There is more to it than duty. He’s dreading what could occur. He moves on in a way to a real relationship, a father really. She is family. That’s it.

What is it about Mollie’s portrayal of Nina that you’ve enjoyed so much?

She’s just come out of drama school and into a huge show, and then isolated by Covid, then given this huge story. I was thinking I wonder how she’s going to be, this is major. Working opposite her, she’s just phenomenal. I did say to her, take care of yourself here, because this is really horrible.

She’s also very nuanced and gives a lot, I don’t have to do a lot, just look at her. And I sometimes think, I’d better pull my finger out here because she’s very good.

Have Roy and Nina become so close because he’s open minded and doesn’t mind difference?

I don’t think that he sees difference. I don’t think he makes those judgements. He knows what’s honourable and what’s not. But I don’t think he sees the world in that way. I think it’s human beings, that’s what he sees.

He experienced prejudice and intolerance with Hayley.

Oh yes the whole Hayley thing was a massive education. She turned his world upside down. He couldn’t cope at first with her being a transsexual, but it was love - this thing called love - and he realised he’d got to be with this person. So when it comes to the way Nina dresses, that comes as nothing compared to what he’s been through, with life on the Street. 

The other woman in Roy's life

Did losing Hayley equip Roy for the grief they experience after Seb dies?

When life gets real, in times of loss, we just deal with it. We have those resources. Sam Beckett (paraphrasing the Irish novelist who David is a big fan of) wrote “I can’t carry on, what shall I do? Carry on”. That’s what you do. Roy knows his responsibility is now to this person. It’s massively inconvenient for him, having someone like that, but that is life. Life goes on. We learn, we mend and we renew. 

How does Roy react to Nina stripping back her identity?

He feels terrible that she starts to become more like him - beige. The thing is with Roy, he avoids the crowd. Then Nina starts to want to be invisible. That’s damaging to her individuality and her personality. 

The thing is, she (Mollie Gallagher) does it brilliantly. There are subtle differences in the character. I don’t know how she does it.

Would Roy ever want revenge?

As Roy is a rational person with that moral code, he’d believe the system would take care of it. But when when this is about me, and mine, I think he’s capable of anything. I think he could be quite dangerous. I remember him attacking Gary Mallet with a cricket bat! But it’s not the way to deal with it, for society. That’s a kind of handle for me, for the character. 

Is he worried by Abi when she turns on Nina?

Yes. He understands the grief. He tries to work out the mending and being a Dad. It’s a new world he doesn’t understand. He knows her heart is in the right place, perhaps not her brain. But yes he’s concerned. 

Did you ever think in 1995 that you’d still be here in 2021?

It’s changed over the years. He was this strange guy stalking Deirdre. A real oddball. Nowadays he’s become the font of all wisdom. He’s turned into Rita! He’s survived and adapted. Time has flown, I’ve worked with some really good people. I’m 72 so a lot of it’s luck! Playing Roy is a very comfortable pair of slippers. I feel doubly fortunate right now with everything going on (the pandemic) and desperate for theatres to start working again. 

Is this one of your most difficult storylines?

It’s not an enjoyable storyline I have to say. We’re just at the beginning of it. It would be a disaster if Mollie wasn’t as good as she is. When Hayley was leaving, when Julie (Hesmondhalgh) was leaving, I knew it would be major. It can be a bit gruelling. These things are things you don’t want to contemplate, but you have to. You find out how people relate to these storylines in the street. There’s a public responsibility to it. It’s a huge privilege but it can be a terrible responsibility. 

Sophie Lancaster's mum helped writers with the difficult storyline

Finally, how do people react to you when they see you in the supermarket?

It’s been twenty-five years now and I have got used to it. I remember Bill Roache saying he doesn’t notice it. I notice when I’m not getting recognised - when I get the same bad service as everyone else! 

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We all laughed at that last comment, as David ends with the words “Now how do I get out” as he struggles to leave the Zoom meeting. 

Legend. 

You can read more about Sophie Lancaster and the foundation set up in her name HERE. If you see a hate crime taking place, report it. 

@StevieDawson

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Coronation Street Episode Review Friday 7 May 2021

We open tonight with Abi and Kev not getting married but instead being at Seb's bedside and almost immediately receiving less than great news from the doctor that the CT scans are not showing what they would like to see and they will need to do some brain stem scans.  Kev vanishes to unoragnise the wedding sending the flowers to the local old people's home and whilst on the Street telling Summer and Billy what a state Seb and Nina are in, Summer is looking worried..  Abi is willing Seb to recover. - and suddenly her phone takes delivery of the last message he left for her hours before.  Similarly Roy is willing Nina to wake up as the sedatives have been withdrawn.  

Dev breaks the news to Asha about her friend and Dev refers to it as pure savagery - and that some things in life just do not make sense.  Dev also tells her it happened down by the industrial park - which gives her something to ponder.  Summer finds that Kelly girl in the cafe (which is surprisingly open - Roy is at the hospital, Aggie does not work there any longer, Alex is in Scotland so must be Bernie today) and she looks like she is in a right state.  Apparently according to Kelly, Seb and Nina left soon after Summer and she saw nothing herself.  Kelly does not like all of Summer's questions.  Once on the Street Kelly leaves Corey a message saying they need to talk.

Once she gets home Asha gives Corey the third degree - but as he says he was home by half eight.  Lucky that.  Asha observes that if she and Corey had stayed later they would have been able to even up the numbers.  Corey goes out to buy bread without bird seed (good grief there is something I actually agree with Corey on!!).  Back at the Kate Oates Memorial Hospital (or is that Emmerdale) a blonde police person is asking if there were reasons for the attack - Sally posits they could have jumped the queue at the Post Office (!).  Nina has the implant of a trainer on her thigh (someone should take a picture and check Eli's shoes).  Police questioning seems to be driven by Abi's conviction record.  Continuity also has a problem, Abi is wearing a white "Bride" rosette on her black dress - but it moves to the plastic apron and back.  Given the state she is in she would not stop to repin it on the apron!

Corey bobs round to R'Toyota's flat where Kelly is lying low with a hangover.  He has a simple message for her - keep it zipped (above).  She responds that the weak link is Summer.  Corey pops along to the caff and gives Summer a stern talking to.  She is not to talk about the joy riding or there will be no Oxford for her.  So it would be better for her and Billy if she kept quiet.  She agrees, thinking Corey is a mate.  Somewhat later Kelly denies any knowledge of events to Toyah.

Another superb soliloquy from Royston to his beloved niece seeking to get her to awaken and simply call him "Roymond" in her disapproving way, he would be extremely relieved!  At which her eyes flicker and Nina is back with us.  Along the way Abi is seeking some response from Sebastian - but there is nary a flicker.  With Seb being tested Abi pops in to see Nina and the latter's memory is a bit scrambled - but she does remember meeting Corey.  Abi makes a run for it to the Street where she immediately finds Corey and asks him what he knows.  He says he was home by eight thirty and Asha confirms that she was at home with him.  Later Corey says he was not lying - just not trying to provoke Abi in case she turned nasty.  Corey denies having anything to do with the attack and asks Asha to provide an alibi.  The police interview Abi - but whilst she can remember Corey and Kelly laughing and a slap she cannot remember much else.  With Seb the first round of stem cell tests are inconclusive and they will be repeated later.

Mary tries to get a private word with Asha to get her to leave Corey - and he accuses Mary of simply listening to gossip and jumping to conclusions thereby isolating Asha from one of her main supports.  Asha decides to visit Nina in hospital - but is far more concerned for herself and Corey than for either Nina or Seb - which Roy spots and calls her out on it (above).  Asha repeats her story that she was at home with Corey at the time in question.  Asha returns home - Corey is gaming and he again denies touching either Seb or Nina.  He reassures her that the hospital will be able to get Nina back to full health.  As she continues to question him he gets quite nasty - until Asha admits she repeated the story about that they were at home together.  Soon Corey is watching TV as if nothing has happened.

Meanwhile the doctor finds Abi and Kev.  The tests have shown no brain life and she advises that Seb has died.  Abi feels she has failed to protect her son and then breaks down and sobs at his bedside (above).  Roy tells Nina, Kev calls Eileen, the word will soon spread.

Which wraps it up for this week.  I have never been keen on Seb and never invested in him.  I have felt that he was hanging around for no useful purpose, no proper job, no proper relationship, no real interaction with other Street residents, on-off-on with Alina and Emma, on/off/on/off (I never could care which) with Abi and given the raw end of an HIV diagnosis.  Something about the actor, the role and the writing never worked for me.  So suddenly we have him hooked up with Nina out of nothing and now despatched into the care of Gorgeous George.  I am relieved.  I think the only Street resident I want removed more is Gary Windass.  I have no doubt I am in a minority of one.  I will admit tonight that he acted his socks off.

There won't be any Corrie Comicals this week as there is not a lot about which to be funny when things like this are the centre of the story.

Writers: Carmel Morgan and Ella Greenhill

Director: Clive Arnold

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

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All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Cast Interview! Corrie Blog speaks to Sally Carman (Abi Franklin) about Seb’s Death

By the time you read this. Coronation Street will have concluded on a week of heinous teenage violence, airing a youth hate crime that has resulted in the death of Seb Franklin. 

In a storyline that's reputedly to last the remainder of the year, the attack will now have undoubtedly far-reaching and dramatic consequences for the residents of Coronation Street. For one resident though, the tragedy will hit them like no other. For the past few months, Abi has been rather nonchalant about arranging the wedding. However, this past week, she’s started to feel settled, even happy, and showed real vulnerability when asking her son Seb to walk her down the aisle. Abi always questions her luck, and can hit the self-destruct button at any point, so what now, now that Seb is dead? 

This week I joined Coronation Street online to discuss the Hate Crime storyline, and it was a pleasure to listen to Sally Carman (SC) talk about Abi’s grief and what's to come for the character. 

Q How did you feel when you first heard about this storyline, that Seb was going to die?

SC Well on one hand, from an actors point of view, it's a brilliant opportunity to flex my acting muscles and I knew it was a story that would have a social commentary as well. It was bittersweet knowing that I wouldn't work anymore with Harry, but I speak to him outside of work so it's not the end of the world

Q What was it like where you were filming those scenes -when Abi is told that Seb has died? 

 

SC I think you just have to pull on your own experience. I’ve never had anyone die on me, in that situation, and I hope I never do. You have to go to maybe a time of your life where you've been heartbroken, or lost someone, or had a big shock. It doesn't matter what is it, just as long as it brings out that certain quality, that you need for the scene. You try to have empathy and compare it to something you have been through, and focus on that

Q Due to Covid, you filmed some of those scenes without Harry even being in the hospital bed. Can you tell us about that? 

SC It is funny! There was one scene where he had died and I had to say goodbye to him. Abi was stroking his face and leaning on the bed to hold his hand. Harry’s girlfriend was my hand double for that, and then when I’m stroking his face it was a pillow with a gaffa tape on it, on the bed! Weirdly, it did work, I was in my head. 

Q Abi has been through a lot. Is there a worry that she will self-destruct and return to the booze and drugs? 

SC Well just going off from what I've already filmed, it seems unlikely that that will happen. There is a time when Sally and Kevin are concerned that she will go back to drugs and she says ‘it's something I think about constantly but it's not what Seb would have wanted’ so I believe she won't. Her focus will go from Seb to Nina, I think, or I would love it if she started looking after Nina, with her also being a lost soul

Q That's not what happens immediately though, is it - once the details of his death become clear? Can you tell us what happens in the next week or so...

SC  Abi 100% blames Nina at one point. Abi is consumed with grief, anger, shock, confusion, and heartache and she needs somewhere to channel it. She initially thinks that when she finds out who’s done it, that will help, but it doesn't. It's then that she finds out why it happened and although there's no real answer to that, she’s told it's a hate crime against Nina and blames her for it. Nina gets it in the neck and Abi goes for her, hell to leather

Q In this next week, we find out that Corey was responsible as Nina regains some memory. Abi isn't going to rest until justice is done, is she? 

SC No, she's not. Abi being the impulsive emotional creature that she is there’s not a lot of emotional maturity going on there - either. There are a few occasions when she decides to take matters into her own hands but luckily she’s talked down from that. Abi is just reeling. Her heart has been ripped open, she's had a lot of guilt from Seb’s childhood, and she hasn't got a clue how to channel that. Corey nearly comes a cropper a couple of times!

Q How does Kevin react to all of this grief and do you think they will survive it?

SC I think they will come through it. What I feel up to now, is well, I've had such a glorious time filming these scenes with Michael (Le Vell, Kevin) and it’s brought out a gentle side to Kevin. Abi is screaming one minute and crying the next, like a ping pong going off a wall, and Kevin is there just trying to catch every ball he can by being there for her. It’s gorgeous how it changes Kevin

Q How do you switch off after filming such emotionally tiring scenes? 

SC I don't know. I guess for me I find it quite cathartic. It is tiring, but not in the sense of, I'm not working down a mine or anything like that, but, it is pushing yourself. However, if you hit it, give it everything you've got - it's satisfying. When a scene is done, I switch off, derive home, and put some Corrie on!  

Q How important to you was it, in Corrie telling this story, and getting the message across? 

SC It is an age-old story isn't it, and it's never going to go away until we can get information and awareness out there and for avenues to be opened. We need to report hate crimes. We read about these stories from some distance but, when it does happen to a character that you like on Corrie, you can relate to it more and it does become personal. It gives you empathy and it could affect any one of us. It worth being kind and remembering that!

Will Abi & Kev survive the grief process? Can we still hope to see Sally officiate at the wedding? I was hoping for an Alina and Fiz style fight like when Eva fought Maria at her wedding maybe? Just a few thoughts, but there is one thing I can tell you for definite. When we talk about Corrie in another 60 years, and this Covid-era crops up, I do not doubt that we will talk about Abi Franklin as an iconic character from this time. Sally is THAT good.

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So, that's another press day all wrapped up for this Corrie fan. This was a great honour to do! 

Thank you to Alison Sinclair, our wonderful editor Glenda, and my right-hand man for this press day, fellow blogger @steviedawson Make sure you catch his interview with David Neilson aka Roy Cropper, later this week. 

If you've been affected by any issues raised in this week's corrie please check out https://www.itv.com/advice/tags/coronation-street

I am @rybazoxo  your Wednesday night episode reviewer and Weatherfield aficionado! 

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All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Seb’s Dead! - Corrie Blog speaks to Harry Visinoni about leaving Coronation Street

By the time you read this, Coronation Street will have concluded on a week of heinous teenage violence, airing a youth hate crime that has resulted in the death of Seb Franklin. 

In a storyline that's reputedly to last the remainder of the year, the attack will now have undoubtedly far-reaching and dramatic consequences for the residents of Coronation Street. The fall-out that follows promises to pit neighbour against neighbour, spouses arguing, and could even raise the issue of class?

This week, I joined Coronation Street online to chat with Harry about Seb’s demise, those fatal fight scenes, and what he learnt during 5 years on Coronation Street. He’s also got shorter hair now, in case you were wondering! Here is a pic to prove it;

Q What were your feelings on this storyline, and how did it all come about? 

HV  I had a meeting with producers and we looked at new avenues for Seb, going forward. This storyline was then brought up as an option and I decided it was a fitting end for the character and something I wanted to be part of. I never wanted to stay in Coronation Street forever, so it was something I couldn't pass up on

Q We've seen a different side to Seb in his relationship with Nina. How did you approach the filming of those scenes? 

HV  I loved playing those scenes and the way the relationship was written. It was so lovely and honest - a testament to the writers. We had filmed blocks of episodes that were the essence of that relationship. The reception for them has been wonderful, and it was necessary to the impact of the storyline  

Q What was it like filming the attack scene?

HV it is interesting, a younger Seb would have just got stuck in there and fought, but the mature Seb is there with Nina and he realises the best way to protect her is to get out of there

Q What was it like filming those fight scenes? The camera appeared to be on the floor during one scene!

HV It was really exciting! You rarely get to film that kind of thing at Corrie, I loved it. Night filming also gives it a different feel and the energy was there! It’s quite impressive that it's all been done socially distanced and more impressive for it! 

Q How was the environment when filming those scenes, did you manage to laugh it off? 

HV I got on well with everyone and we had a good group of people together

Q The post-attack make-up is impressive. How long did it take for them to add the cuts and bruises? 

HV  The make-up artists only had one hour to apply it due to Covid regulations. I didn't have any mask on or anything for rehearsal, so they had to know what they were doing beforehand. I sent a picture to my girlfriend when it was on and she was horrified!

Q What was it like filming the death scenes and hearing Abi going through that awful grief. Will you miss working with Sally Carman? 

HV Yes, I will. Just watching her in those scenes, her ability to tap into those emotions at the drop of a hat, I was quite awestruck. It was scene after scene, take after take. It was impressive and quite inspiring!

Q How important is this story to you, and what did it mean to you, to be working with the Sophie Lancaster Foundation?  

HV It was very important, yes! I think people are very quick to make drastic assumptions about people by the way they are dressed. Ignorance has consequences and it comes from a lack of understanding. Huge responsibility to tell the story and an honour to share it in Sophie’s memory

Q What have you learnt from your time on Corrie, and who have you learnt the most from? 

HV Well, I went to Corrie straight from college at 18 to becoming 23 this June. I've gone from being a boy to a man and have learnt a lot about TV. It's been an incredible education, and the opportunity to work with many different people. Not just one person, as you learn so much from storyline to storyline and from scene to scene. 

Q How was your last day of filming on Coronation Street? 

HV It was emotional, as the director said ‘it's a wrap for Harry’ I was welling up a bit which is rare for me. I will be watching the episodes this week though! 

The after-effects of this attack are sure to reverberate around the cobbles for months!

I wonder what Alina’s reaction will be! Will Tyrone show sympathy or will this cause the first crack in the new couple’s relationship? 

Surely Faye is going to be gutted, too? Will Eileen be comforted by George at the funeral?

How will Abi cope with the aftermath of such a tragedy?

Do I think too much about how these things will pan out for future episodes? You bet I do! That's why I write for this blog - I'm obsessed!

@rybazoxo  your cobbles connoisseur