Rachel Leskovac interview: Natasha's emotional exit

Last week, unlucky Natasha found herself in Harvey’s firing line after he mistook her for Leanne. Tonight, after a heart-breaking goodbye to Sam, Natasha died from her injuries. Rachel Leskovac tells us about filming these emotional episodes and reflecting on her time at Coronation Street. 

Since Natasha’s return, Rachel has formed a close bond with her onscreen son Jude Riordan, and she said she found it emotional filming their goodbye. “I’d done a bit of filming with Ben Price (Nick) before Jude came onto set and I was already feeling quite emotional. From the moment I saw Jude, I just started crying and I didn’t stop until they said cut. 

“It was really emotional to the point I couldn’t look at him in between takes because I just found it too difficult; it was pretty much non-stop crying. I’m a very emotional person- or some might say a right softie! The bond I have with Jude (Sam) is very strong and I hope that comes across on screen.”

To commemorate their last day filming together, Rachel and Jude had bought each other gifts to lift each other’s spirits. “We ended up cheering each other up in the car park after we’d finished,” Rachel said. “He’s got a really special place in my heart, from the first time I Facetimed him before I met him on set, I just knew that we would get on really well and it’s been an absolute joy to film with him. I’m going to really miss working with him, but we’ve said hopefully at some point in the future we’ll get to work together again.”

As Natasha headed into surgery, she made sure to say goodbye to Sam, and Rachel says that Natasha was aware her time might be up. “Natasha doesn’t want to be so direct with Sam being so young.  

“There is an element of her wanting to protect Sam but certainly it felt like she knew it was unlikely that she’d be seeing him again so that was another reason why that scene was particularly tough to play.”

Having lost Natasha, it is now up to Nick to care for his grieving son- but can he rise to the challenge? “She doesn’t really say much to Nick but there’s a moment where she looks at him and she just says his name, hopefully in that moment what will come across is that feeling of knowing.

“The way she looks at him and his response is basically letting her know that he’s going to be alright. I think she does trust that he will be a good dad to Sam despite what they’ve been through. I don’t think she’s ever doubted his love for him but perhaps sometimes his priorities. But sometimes it takes something really big to happen for people to step up and she doesn’t doubt that he will.”

Last year, Natasha returned to the cobbles after 10 years away. While circumstances were different for Natasha, Rachel says she felt like she had never been away. “It’s been an absolute pleasure to be back. I feel really honoured to be a part of Coronation Street and although this time it’s been in the new building that felt like the only new element about it because there are so many of the old crew still there. 

“I was absolutely welcomed with open arms; people often talk about a sense of family on soaps, and it does sound pretty corny but it is true. You’re in this bubble together, it’s very intense but despite it being 10 years ago it very quickly felt like I’d never left. It definitely has that sense of family, and I was really lucky to be working with Ben and Jane who are both really generous actors and were really excited to bring in this whole new dynamic to their storyline and explore the possibilities.”

Joining a show is challenging enough, but Rachel had to return amidst the Covid pandemic with heavy restrictions to filming. “It’s been bittersweet, I’m hugely grateful to have worked during this period of time unlike a lot of my peers but on the other hand it does feel like there was so much more we could have explored with the character had times being different and Covid not so restrictive. 

“I think that’s what I’ll miss the most, having that opportunity to watch her branch out and form relationships with different characters on the street. On the positive side of going in during a pandemic because the crews were stripped back it felt quite intimate which is always nice. There was more opportunity to do two handers and I like the intimacy of that.”

As we say goodbye to Natasha Blakeman, what does Rachel have planned for the future? “Part of the joy of being an actor is the prospect of new work, new beginnings, having the opportunity to challenge yourself creatively over and over again, whether that’s on stage or screen we shall see but I’m very much looking forward to spending Christmas with my family.”

Sophie Williams

I'm on Twitter @sophie_writer1

---

---

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

Coronation Street Episode Review; Wednesday 13th October 7.30 & 8.30 pm

Imran has been running away from his guilty conscience recently, and he's done quite well in hiding it - until tonight. Being blackmailed by Sabeen is one thing, accepting Toyah’s new foster plan is another, but a telling off from Rita? well, that pushes him right over the edge. If he wasn’t male that would have been a classic ‘now listen lady’ speech. Realising his reputation is in jeopardy, Imran finally confesses everything, telling Toyah about the blackmail, helping Harvey’s cause, and the random one-night stand. How dare he hurt our Toyah!

It was good to have Peter console her though! A nice reminder of their shared past and the continued bed-hopping of the cobbles residents. I think Toyah put on a brave face for the new foster kid, Elsie (please let her be a connection to my Corrie idol!) Later, in the Corrie crime ginnel, Imran meets up with Abi, and we find out that his random one-night stand wasn’t a random one after all! The Corrie bed-hopping continues!

Wouldn’t it be brilliant if Natasha ends up buying Audrey’s salon from Debbie? I’ve loved seeing her back on the street and her scenes with little Sam are Corrie gold! Natasha’s presence has also caught Dev’s attention. A woman with money, entrepreneurial flair, and beauty - you can’t blame the fella! However, I was convinced that Dev had already got it together with Bernie, so having Natasha spur the shop keepers affections means it won't be long until Gemma’s Mum is back round N0.7 for a bunk up! I reckon Bernie is more Dev’s style anyway. I did enjoy Bernie stirring it up tonight too, she’s warming on me now, and her sarcastic barbs at Roy's customers are funny!!

If Natasha does buy the salon, and with the virus easing (a few familiar faces returned tonight) I guess those smaller sets will soon be back on screen? Talking of which, with the pub trade being alarmingly lacklustre recently, it seems The Rovers Return is now a dating agency? The flowery misunderstanding has not irked Daisy, and Leo explains that the bouquet was for Jenny. You can't blame the lad. I wonder why Dev has never fallen for Jenny's charms, by the way. 

Although a reluctant cougar (a bit of a derogatory term, surely?) Jenny goes on a date with young Leo. Johnny seems slightly perturbed and tells Carla (yes, she is back!!) he is restless, so she offers him some consulting work at Underworld. Later, Johnny attends a business meeting at the Bistro and sees Jenny readying herself for the date. I think that means Johnny is still in love with Jenny. Back at The Rovers, Jenny takes Leo upstairs. 

What did I say about Corrie bed-hopping? :) 

@rybazoxo Your self-styled cobbles connoisseur 

---

---

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

Jane Danson interview: Leanne's terrifying testimony

Drug boss Harvey has made Leanne Battersby's life a living hell for a long time now by terrorising her family. Just as Leanne finally sees the finish line, she is hit by more obstacles as Harvey's trial approaches. We spoke to Jane Danson to find out what Leanne has up her sleeve to try and rid her family of this nightmare. Will she succeed? 

After the heartbreak of losing Oliver, Leanne became hellbent on making sure she wasn't going to lose Simon as well, and Jane told us that Simon's safety is the most important thing. "Having already lost one son, she's got the potential to lose another one, so his safety is kind of paramount. The reason they've gone into hiding and staying away from everybody is to protect him, and obviously to protect herself as well and their little unit."

While it was only Simon who was initially involved, it has now spread to Natasha and even little Sam, leaving Leanne feeling terrible for involving Nick's family. "I think that's what's quite a clever thing about the story- it's not just a story revolving around one character, it's kind of drawing in lots of different characters. 

"[Leanne] feels terrible. I kind of feel for her in the sense that she can't really do right for doing wrong. She tried to protect Nick and not tell him anything, and in doing so, she kind of alienated herself and became a little bit distant. He wanted to know why, and eventually when he found out what was going on, he had to make that awful choice of being with his son or supporting Leanne. In terms of story layers, there's loads to explore there which has been really good."

From prison, Harvey has been using Sharon to put the frighteners on Leanne to stop her from testifying in court, which even resulted in Sam being kidnapped. As Harvey's trial looms, the family are put in danger once again when a gunman appears on the street. Will this make Leanne change her mind about testifying? Jane said: "It's another interesting element of the story that she makes her mind up on one day and then changes it the next. I think when we see the scenes with the gunman and stuff, you'll see a real shift in how she feels about it all.

"I think she's of the opinion that this is never going to end unless she stops it now- this is going to keep going on, and it'll be just one more thing and then another. She's terrified, and she's just trying to do her best and she doesn't really know whether telling the truth or lying is the best thing or not, so I suppose, it'll be how she feels on the day."

The trial eventually arrives, and Leanne is prepared to tell the truth, but her mind is sent racing when she comes face-to-face with Harvey in court. "I think that's kind of a lightbulb moment," Jane told us. "That's when we see a sort of strength forming again and she becomes a little bit old Leanne, which I always like doing. Obviously, she's been through what she's been through with Oliver, and she still kept that strength, which I really loved. Even when she might not have been right in places, her decisions might have been questionable at times, I loved the fact they stayed true to that inner Battersby, even though she's grown up and she's kind of a lot more sensible than she used to be. I think the writers have always remembered where she's from, and I'm really keen to keep hold of that, so I think we see old Leanne twinkling in the eyes there at the court."

During the trial, Leanne is shocked when Sharon appears, and turns on Harvey! However, Sharon can hardly be trusted, and Leanne is wary. "I think she smells a rat," Jane mused. "Leanne's not daft- she's lived a life, shall we say. She doesn't trust her as far as she could throw her. I think again, there's more to be explored there with those characters, but as things stand, she doesn't trust her at all."

Cast members across Corrie have been adhering to social distancing measures and keeping two metres apart, and Jane said this can be "frustrating" at times. "To say we're used to it is probably the wrong word, but we'd come off the back of the Oliver story which in a way, the distance leant itself to the way Leanne was feeling and she was pushing everybody away. Obviously with this storyline with Harvey, he was kind of asking her politely to get in the car, whereas on an ordinary day, he would've thrown her in the car, and it would've been much more physical.

"Maybe the scenes would've played out a little differently, but I think the audience understand that there are some things we can't do because we're just not allowed. It is frustrating because your natural instinct, as an actor, is to go forward and hug somebody or touch somebody, and that is really tough at times. We've got used to that way of working, but obviously, it's not ideal and then we're hopeful that things may change in the coming months, with a bit of luck for the world."

Throughout this storyline, Leanne and Nick's relationship has been pushed to breaking point, and while they seem to be supporting each other right now, will it stay that way? "I've dipped into the old classic Corrie's that are on ITV3 at the minute, and Nick and Leanne are very sort of prominent at that time, and it's 24 years ago, so you go: 'Isn't it fab that those two characters are kind of still together?' They've split up, they got back together, they've been off with other people, but Ben and I love working together, we've got a great working relationship and we really trust each other and it's just lovely. 

"We sort of campaigned constantly for those two to be together, just because we like working together and it makes our day nice! But on a serious note, from a creative point of view as well, we want them to have a happy ever after, which I don't think they ever will in terms of life stuff, but hopefully they can see it through together."

At the time Nick first found out about Sam, Leanne had a hard time coming to terms with it after her own tragic loss, but as time goes on, she understands the importance of Nick having Sam in his life. "I think she realises, having lost her own son, how important he is to Nick and how supportive he was bringing Oliver up as his own. I think she feels the same about Sam. There's a beautiful scene where she says: 'I will get sad sometimes, and I will need to be on my own, but that doesn't mean that I can't support you and let you have the life that you deserve.'

"I think that's really nice and I'm glad that they've continued to explore that grief. I know sometimes in soap, we don't like to see too much of that, but in real life, it's always there. Just the odd nod to that is really important."

As Leanne and Sam spend more time together, Jane told us what it's like working with Jude Riordan (Sam) and Alex Bain (Simon). "Alex and I have had some cracking scenes over the years, you know, we've had lots of different storylines together, and now seeing him grow as an actor and be challenged with different things and carrying a lot of the scenes as well, it's been really interesting to explore that, and he's really developing as an actor. 

"Little Jude is just delightful. He's just a joy to be around as well. It's just lovely seeing that innocence and obviously, we've got two very different characters there and different relationships, so it's lovely playing that out, and it means more scope for them as well together, which is really nice."

As Leanne fights for her family in court, is this the last we've seen of Harvey? Jane said: "I kind of feel that because of Covid, I feel like maybe we've not got into it like we could've done, so I'm curious as to see what's going to happen, because it feels a little bit unfinished for me. It feels like it kind of wraps up quite quickly, so I don't know. In soap, anything can happen, right?" 

Sophie Williams 

I'm on Twitter at @sophie_writer1

---

---

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

Coronation Street Episode Review; Weds 21th Oct 7.30 & 8.30 pm

Billy's exorcism of Eileen's unimaginably large loft has raised a (Todd-shaped) Lazarus and one whom the Vicar may soon regret returning. As Weatherfield's devil incarnate, taught by Phelan, no less, Todd has always caused trouble, his reinsertion into Corrie 2020 is no exception. The Vicar could about to become an Archdeacon and Paul is keen on counselling work, so a fork in the road is already well placed by the writers. Billy is harbouring feelings for Todd and the raw emotion between the two still evident. Is the Vicar about to be tempted by the devil, once again? 

Also returning to the street, Natasha is back with young Sam and the Platt family's latest addition has Gail all a smitten! She's less enthusiastic however about the return of Nick’s ex, Natasha. As the old foes square up in Victoria Gardens (this brings back Classic Corrie memories), I get the feeling that Gail’s assumption about Natasha's return is somewhat wrong - for now, maybe?  

Less of a tempestuous reacquaintance is Todd & Sarah, you’d forget these two were old lovers! and was that some flirting we spotted between Dev and Natasha? With Gemma back to work at The Rovers, and discrediting Bernie, could we see Chesney become a househusband to five kids? It would certainly make a change from the recent barrage of (albeit, slightly camp) machismo that has recently clouded the street. 

Shona’s scissor hands and silliness with the posh boy seem to have repercussions for poor David. Luckless with the sinkhole debacle, it now looks like ‘Trim Up North’ is for the chop, as well? We haven’t seen that set for a bit, have we?  Lucky then that Gary overheard all about it, and what with cash from Ray, he could swoop for the barbers, and the push the sale of Number 8, all in one go?  Like I said last week, Gangster Gary - N0.1!

Less on the fun side of things, Leanne's grief-stricken and exacts her latest vocal volley at Oliver's guardian, Wendy ( I don’t know anyone called Wendy, either). With Steve in Germany, Leanne’s devastation has now realigned itself at Nick (again) who handles her with the delicate devotion we've come expect. Surely Nick is going to retreat and/or be tempted by his fully formed nuclear family? Natasha has matured gracefully and young Sam is adorable, so, will see where that goes. I know from a recent press day that that's an outcome that isn’t planned, but in 2020, what is? I’d be at pains to mention the C word again, but I do wonder how the virus has infected, I am affected, the latest plotlines and production. 

The returning Todd though, and a lot like this virus, seems to have been resurrected with a vengeance. Can Billy mask his blatant feelings for Todd, or continue to use Paul as a shield? 

Another strong Wednesday double - what did you think? 

@rybazoxo your cobbles connoisseur 

---

---

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

Nick has a secret love child! Corrie blog interview with Ben Price

Fatherhood has come late to Nick Tilsley, in more ways than one. Shattered by Oliver’s recent diagnosis, which now seems terminal, the surrogate father is battling emotions, keeping strong for Leanne, and undoubtedly pained by the all-consuming grief. Therefore, the timing of bumping into his ex-Natasha Blakeman couldn’t be worse. Upon discovering she has a 9-year-old son - is Nick the lad’s Dad? 

In my third Corrie press day this week, I chatted with actor Ben Price to find out all about it. Having just dashed offset from filming dramatic scenes, the actor was in a candid mood.

Q - How is Nick feeling coping with Oliver’s illness and being the surrogate father? 

A - At the end, when he comes down to the final part of the decision on Oliver’s medical condition, he’s there to support Leanne but he’s not part of that final decision making. It does hurt him and he’s sad. He’s not angry about it as Steve seems to be stepping up now. It’s quite tragic. 

Q -  In the middle of all of this, Nick is dealt a bombshell by Natasha. How does he feel upon first seeing her in the hospital car park? 

A - I think it’s one of those things. The way I played it is he’s so overwhelmed by the Oliver situation that he fails to compute the gravity of it. If they’ve had met without this situation, it may have been different. It’s bad timing. 

Q- How does he feel when he then sees her with a child who's old enough to be his son? 

A - He’s overwhelmed and I think he would like a bit proof to work it out. Is she lying or what lies have been told, the guilt of not being there, guilt for what’s going on with Oliver. I think once it’s confirmed for him, then I think it’s huge for him. An amazing storyline but what a time to find out this news, when his stepson it dying! It’s too much for him and he can’t deal with both. He compartmentalises Natasha and Leanne for a while.

Q - With Oliver’s conditioning worsening, he’s not going to find the time to break this news to Leanne, is he? 

A -No and he tries and his Mum talks to him about it and Nick likes to play a straight bat and I don’t know whether that’s the right thing to do in this scenario. I don’t know whether he would have better to say, ‘not now, let’s meet in a year or six months’ but they don’t as it makes a great story! He then goes to meet his son, it’s a powerful moment. He then has to tell Leanne, deal with what she has to say and then deal with Natasha too. He’s over the moon, a protege for the factory! but it’s elation and devastation as Oliver is likely to die. 

Q - Nick and Natasha departed on very bad terms, with Gail in the meddling. How will the dynamic change with his Mum, with Natasha being back on the scene?

A - Well, that’s just Gail isn’t it? He’s going to have to take that. I think Gail makes an effort, with the child being the difference. Like with Kylie, and with Shiona, she realises that the grandchild is important, he’s part of Brian, so that seeps into that part of her history. She’s going to make the effort and Natasha has considerably changed. 

Q  - Is Nick concerned that Natasha has some unspoken agenda, to maybe get back with him and be a family unit and her previous behaviour?

A- Yes, I think he is at the start. He thinks he’s being played a bit, about whats happened. Then he realises that she’s done an incredible job in raising him, but he feels guilty about not being there. 

Q- Is he angry with her for mussing ten years of the child’s life? 

A -I think he’s sad that she felt she couldn’t come and find him to tell him about it. He feels its a reflection on him and not Natasha. He has driven himself through business but his personal life feels rubbish. 

Q- Filming in Oliver’s storyline and what’s coming up on the screen, has reached a really sad place. How have you felt?  

A - First off, Jane is amazing - I have to say that. She has carried this story from the off and has done for the last six months to a year. The way we are filing now, your in the hospital setting, all day every day. It’s been amazing, don’t get me wrong but it’s such a sad story. 

Q - Do you feel the responsibility, as an actor, when portraying such a tragic yet true-to-life story, with Oliver’s condition?

A - Yes, of course, you do- it’s very hard. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I don’t go home at night and read more of the script and have a little cry. You feel it, you’ve got to, you’re paid to feel it. But sometimes, Jane does something or somebody plays a scene, and it just cuts you. Jane’s a Mum, you know. It’s an amazing story, and they weave all of these other parts in. I read the script and think ‘I want to know what’s going to happen next, too'

                                                         ***

I’m looking forward to seeing Gail’s response to Sam, are you? 

Keep your eyes peeled on the Corrie blog as I also chatted to Jack P Shepherd about David Platt’s 21 years on the street, the sinkhole, and Shona!

I’m @rybazoxo your cobbles connoisseur and Wednesday episode reviewer!

---

---

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