Corrie Blog Interviews Alison King : Carla’s factory fall-out?

Two Corrie press days in one month - I’m like a kid at Christmas! Later this week, I will be treating you to the lowdown on what's to come on Coronation Street this festive season and New Year 2024, but before then, I'd like to take you back three weeks to our press day interview with my favourite factory boss (sorry Mike), Mrs Carla Barlow. A very (very) early Christmas present from this blog gave me a chance to see one of my all-time favourite Corrie characters in the flesh, and I found out all about Carla’s state of mind following Stephen Reid’s underworld sabotage. Ideally, I would have written this a few weeks ago, but I think I've only just recovered from seeing her in the flesh. I was the same after I met Jodie Prenger (in Weatherfield Precinct car park) last December!  

Anyway, and as promised, here is our chat with the factory boss. With Underworld nearly taken down (again) can Carla bounce back once more? 

Hi Ali, 

How blindsided was Carla when she found out about Stephen, it must have hit her hard. 

I don't think it hit her that hard. Out of everybody, she was the one that was immediately onto him. As soon as he appeared in the office, she couldn't stand the sight of him, could she? She’s been onto him from the off!

Stephen has played with Carla’s mental health these last few months. How has she been feeling through all of this? 

It’s hideous isn't it - it's been the worst nightmare ever, and to think that she was going to go down that rabbit hole again. She never wants to - Carla has tried looking after herself as best she can, and she keeps dangerous people like him at arm's length. However, because of Sarah, she has not been able to. It was so pre-meditated by him and awful for her. She felt like she was going backwards!

Did she have any idea how dangerous Stephen was? 

No, I don't think she had any idea of how dangerous he was. It's just about the money and business and the fact that he wanted that by any means. I don't think she thought he was violent or anything. 

What sort of Carla will we see emerge from all of this? Will she be tougher, or more damaged than she’s ever been before? 

All of the above! As usual, an influx of all of those things, possibly. I mean, she’s got answers, which is a good thing, but the damage to the factory- that's where you've got to wonder whether things will be solved or not. With Carla, you always get the street against her, or her against the street, and it's normally surrounding the factory, money and people's livelihood. I would imagine that they will be affected by this, and until she can get some money together again. They own 50% of the factory as well, so you think they would be looking out for their money too. 

Have you enjoyed being a part of this storyline? So much drama focused on Underworld!

We love Underworld! - It’s been a nice slow burner and Todd (Stephen Reid) has been such a joy to work with. I like wrapping it all up and how things have come together. It's been a joy, and always a joy to do a big storyline. 

Thanks, Ali! 

Keep ‘em peeled for my interview with Iain Macleod (Corrie producer) later this week as we find out what’s coming up for Carla and Peter this Christmas. 

I am @rybazoxo your (very lucky) Corrie Blog blogger and Cobbles Connoisseur

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Roy and Carla - the ever-shifting sands of their relationship

The friendship between Roy and Carla is possibly one of the most interesting that Coronation Street has ever depicted. Roy and Carla – how unlikely is a friendship between these two? And how many true friendships are there between men and women on the cobbles which are as genuine as this one? In fact, how many platonic male/female friendships are there? Or have there ever been? One springs to mind and that is the friendship between Kate Connor and Daniel Barlow – but it’s not very well developed, nor is the other one which springs to mind, the one between Craig and Bethany, though that might not qualify, as I seem to remember that they had feelings for each other, at one time, so they can’t be included.

Sometimes father - daughter, other times, mother - son, siblings, friends, their relationship never seems to stand still.

As viewers will recall, it was over Hayley’s cancer diagnosis that Roy and Carla first became friends. After Hayley died, the friendship continued and has been a constant in both their lives. (We can probably assume that they stayed in touch during Carla’s absence from the cobbles).

Many have admired this friendship and the unlikely nature of it, but have been unanimous in approval. Therefore, it made for difficult viewing when Roy attacked Carla for ‘chicanery’ in which he believes she has been involved. I’d be interested to know where your sympathies lie. I will immediately mark my own card and confess that I was firmly in Carla’s corner and thought that Roy was unusually harsh.

By deleting the footage, hiding Roy’s coat and shoes in the factory’s recycling bin, because they smelt of paraffin, and not sticking up for Abi, when she was accused of having started the fire, Carla was doing nothing other than protecting Roy, even if her methods were misguided. It’s easy to understand Carla’s motives. Roy was sleepwalking. He was not in charge of his mind nor his actions. Roy, of all people, would never have set fire to a match, never mind a boat.

As Carla said, ‘I did it to protect you.’

‘From what?’ asked Roy.

‘You started the fire, Roy.’

‘It was me – all along.’

‘But Roy, you were sleepwalking!’

‘I blamed you, I’m sorry. How did you find out?’

‘I checked the CCTV. Nobody saw you. You weren’t responsible.’

‘You had no right to hide the truth from me.’

‘I made a judgement call.’

‘Yes. And a very poor one. I’m a walking liability. I have no recollection of anything.’

Roy then gives a little. ‘I don’t doubt your desire to protect me. I set fire to a boat, therefore I must be punished.’

Off go Carla and Roy to see Peter, who believes that Carla is using Roy to cover up her crimes. Carla explains that Roy is struggling after the death of his mother and it being the anniversary of Hayley’s death. Roy is angry. ‘Please don’t bring my dead wife into this by way of mitigation. That’s crass in the extreme! I will pay for the boat.’

Peter turns his anger on Carla and demands that she apologises to Abi in front of everyone in The Rovers. Is this evidence of love?

Roy heads off and turns himself into the police. On his return home, Roy says nothing. Carla quips, ‘You should take up poker with that face - you’d be world champion in no time.’

When he reveals that he’s been to the police, Carla’s exasperation is easy to understand.

‘No! Why?’

 ‘The point is the truth must come out.’

Carla explains that she was relieved, not gleeful or joyful that Roy was off the hook.

Roy hits back hard. ‘And pleased that Abi was going to carry the can?’

‘No! Are you calling me a liar?’

‘I am. Your desire to punish Abi may be subconscious.’

‘Wow, Roy! I’m surprised you still give me the time of day.’

‘You stood back and watched him (Peter) lay into her (Abi). My point is that your relationship with Peter Barlow, your obsession with each other could have landed an innocent woman in jail under the auspices of protecting me.’

Carla appeared devastated. Everything Roy said was true, but he could have dealt with it so much better.

And in last night’s episode, Carla asks Roy for advice. She has a friend who she loves, she tells Roy, but he has fallen out with her. So, what should she do? Shockingly, instead of responding with kindness and compassion, Roy tells her that their living arrangements were only temporary, and so Carla receives her marching orders. Roy wants her out, but he will do her the favour of allowing her to find somewhere to live first. He thinks it’s for the best and then continues listening to Steam Engine Sounds – the album.

What a dreadful time Carla is having. Gary’s estimate for the factory roof is £60,000 and she will have to shut the factory for the job to be done and yet she has to keep the machines going to pay for the roof.

And it gets worse. Shona runs up to the flat to tell Carla that, ‘There’s a copper downstairs and he wants to talk to you, Carla.’

Though difficult to watch, I applaud the writers who are conveying the complexities of relationships and of course, Alison King and David Neilson do a terrific job.

By Ruth Owen, on twitter: @Ruth1722.

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Alison King Interview: Carla lies to save Roy

How has Carla been feeling about Peter and Abi?

She is really jealous and she is struggling with that. They had the moment over new year where they made the decision to just be friends but she had started to think maybe that was the wrong decision but the obviously she saw Peter and Abi together. She hadn’t suspected that and was considering saying to him that they should give it a go and then having seen them together realised that she had been right to keep her distance.

Prior to that they both seemed to have accepted it was finally over and meant what they said at New Year?

Carla definitely did yes, Peter less so he has been constantly testing the water and trying to make her jealous along the way, and if he could have a little dabble in the meantime then happy days.

She seemed genuinely shocked when he came looking for her after she spotted him and Abi?

She was disgusted with him and she said it made her feel sick, he had just come from that steamy bed and hadn’t so much as cleaned his teeth and he thought he could just make a move on her! It is the last thing he should have done if he wanted to try and win her back. After that it was a little bit easier for her to reject him and move on because it gave her something to be angry about, he had proved to her that he is the man she thought he was and he has let her down again.

Even before this with Peter she had become work obsessed but this now become her total focus, explain this side of her.

The business is doing really well and she wants to keep it that way and it is a distraction from Peter and also the loss of Aidan is driving her to make a success of the business, she has nothing else now and she doesn’t want to think about that. The business is what she is good at and what she enjoys, she just needs to keep herself busy and keep her head down and that keeps her sane - for now.

How did she feel about the boat fire?

She is absolutely gutted that the boat has gone, she bought it for Peter, it was his dream. She is a little bit conflicted because he has got the idea it might be Abi and he wants her to look at the CCTV, she isn’t in any rush really, but Peter wants answers.

Her relationship with Roy is the one constant in her life. How did she feel when she saw that he was the one who started the fire on the boat?

When she finally gets round to going through it she is in total shock when she see Roy on the CCTV footage, she goes into total protection mode.

Does she deliberately try and implicate Abi? 

No the fact that Abi is in the frame is not at all premeditated, it is nothing to do with Peter and her, it is simply that if people are suspecting Abi they won’t be looking at Roy, it is convenient, it is unlike Carla but she is desperate to protect Roy. She doesn’t think too much about it , she isn’t trying to stop Peter and Abi making a go of it, she never thought that was a long tem thing anyway, that is not hat this is about. As far as she is concerned if people are jumping to the natural conclusion that it must be Abi then that is fine with her. She knows differently now but Roy is the person she wants to protect not Abi.

Doe she anticipate how Roy might react if he finds out?

No she hasn’t really allowed for Roy’s really strong principles in all of this, she has just swept in and made the decision for him. She would expect him to be mortified if he realises what he has done but she has not even anticipated that he might be angry with her. That would be a complete shock to her, nobody died, it was accidental and she thought that if she told him it would have affected his recovery from his mum’s death, he was starting to get better or so she thought. She had been worried about his sleepwalking and was really worried about him.

Would a breakdown of her relationship with Roy be difficult for her to cope with?

Yes he is her constant and her ‘home’ even if Johnny is her dad Roy is the person who has been most like a dad to her and the one person who totally understands her and cares unconditionally.

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Alison King Interview: Carla and Peter - and the return of Nick

How has Carla been feeling since Aidan’s death because she had kept it together for so long and been everyone’s rock?

She was trying to be strong but she needed to have that meltdown and fighting Alya for the factory was her denial and when it looked like she had lost it all, it was a release, everyone told her it wasn't her fault and she knows that but she still believed she had played a part in his death.

What was it that was making her feel guilty?

It was the fact that like all of them she couldn’t help and she didn’t know how he was feeling. She tries to help everybody and fix everybody and she feels has done so many things wrong, she was out of control and she couldn't do anything to fix it. She was able to grieve at the funeral and she was able to cry but she still felt as though she had played a part in it, coming back to Weatherfield, giving him the factory.

Does seeing the DVD help her?

It was a bit of a shock for her, but it does help the guilt a little because he says in it he would do anything to save her life and also to realise that he was perhaps going to kill himself then but didn’t because he wanted to help her. Hearing him say that and getting a chance to hear him say those words helps.

Is the factory a good place for her to be? Does she need that focus?

She needs a focus that is what she does when she is in a hole and she does care about the girls who work there, it is her thing. As soon as she found out Alya had been left it she fought for it, she admits to Johnny it wasnt so much about the fight for the factory it was about having something to do to take her mind off Aidan, rather than sitting on her own admitting that she was going through pain. In my head she is also in turmoil hearing Johnny fight for his granddaughter when he never fought for her, but she can’t do or say anything about it gets on top of her, all these things add up and the factory is her self medication.

Why do you think she struggles to admit her feelings to people and open up?

She has got many different layers, she is soft on the inside and she cares but it is the way she was brought up, you get on or you get out. Nothing in her life has been constant, either she has pressed self destruct or the person she is with has pressed self destruct so she is not used to being happy. The nearest she got was Nick and he was not in a good place at that point so the rug is always ripped out for under her but she feels she can control things at Underworld.

Peter is her other Achilles Heel but this time she has managed to stay away from getting drawn into his orbit  up till now. What is it about those two that keeps drawing them back to each other?

I think essentially they just love each other and it is a very kind relationship under the surface not matter what has gone on, even when they say they hate each other they actually know that they don’t, that is something in their chemistry it isn’t something they can do anything about because they have similarities.

Do you think they are good together?

No I think they are better apart but I like working with Chris so much that I don’t want that to be the case. I think they are great as that on/off relationship, that will they/won’t they.

Is her worry about him investing in the factory because she of that connection?

Absolutely and also she is angry, how dare he try and ‘get into bed with her’ financially and try to be her saviour and think she is just going to roll over just like that. But she does protest too much really, when she says to Toyah she wouldn’t go near ‘That’ again and it is that thing of hitting a boy because you really like hi and that is how she is with him.

How does Michelle feel about it?

She is worried about her, she is sticking her oar in everywhere, following her and asking her what she is up to. She is so against him. Michelle and Cala have such a great relationship and for them both  it is the most important relationship, forget the men they will alway have each other’s back. It is fun and they get each other, they have a laugh and I love that comes through, even when they are screaming at each other there is unconditional love.

Would you like to see Carla happy in love and happy generally?

Yes!! It would be far easier to play, I’ve had a lot of drama  it is nice to get a balance and play the lighter stuff and some comedy!

Do you think if she decides to go into business with Peter she will try and keep it all above board and business like?

I think she will want to try and do that but she is a swan on top of the water with her feet going like crazy underneath.She knows it is not ideal going into business with Peter, she knows it would be disastrous because she knows her heart is flipping but she needs him and she hates that she does.

Do you love being part of the Connors?

Yes I do, they have got their fingers in so many pies now it is like ‘Connornation Street’ there are so many different and complex characters and they are all brilliant, Kate who is cray and impulsive and caring, Jenny thinking she rules the roost and Michelle and Cala who are more like sister than real sisters. Johnny and Carla are closer than ever, when he held her hand after the inquest she was made up , she needs that father figure in her life and now she has it.

Is this a different Carla this time around?

I think she is wiser, there is an element of her being calmer, she takes things a bit more in her stride and is more in control of her reactions to situations.

How do you think Nick’s return will impact on the dynamic of Carla and Peter?

It will be interesting to find out, I hope it does have an impact. Nick was the love of her life and he was the calm one, he is the calm grown up, the one that would have been good for her and then there is Peter who couldn’t be more different. There is a lot there to be explored 

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Alison King stars in new TV dark comedy show

Alison King, better known to us Corrie fans as Carla Connor, will be turning up in a dark comedy show this month on Sky.

Alison stars in Sky One comedy called Sick Note where she plays the role of Superintendent Christine Henchy, the boss of Officer Hayward. She first appears in episode five of  the show which stars Rupert Grint as office worker Daniel Glass.

Asked how Christine compares to Carla, Alison says: "They’re both very strong women but Christine is a lot posher. It was nice to have a complete change and I love doing comedy. I’ve done a lot in the past but not for ages. We try and put as much humour as we can in Corrie but Carla has had a lot of dark storylines recently. It was lovely to be working on something that gives you a lighter feel and you don’t go home exhausted from.”

Sick Note starts on Thursday August 9th on Sky One at 10pm.  Series One is available to watch on Sky Box Sets

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Alison King interview: Carla and Ali - a match made in hell?

So Carla and Ali, does she really have feelings for him or is it just a bit of fun?
I think it came as a shock to her, she wasn’t looking for anything with him but then she is apparently sex-starved and after the fling with Daniel there hasn’t been anyone else. He pounces on her, she hasn’t got an inkling it’s coming. Yes he’s good to talk to, he’s a grown up man now, he’s fit and she’s a red blooded girl so I think she just gave in when it was on offer. Afterwards you can see she does actually really like him, they get on but once the repercussions of her actions sink in to her brain, the fact that Michelle could find out and be really hurt, then she tries to pull back.

Is Carla worried about how Michelle will react if she finds out?
She’s trying to keep it all under wraps but she thinks that Ali’s a loose cannon and maybe he’s trying to hurt Michelle and that’s why he did this in the first place. She knows it’s not an ideal situation but she does really like him.

It’s soap so this won’t stay hidden for long, how does Michelle react when she catches them kissing? And seeing Michelle’s reaction how does that make Carla feel?
Ali chances it again by kissing her in a public place, this time it’s outside Michelle’s flat, Carla reciprocates and Michelle comes out and catches them kissing. Michelle’s really shocked and hurt, she wants to know whether it’s gone further, what’s going on between them. She doesn’t give Carla much chance to explain, although there’s not much Carla can say apart from sorry. In Michelle’s mind that’s them done because Carla’s hurt her so much.

Seeing how upset Michelle is, does that bother Carla?
Yes it really does, Michelle's her best friend, they’re like sisters so it couldn’t be any worse. Ali wants to take their relationship further but this makes Carla pull back. There isn’t actually anything going on, they’ve only slept together that one time and her relationship with Michelle is more important to her than a relationship with him.     

Alongside this mess Carla is also aware that Robert has been taking steroids, how worried is she about Michelle?
She’s seen Robert buying steroids, she’s also seen bruises on Michelle’s arms and him acting in an aggressive manner towards her so she’s worried for her friend first and foremost. Although Carla’s upset over the Ali thing she still wants to tell Michelle about Robert, even those he’s said he’s stopped, so she can make up her own mind. Carla doesn't believe the bruises are as innocent as they are and she’s more bothered about Michelle than her beating herself up over Ali. She actually loves Michelle so much that’s by the by as long as she does the right thing and tells her about Robert.

How does Michelle react when Carla tells her about Robert’s steroid use? 
At first she doesn’t believe Carla, but then she asks her how long she’s known and Carla just tells her the truth and tells her to talk to Robert.

Do you think Carla and Michelle can get their relationship back on track?
Michelle tells Carla she’s not coming to her wedding, it’s for friends and close family only but in true Carchelle fashion hopefully Carla will put out her bottom lip and say sorry I miss you enough times that Michelle will forgive her. But how long that will take I don’t know.

Do you enjoy playing out the Carchelle relationship? 
I hope that they do get back on track because I would miss working with the Kym Marsh because she makes me belly laugh. I hope they don’t keep us apart for too long.

If Carla doesn’t end up with Ali, who on the street do you think she could be paired with?
I think the Peter/Carla/Toyah angle is very interesting, there’s definitely unfinished business there and their chemistry is undeniable. I also love Carla’s relationship with Roy, I love the awkward dynamic there in the house, it’s really growing and I’m loving that. Men wise she needs a rugged male, maybe Nick should come back or maybe Imran but I’m not sure he’s rough enough for her.   

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