Perdita
30-04-2021, 14:49
Coronation Street has cast Brookside's Helen Sheals in a guest role as part of an upcoming hate crime storyline involving Seb Franklin and Nina Lucas.
In scenes set to air in early May, the new couple will be seen taking a stroll by the canal before Kevin Webster's stag do.
But their romantic evening comes to an abrupt end when they come across a drunk Corey Brent (Maximus Evans), Kelly Neelan (Millie Gibson) and a few of their pals, who start yelling abuse at Nina (Mollie Gallagher) before things take an even more violent turn.
Sheals, who has previously played two separate characters on the long-running soap, is set to return to Weatherfield for the third time, this time playing a nurse who tends to Nina and Seb (Harry Visinoni) during their stay in hospital following the attack.
According to ITV, she will appear in two episodes.
In 2009, the actor portrayed Lilly Richardson, the mother of Sophie Webster's ex-boyfriend Ben Richardson. Ten years later, she appeared on the cobbles again as a hospice nurse who reached out to Sinead Tinker (Katie McGlynn) following her terminal cancer diagnosis.
Speaking about Seb and Nina's upcoming ordeal, Visinoni said that he had several meetings with the Sophie Lancaster Foundation prior to shooting and added Sophie Lancaster's "absolutely horrific" real-life assault, which tragically resulted in her death in 2007, influenced the events on screen.
He also shared that he hopes the storyline will lead to important conversations about hate crimes taking place in people's living rooms.
"They are two characters that the audience knows personally and sees as kind, innocent and well-intentioned people, and I'm hoping this means that they will relate to the devastation that it causes for all involved," he said.
"I would hope that this forms a part of a greater process of educating on the importance of eradicating prejudice, and protecting everyone's right to be who they are and feel safe."
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights on ITV.
Anyone who has witnessed or experienced a hate crime is urged to call the police on 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit the True Vision website. In an emergency, always dial 999.
Digital Spy
In scenes set to air in early May, the new couple will be seen taking a stroll by the canal before Kevin Webster's stag do.
But their romantic evening comes to an abrupt end when they come across a drunk Corey Brent (Maximus Evans), Kelly Neelan (Millie Gibson) and a few of their pals, who start yelling abuse at Nina (Mollie Gallagher) before things take an even more violent turn.
Sheals, who has previously played two separate characters on the long-running soap, is set to return to Weatherfield for the third time, this time playing a nurse who tends to Nina and Seb (Harry Visinoni) during their stay in hospital following the attack.
According to ITV, she will appear in two episodes.
In 2009, the actor portrayed Lilly Richardson, the mother of Sophie Webster's ex-boyfriend Ben Richardson. Ten years later, she appeared on the cobbles again as a hospice nurse who reached out to Sinead Tinker (Katie McGlynn) following her terminal cancer diagnosis.
Speaking about Seb and Nina's upcoming ordeal, Visinoni said that he had several meetings with the Sophie Lancaster Foundation prior to shooting and added Sophie Lancaster's "absolutely horrific" real-life assault, which tragically resulted in her death in 2007, influenced the events on screen.
He also shared that he hopes the storyline will lead to important conversations about hate crimes taking place in people's living rooms.
"They are two characters that the audience knows personally and sees as kind, innocent and well-intentioned people, and I'm hoping this means that they will relate to the devastation that it causes for all involved," he said.
"I would hope that this forms a part of a greater process of educating on the importance of eradicating prejudice, and protecting everyone's right to be who they are and feel safe."
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights on ITV.
Anyone who has witnessed or experienced a hate crime is urged to call the police on 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit the True Vision website. In an emergency, always dial 999.
Digital Spy