It came as a shock to some in the fandom and less so to others, but one person who is more flabbergasted by Becky Swain’s return from the dead in Coronation Street is her grieving wife Lisa (Vicky Myers).
In the wake of coming face to face with the ghost that has plagued her (and us) for so long, Lisa is understandably distraught and all over the place, with fiancee Carla Connor (Alison King) being the one to bravely try and put a sensible spin on things.
Easier said than done…a comeback from the grave isn’t exactly an everyday occurrence and the timing couldn’t be more cruel as Lisa, Carla and Betsy (Sydney Martin) have just moved into a family home and are looking forward to a wedding.
A not so murdered Becky may well be a threat to that but as Lisa goes on the warpath, confronting Costello and trying to find ways to (metaphorically, honestly) bury Lisa again, Carla reckons that she at least owes Betsy the truth.
Next week, Costello warns Becky to keep her head down or they could both end up in prison.
A fired up Lisa enters the station determined to have it out with Costello, but he refuses to be drawn. Kit warns Carla that Costello isn’t all that he seems and Lisa needs to be careful.
When Carla reveals that Becky isn’t dead and she’s come back, Kit’s stunned. Lisa barges into Costello’s office and demands he tell her every detail surrounding Becky’s fake death or she’ll take the story to the press.
Carla puts pressure on Lisa to tell Betsy the truth about Becky, knowing she’ll find out in the end and be more heartbroken.
When Lisa refuses to entertain the idea Carla summons Becky. As Becky breaks down and begs Lisa to let her see their daughter, Carla hopes Lisa will do the right thing, but Lisa spells out to Becky that she’s not willing to inflict any more pain on Betsy.
Accepting defeat, Carla tells Becky to go. But in the precinct, Becky watches as Betsy talks to Ryan, itching to make herself known and unsure if she can hold back.
And, for those who clocked that Roy Cropper (David Neilson) spotted Lisa in the photo, you are vindicated!
At the end of next week, when Roy discovers Becky at No.6, Carla tries to say she’s a colleague of Lisa’s, but Roy doesn’t buy it and tells her he knows she’s Becky Swain and he saw her at the hospital.
Lisa explains the situation to Roy. Making it clear to Carla how much she’s hurt him with her lies, Roy heads out. Lisa pleads Carla’s case to Roy and explains that the last thing she wanted to do was to lie to him, but she did it in a bid to protect her and Betsy.
But just how many relationships are going to be fractured by this twist of fate? And how will Betsy react to coming face to face with Lisa?
Warning of turmoil to come, actress Amy Cudden, who joins as Becky, sighed: ‘I agree with fans who might be furious to see someone come in and disrupt one of the most beautiful on-screen relationships. It’s unconscionable, and they should be angry.
‘However, it’s such a complicated relationship that other feelings will emerge as it unfolds. Things forged in fire only get stronger. Becky is a “spanner in the works,” but it doesn’t necessarily mean the worst, though it will be very difficult.
‘Ultimately, this makes for really good TV and a fun, emotional, challenging, but rewarding journey for everyone. We want to give viewers a really good show; if everything was always wrapped up neatly, it wouldn’t be interesting. Come with us on this journey!’
What a journey it promises to be…
