Coronation Street newcomer Steph Britton has been brought to the forefront of the soap in recent weeks as she has become the main confidante of established regular Tina McIntyre.
With Tina still caught up in a messy affair with Peter Barlow, viewers will see Steph act as the voice of reason in future episodes as she urges her friend and flatmate to end the relationship.
Digital Spy recently chatted to Tisha Merry, who plays Steph, for her thoughts on the ongoing storyline and life at Corrie.
How does it feel to now be a regular cast member on Coronation Street?
"It's absolutely amazing. At first I came into the show last year for ten episodes and I was absolutely thrilled with that, but part of me was thinking, 'I really, really wish I had a permanent role'. I was really sad when I left because I'd just got to know everybody. When I found out that I was being brought back on a permanent basis, I was absolutely over the moon."
How long after your initial departure did you find out that you'd be back?
"I did the ten episodes and a few months later I heard that they wanted me back for another couple of episodes. Shortly after that, there were rumours that I'd be coming back again, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. I waited it out, but then the contract came through and I screamed my head off!"
What was your first day on set like?
"I remember walking down the road to the old Quay Street set at 10.30am and going to security. I gave my name in but they said, 'No sorry, you're not on the list, we can't find you!' I just panicked then and security must have thought I was a crazy fan!
"By the time I got in there, I was traumatised! After that, I saw a lot of the established cast members like Helen Worth and I was so starstruck. I was like that for about a week - I couldn't look at anyone! But Georgia May Foote, who plays Katy, was like my little guardian angel. She took me under her wing and really helped me out."
Is it easy to make friends among the cast?
"Definitely. It's something that I was worried about, but I'd heard that everyone was really close like a family unit and it turns out that it's true. As an outsider you wonder whether you'll fit in and be accepted, but I think the established cast enjoy welcoming in new people and showing them around. Everyone was great and so helpful.
"Through Steph working in the Bistro, I've been able to work with everybody in the cast as every character goes in there at some point. That means you get to know everybody really well and you develop some really nice friendships."
The Peter and Tina story is Corrie's biggest at the moment. How do you feel about being involved in it?
"It's fantastic. Steph involves herself in most things anyway, but it's been brilliant to work alongside Chris Gascoyne and Michelle Keegan. It's Michelle's last storyline, so I feel really blessed to be a part of it. It's very exciting as well!"
Will Steph stay loyal to Tina by keeping her secrets?
"Yeah, she will. I think the scenes are really good at the minute because everyone is seeing a different side to Steph. Usually she's laughing, joking and giving her opinion, but since she's moved in with Tina and they've developed their friendship, people have seen a more serious and caring side to her.
"Steph really likes Tina, but once they put the gossiping aside, she wants to help her. She doesn't want Tina to be caught up in this affair. She wants Tina to sort herself out and move on. Not that Tina listens, but Steph does try her best!"
How will Steph react when she finds out that Tina's mystery man is Peter?
"When she does find out, she'll be shocked. I don't know what Steph thinks at the moment, but I don't think she's expecting it to be Peter Barlow. It'll be a shocker!"
It's no secret that Tina is being killed off in the not-too-distant future. Are you looking forward to being involved in that storyline?
"I'm looking forward to it because it'll be interesting, but it's also going to be a really sad time because Michelle will be leaving the show. I've worked with her for quite a while now, and even though I'm new, we've developed a good little friendship. It's going to be really sad as I'll miss Michelle, but it's going to be brilliant acting it all out."
Will Steph have a lot of involvement?
"I can imagine so! I don't particularly know how they're going to go about it yet, but Steph will definitely be very upset about what happens."
Is there more coming up between Steph and her brother Luke?
"I hope so. It'll be brilliant as me and Dean [Fagan, who plays Luke] get on well and he's a brilliant actor. There'll definitely be some more stuff coming up for us and I'm excited to see where they go with it."
Would you like to meet more members of the Britton family?
"Yeah, it'd be amazing to bring in the whole tribe! I've no idea what the writers have planned, but if they did bring in family members, it'd be fantastic to delve into Steph's history."
We saw comedy from Steph initially, but now she's getting more involved in the drama on the cobbles. Which do you prefer?
"I do enjoy playing Steph when she's giggly, enthusiastic and happy, but then I do enjoy the more serious side as well. It's nice to show a different side to Steph when she's being caring and she wants to give advice.
"It's nice for people to see that I'm capable of doing other things and that Steph doesn't make fun of things all the time. Her one-liners are what make her who she is, but it's nice to do other things too."
What kind of reaction have you seen from fans?
"Most people who come up to me when I'm out and about are young people, which is really flattering. A young girl said to me the other day, 'I wish I'd been at Steph's night in with Tina and Katy, it looked really fun!'
"It's great that viewers find those characters to be fun and friendly together, so people are reacting really well. People have also said, 'Get that Tina told!' I'm happy that people seem to like Steph."
Do you have a favourite scene that you've filmed so far?
"It hasn't been on screen yet so I can't say too much about it, but there's some more scenes coming up where things aren't working out for Tina, and Steph is there to pick up the pieces. There's one scene in particular that's my favourite and we worked really hard on it. I love the Tina and Steph storyline, so any scenes to do with that are always my favourite!"
Is acting what you've always wanted to do?
"It's what I wanted to do from a very young age. I remember pointing at the telly and saying that I wanted to be on it! It was only when I was at high school that I really took it seriously and thought about how I'd go about it. I signed up for a drama school, did a few years there and then got my agent.
"I auditioned a few times and slowly but surely, I ended up at Coronation Street! I don't know how that happened!"
Were you in a regular job before Corrie?
"I was still in a regular job even after I joined Corrie! I was so scared that they'd decide I wouldn't be in the show again, so I kept hold of my other job as it wasn't set in stone that I was staying. I used to be a receptionist and people would come up and say, 'Aren't you off Corrie? Why are you on reception?!' It's really nice that I can now concentrate on this full-time."
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