Jennie McAlpine (Fiz Stape, Corrie) DS Interview
Fiz Stape faces a life-changing few days on Coronation Street as the dark and sinister secrets of her husband John are about to start unfolding in spectacular fashion. After walking into Underworld after dark to find her partner digging up a dead body, Fiz has a horrific ordeal ahead as she finally finds out the truth about the deaths of Colin, Charlotte and Joy. When the plot reaches its climax in the coming days, a desperate John will end up on the edge of a hospital roof clutching baby Hope as a frantic Fiz watches on. Could there be more tragedy ahead? Jennie McAlpine, who plays Fiz, recently chatted to Digital Spy about the dramatic conclusion to the Stapes' storyline.
What are your thoughts on the John Stape saga finally coming to an end?
"Well, I've absolutely loved working with Graeme Hawley, who plays John. I never knew when he came here four years ago what it would be like and how long he'd stay, but I've made such a lovely friend and it's sad to think that I won't see him every day at work. So I am a bit sad about it!"
After so long being in the dark, Fiz is about to find out everything about John, isn't she?
"Yeah, it was very interesting to film. But the thing is, even when Fiz does find out the truth, it all comes out in a very John Stape way. He doesn't just sit Fiz down and tell her the whole story, it comes out in various stages and we're left to wonder what he'll tell her, what he won't, what she'll find out, what she won't and whether she'll catch him and whether she won't! So it all happens over a few episodes and then she finally finds out everything. We don't just see one showdown confession, there's a number of stages to it."
It must be a huge shock for Fiz when she finds John with Colin's body…
"Definitely. As Sunday's episode begins, Fiz has just walked into the factory where John has been trying to dig up Colin's body. The smell of the body is overpowering - then she spots that John has this rolled-up carpet and it becomes clear that there must be a dead thing inside. Then it all starts to come out. She later finds out about Chesney being in the cellar at the Hoyles' and the truth about Charlotte and Joy's deaths, but John does a runner. It all spirals out of control from there and I think it's a really good swan song for Graeme."
Once John has done a runner from the Hoyles', is it true that Fiz faces some difficult questions from the police?
"Yeah, we see that John has embroiled Fiz right in the middle of this now. The police turn up at the Hoyles' but John is not there, and they think that Fiz is as guilty as John. When I was filming it, I remember thinking that they did have a point and I could understand why they thought that! Obviously we all know that Fiz is innocent, but the police are sceptical and they ask, 'Are you really saying that you didn't know your husband had done all these things? You didn't know that he'd buried a man under the factory?' We all know that Fiz has been really naïve and blind to it, but the police certainly don't believe that."
The climax to the storyline is a huge showdown at the hospital, where John, Fiz and Hope are all on the roof. What was it like to film those scenes?
"We filmed the scenes at night so it was really dark, cold and windy!
The scenes were traumatic to film, really, as John is on the roof holding Hope, and Fiz is so frightened. He's right on the edge of the building, it's so high up and Fiz knows that he could fall at any moment - either accidentally or on purpose. Fiz is really scared - mainly for the baby, but at that point, I think there is still a part of her that loves John. She can't help but think, 'How did it come to this? We could have been so happy and it all would have been fine'. So it's traumatic and also really sad because of what's happened to their relationship."
There's been so many theories about what could happen to John, so do you think viewers could be in for a surprise?
"Yeah, definitely. And what I can say is that it doesn't end here. This is what Corrie does so brilliantly, as it's the end in one way, but in another way it's just the beginning. The storyline is ending in one respect because whatever happens to John, it'll be the end of him and Fiz as a couple and that family unit will never be the same again. But it's the start of some whole new stories which could run for months and years. So I think it'll be exciting stuff!"
Are you surprised by how popular John's become?
"Yeah, I am surprised in some ways but in other ways I'm not, because I think Graeme has played it so well, he's such a nice guy and I think that really comes across. Graeme's been able to make sure that John is liked in a way, so I'm not surprised over that. But I am surprised in another way because I don't think there's ever been someone who's committed this amount of crimes and had the majority of the viewers behind them. That's crazy! We don't hear anyone saying, 'Let's hang him' - at worst, they're neutral and don't mind either way. He didn't make the final four for 'Villain Of The Year' at the Soap Awards because people think he's too nice!"
Has this been your favourite storyline from your time at Corrie?
"I'd say so, but they've all been great and I'm sure if you ask me this next year, I'll say, 'Oh yeah, this one's my favourite!' But that's down to the fact that the writers and producers come up with such fab stories every time and I always enjoy them. With the John and Fiz storyline, I've enjoyed it all the more because I've got to work with Graeme and it's been a very memorable experience."
Do you think that Fiz deserves to be punished for stealing Joy Fishwick's inheritance?
"Well, I can't really stick up for her totally with that one! But she did do it in a desperate situation as John was in hospital, Hope was in hospital and when the man turned up on her doorstep asking whether she was Mrs Fishwick, she really didn't know what to do. She did do wrong but I'm not sure she should be punished as she'll soon be punished enough with a lot of other things. If Fiz was my friend, I'd be a character witness for her!"
John's storyline has had a real comedy aspect to it! Were the scenes funny to film?
"I don't know what you mean - it's very serious! (Laughs) No, the scenes have definitely been funny to film sometimes. But that's the great thing about the storyline - you can take it any way you want. Some people don't find it funny in any way, they just feel desperately sorry for Fiz and the situation she's in, so they don't see any humour in it. But there's also a lot of people who just think, 'Oh what's he like, that John?!" and they're finding it funny. With the scenes coming up with Fiz, John and the body at Underworld, it's very dramatic and serious, but at the same time he's crouched down with muck all over his face and holding a rolled-up carpet with a hand hanging out of it! That is funny, so it's a combination of the two and it caters for all tastes. There's definitely been a lot of black comedy in this storyline."
Chesney's had a lot of screen time lately, with this plot and the baby storyline. Are you glad that Sam's getting bigger storylines now?
"Yeah, definitely. Chesney has always been against John and he's always said to Fiz that he's a wrong'un, so he's been proved right at last! It's great. Sam's so grown-up now, he's not my 'little brother' anymore. It's great that he's doing his own things now. It looks like he could have his own family, he's flown the nest and he needs nothing from Fiz now!"
Should Fiz stay single for a while after everything that's happened with John?
"I think that would probably be wise! I think that would be a good idea - at least for a couple of episodes!"
Finally, as we know the police are suspicious of Fiz, will everyone turn against her on the street?
"I can tell you now that Fiz has quite a lot of support! It's only really the usual suspects who don't support her. I'm actually surprised by how many people support her. Everyone says, 'Oh no, not our Fiz! No, never!' I'm like Mother Theresa on that street!"
