Trouble in 2025 for Carla and Lisa? Interview With Corrie Producer Kate Brooks

With new producer Kate Brooks' name now appearing in the show's credits, we've entered a new era for Corrie.

I travelled to Coronation Street Studios in Manchester to hear all about Kate's vision for the show, and find out about her plans for characters and storylines going into 2025.

She had so much to share, I've divided her insights into six blogs. 

Those not wishing to read any spoilers should look away now.

This piece reveals something which is going to cross the paths of Carla and Lisa, and cause problems. And that something comes in the form of Carla's brother Rob Donovan who, when we last saw him, had killed Tina McIntyre, played by Michelle Keegan.  

"Obviously we last left Rob languishing in prison," says Kate, . "He made mistakes, let's say, but he comes back to the show and we think he might be a reformed character. We might think he's seen the error of his ways. We think that; whether that's the case or not, I don't know, but he definitely comes back and causes a lot of trouble for Carla and Lisa."

"I loved Rob, I love Rob and Carla, I love tapping into their past and their history together, and we really explore that through this story. But there's so many twists and turns along the way. It's really exciting. It's going to be eventful for Carla and Lisa, let's put it that way."

"Just when Carla and Lisa think it's safe to sit down and watch Netflix, Rob Donovan comes along and kind of scuppers all of that. So, big story for them. Big story for Rob. Lots of exciting stuff, lots of twists and turns. Big story for Betsy as well who is fabulous and will be right at the centre of that as well." 

Asked if it will be a long-term return for Rob, Kate says, "It's a good stint, it's a good chunk. He killed Tina! But we can get over that. Michelle's fine, she's alright. It's really exciting and, as I say, what I like about this story as well in particular is that Carla and Lisa are finally together, they're finally united, people know about them, they're moving on with their lives, and then this drops on them and they're a bit like, how did that happen? Are we not just meant to be relaxing and enjoying being with eachother? So a real test for their relationship in the early stages, but a good test."

It sounds like Rob won't be the only returning character however, as Kate revealed, "There are other familiar faces coming back in 2025 which I will not disclose, but a few people will be returning to the street to cause their own form of chaos, shall we say. But the first up is Rob," with Marc Baylis reprising the role.

Read more from our interview here:

Kate's overall vision for Corrie and take on the show 

Knife Crime Storyline

Platt Drama
The Websters

New Arrivals

By Emma Hynes

Read all about my trip to Coronation Street in A Rover Returns.

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Corrie's Marc Baylis stars in new Zombie film Redcon 1

Marc Baylis, who starred in Coronation Street as Rob Donovan, will be on the big screen this autumn in a major new role.

Marc is starring in new film Redcon 1 which is on release from September 28th at cinemas around the country.  You can view the official trailer here.

In the film Marc plays the role of Rowan.

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Marc Baylis teases Corrie return for Rob Donovan

There's a fab interview with Marc Baylis, who played Coronation Street's Rob Donovan, in this week's Inside Soap magazine.

Marc talks about being asked to return to Corrie as Rob Donovan earlier this year when his character escaped from jail where he's banged up for the murder of Tina McIntyre.

He says: "I was so glad of the chance to bring back Rob. I wasn't sure whether it had always been on the cards or not, because you never know what might happen. But me and Corrie's producer Kate Oates had a long chat and once sh'd explained her plans for Rob, going back to the show was a no-brainer. It's added even more to his history and to his relationship with Tracey. And since he gave himself up, it's hopefully given him a bit of redemption too."

Asked if he'd like to return to Corrie one day, he says: "Of course. I love playing Rob, he's a great character. I loved the relationship he had with people on the Street, but he'd have a lot of rebuilding to do, especially with Carla. But I'd absolutely be up for playing Rob again, when the time is right for everyone!"

Marc Baylis is starring in pantomime this Christmas. See our list of all the ex-Corrie cast members in panto this year.

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Marc Baylis on Rob doing a runner from Coronation Street

Proper soap villains need proper soap villain names and this one's no exception. No, not Rob Donovan, I'm talking about his mate Tiggsy. Yes, that's him above in the picture with Rob. 

Actor Marc Baylis, who plays Rob Donovan in Coronation Street, is interviewed in this week's Inside Soap magazine. He reveals that Rob and Tracy go on the run, but will their escape plot be hampered by a little lady called Amy?

Rob tells Inside Soap: "It's do or die for Rob this time. Rob is doing things completely off the cuff. He wants to make the right decisions but we know how often he makes the wrong ones! There's a real sense of urgency too, and he keeps changing his mind. What Rob really wants is a happy ever after, because his upbringing meant he never had stability."

As Rob and Tracy flee the Street in next week's Corrie, they take Amy with them and do a runner to a country farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. Pictures of Amy and Tracy start to appear on the news and a hunt is on to find them, so the chance of Rob keeping his head low is out of the question, it would seem.

But Amy doesn't know what's going on, she's a fed-up teenager dragged away from No. 1 to a farmhouse with Tracy and Rob. And she sneaks off to a phone box to call Steve... what will her dad do with the information Amy gives him and what will Rob do when he finds out about Amy's call? All will be revealed in next week's show.

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Who is Rob Donovan? Here's all you need to know

He's back! Rob Donovan, the Coronation Street killer has been revealed as being back on the show. 

Actor Marc Baylis is reprising his role as killer Rob and so it's timely to have a very quick look back at Rob Donovan's story so far.

Rob Donovan is Carla Connor’s younger brother. He first turned up in Coronation Street in 2012 after being freed from Strangeways.  He was billed as a 'street-fighting hunk' on his arrival.

He managed Underworld with Michelle Connor while Carla was away for six months in L.A.

He and Tracy Barlow joined forces and he ran Barlow’s Buys with her after Carla sacked him from Underworld.

In order to win Tracy's mum over, he flirted with Deirdre. She loved it.

 He got engaged to Tracy.

Rob left Coronation Street after murdering Tina McIntyre. He killed Tina after he found out she’d had an affair with Rob's brother-in-law, Peter Barlow (who was married to Carla).

Rob was sentenced to twenty-five years in prison.  While in the big house, he tried blackmailing Johnny Connor, aware that Johnny was really Carla’s dad.

And now he’s free, what trouble will be bring for Tracy this time around?

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