Leanne, Toyah and Nick Share Ex-mas? Interview with Corrie Producer Kate Brooks

“It's fantastic for the viewer.”

I recently travelled to Coronation Street studios in Manchester for a press conference with new producer Kate Brooks. It was packed with so much news, views and spoilers, that I'm sharing her insights via a series of blogs. 

Here, she talks about what Christmas 2024 will be like for Leanne, Toyah and Nick.

Those who don't wish to be in the know should look away now.

Leanne's dreadful experience with The Institute, and her relationship with Nick, may both be over, but it seems the drama isn't, as he and her sister Toyah continue to hide that they're seeing eachother.       

"You've got Leanne who's got her suspicions about Nick and Toyah, and I felt it was really important to see a different side to Leanne," says Kate.

"She's had a really tough year; she had The Institute, which was all-consuming in many ways. But, she's a Battersby, and she's scrappy and she's feisty - and Toyah is so good, and so brilliant and wonderful. And Leanne sees the life that she had just being taken away from her, and rather than go down the route which is expected, and for her to take it on the chin, or to move on, she really wants to make them pay, and she really is intent on getting her own revenge."

"It can be at the detriment of her own sanity sometimes, but she wants to make them realise what they've done to her. Nick's betrayal is one thing, but the betrayal of a sister is huge."

"And I just love that dynamic between Toyah and Leanne. I think it's fantastic. I remember really vividly them coming on to the Street peak Spice Girls era; they barrelled on to the Street. And just tapping into how they were, and how they were as Battersbys, was really important, and that all comes to the forefront on Christmas Day, and it doesn't end well for anyone.”

Kate's insights here, on other characters central to the festive season, and about Christmas generally, indicates a focus on and interest in personal relationships and stories, as well as a good awareness of the past and who these characters are at their core. 

This is refreshing given that grounded stories and strong characterisation have always been central to the Street at its best, and is hopefully a sign of things to come.

You can read what else she had to say about the festive season and those at the centre of it in the rest in my series of blogs here:

A Classic Christmas for Gail? Interview with Corrie Producer Kate Brooks

Oh Christmas Three! Corrie Producer Kate Brooks Talks Daisy, Bethany and Daniel

Christmas Eves: Carla and Lisa get Festive? Interview with Corrie Producer Kate Brooks

By Emma Hynes

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

Read my recent Corrie interview with Calum Lill

Web

www.emmahynes.com

Social                Music
Facebook             Apple
Instagram            Bandcamp
Twitter                 Soundcloud
YouTube              Spotify

---

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

---

Coronation Street Episode Review, Wednesday 8th February, 8 pm

One foiled terror plot, a stabbing, a murder, and a shooting! It's not even March, yet Corrie seems to be heading into the most crime fuelled year yet?

Tonight is the aftermath of Damon's dodgy drug shipment going awry, and although shots misfired, the dodged bullets have ricocheted into the drama, regardless. Sam, Leanne, and Nick are all feeling the fallout, and the drugs are now at their flat. Nick threatens to dispatch Damon’s drugs unless he picks them up, to which he complies. Surely not, I thought - the bad guy gave up a bit too easy there -, but then my Corrie brain kicked in and no sooner had Damon left the flat when PC Tinker and the cop car pulled up to arrest the drug dealer.

Ryan has an emotional meltdown from the shock of the gunfire, and tells Leanne he fears his life is going nowhere. He later apologises, telling his boss he’d rather stay put, but PC Tinker returns with questions for the Bistro owners. Craig tells the couple what we viewers already knew about Damon’s past. Nick and Leanne play dumb but are still invited down to the cop shop for questioning. Back at the flat, and after questioning, Nick lies to Sam and tells him that Damon is a drug dealer and they knew nothing about it and that he organised the bistro heist. Sam also discovers that Damon is Harvey’s brother, and blames Nick for lying to him. Sam tells his Dad he doesn't want Damon’s DJ gift in the flat and tells Nick to leave as well! 

Elsewhere, Eileen (who works in a taxi rank, remember)  and Todd take it into their hands to track down cab driver Mitch to find out what he knows about Laurence. The Mum and Son detective duo ( I preferred Evelyn and Roy, to be honest) soon tracks down Mitch, telling them he thinks Laurence pushed his wife off a mountain, as he was having an affair with him, and she was due to find out. Meanwhile, Laurence and Sean are out for a meal, discussing travel insurance whilst planning a romantic getaway. Back at work, Eileen and Todd visit Sean at the Rovers to tell them what they found out. Sean flounces around, disgusted by their assumptions and accusations, only for Laurence to turn up needing some holiday insurance forms that need signing - he's booked them on a mountain climbing holiday!! With one active murderer on the street, I guess this is all some big misunderstanding to ruin Sean's love life?

Setting up a business meeting, Sarah and Michael need samples stitching up in 24 hours, so they ask Beth Tinker, who’s obviously got some time free now she’s stopped slapping small people. A prediction I got wrong in last week's review, but I don't think we've heard the last of that yet. Anyway, back to tonight. Of course, Beth is free to do a side hustle and arranges an illicit night at the factory, whilst Adam feels inspired by a chat with Sam, telling Sarah he’s ready for them to have a child! Sarah refuses and returns to the factory for late-night sample stitching. Later, Sarah tells Uncle Stephen about her postpartum psychosis (which I'd forgotten about) and Carla’s psychosis following the factory collapse. Stephen seems intrigued by the latter of confessions. 

Elsewhere tonight - Roy’s obsession with his mobile phone leads him to let down Evelyn with the charity shop volunteering, and he’s late valuing a model train set - leaving it to be sold at a bargain price. Bernie’s unexpected (and definitely not unbelievable) golfing talent story continues tonight, and she’s got a trial at the club. Dev gifting her Aadi’s old clubs fails to ignite her lucky streak. Bernie seemingly fails the trial but we later learn she deliberately threw it so she could spend more time with Dev. 

What did you think of tonight’s Corrie? Let us know in the comments box.

I am @rybazoxo cobbles connoisseur & Coronation Street superfan. 

---

---

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

Coronation Street Episode Review Sunday 20 June 2021

Father's day - Sam's first - and with Nick back on t'Street Sam has a card for him!  Just watch out for a shady character (Rhys) lurking in the Street under peaked cap.  And Summer is taking her two dads for Sunday lunch in the Bistro.  Sam wants a sleepover at the Natural History Museum - next year - this year he wants home made waffles for breakfast.  At the Bistro Billy recalls special meals with his family - always at a Berni Inn and the introduction of an avocado pear onto the menu; oddly Summer takes a toilet break which even Todd thinks is a little soon after the previous one.  A little later it is time for pud but Summer is impatient to depart - the dads send her home to a pile of work - but is there more to it than there seems?

The answer seems to be positive, back at the flat Summer puts a can in the bin and then is very unsteady, wobbling on her so sitting and looking at her shaking hands (above) before slumping sideways and passing out.  The dads are having another large glass of wine each as they are celebrating Todd moving back in permanently.

In the continuation of Tyrone's mid-life crisis, Fiz is decrying Alina's clothing choices for Ty - jeans so tight he could not sit down - and until upbraided by Chesney not allowing the girls to give Ty a father's day present.  Curtis, mixologist at the Bistro, wants to sell his late father's classic motorbike and initially Kevin buys it - but after some sweet talking by Alina she buys it as a present for Ty - it needs some work and she is looking forward to the ride of her life.  Kev does not seem too upset - and Ty is ecstatic that Alina's saving for a housing deposit is being expended on what I fear will be an expensive accident waiting to happen.

As we know Gemma has been reluctant for Aled to have a cochlear implant operation and the matter has been much discussed with the quads being largely off screen!  However after a pub discussion with Bernie and Paul she finally admits to Chesney that providing they maintain learning BSL it would help Aled if the operation goes ahead as it will give him options (above).  

Rhys is in league with Harvey and Sharon; Harvey wants Leanne given a short, sharp and appropriately encouraging reminder of just which side of her bread will get battered if she gives the wrong evidence in court.  Rhys tells Sharon he intends to do as "H" wants (send for Ted Hastings - he would soon be cooking Rhys' goose with diesel).  Sharon tries phoning Leanne but gets short shrift as she and Steve are going to see Oliver as it is a year since he died.  When they arrive back Leanne is surprised that Nick's phone is off and then hears either 3 or 4 gunshots and an Audi taking off at high tyre-squealing speed.  With Sharon looking on from the other end of Victoria Street we see a body lying by Nick's car (above).  Nick and Sam pick themselves up off the ground and Sam tells us that the Audi registration was MB03HVC, just like any other kid would!  Less amazing is that Leanne identifies Sharon in the distance before she slithers away!  The police achieve little apart from finding the burnt out TT a bit later.

Summer has not been woken by the gunfire adjacent to the flat and only comes round when her dads return.  Todd phones for an ambulance, but relents when Summer refuses.  She had had a can of "Dyno" - an energy drink of which Billy does not approve.  She is not keen on even going to see Dr Gaddas who then makes a home visit (round here you cannot even get an appointment to see a doctor at the surgery).  The dads and Dr Gaddas all think there is something wrong with Summer, possibly an eating disorder?  She refuses food and goes to the toilet again.  Billy asks Todd not to move in until Summer is back to normal.  Todd feels rejected - although to be honest I do not understand Billy's concerns - surely a resident Todd would actually make Summer feel safer and loved?

In the cafe Roy and Nina are having a heart to heart and she is unburdening herself about her father and losing him and the safety net that he provided.  Apparently Nina wants routine with The Archers at seven, fishcakes on a Friday and Scrabble.  Roy agrees that he can deliver a boring life - which is what she wants.  (We know that to achieve it she will of course have to leave the Street!).  Roy explains his phone calls - he needs to know that she is safe and she gently asks him to back off.  Nina has a present for Roy - her father's simple homemade wooden scrabble rack and Roy is pleased and can relax as Nina is on the mend.

Until "H" phoned Sharon was packing to do a runner.  He tells her off for being on Victoria Street when Rhys was doing as told.  She points out that Leanne did not need pushing - this was Nick and Sam being attacked (rather better described above!!!).  H makes it quite clear that there is no such thing as bad publicity - front page of the Evening News making it clear this is what happens if you cross Harvey Gaskell, something which Sharon should have remembered and he hangs up on her.  H phones Rhys to go home and do some housekeeping.

Natascha tells Nick that the relationship with Sam cannot carry on whilst Leanne is in danger.  Nick tells Sam that they have to stop seeing each other - for his own safety.  Nick says he will find Sam when it safe.  Natascha insists that this is the end for Sam and Nick and she takes her son away.

Sharon fails to make her getaway before Rhys turns up.  He tells her he is not keen on hitting a woman with her hands full so tells her to drop her bags (not her trousers) and we see no more.  

Leanne has been thinking about nothing else for weeks, not sleeping, worrying and seeing Natascha's face over Sam earlier has enabled her to be very aware that Harvey will always control her and many others; perhaps even Sharon wants a way out from under the evil drug lord and of course Oliver has set her free (above).  She is going into court and will tell the truth.  I would not be surprised if a much battered and bruised Sharon is also giving evidence against H on Monday.

Which wraps it up for me for tonight.  Last Friday (which is actually after I wrote this but before it airs) I had a small operation, hopefully I will be fit to pick up the baton the next time my name comes up!

Tonight was written by Jan McVerry and directed by Alex Jacob.

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

---

---

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