Leanne Battersby

Coronation Street star Jane Danson has tipped her character Leanne Barlow to bounce back from her upcoming troubles.

Leanne's world is about to be ripped apart as she discovers her husband Peter's (Chris Gascoyne) affair with Carla Connor (Alison King) in dramatic scenes at Frank Foster's rape trial.

Danson told The People that she is excited over the latest heartbreak faced by her alter ego.

"She has had a dramatic couple of years but I'm not complaining," the actress explained. "The writers have come up with some amazing stuff and I trust them completely.

"It will be interesting to see what she does and how she copes with the situation with [Peter's son] Simon. She is a survivor, though, so whatever happens, she'll get through it."

Asked whether Leanne could forgive Peter, Danson replied: "Some people may think she should, but I don't think she can - even though she cheated on Peter with Nick.

"But it may not matter as Peter also has to make a choice between her and Carla. The affair has hurt Leanne incredibly and for it to be exposed so publicly is awful. There are lots of different twists to come in the next few weeks."

Coronation Street continues tonight at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV1.

Coronation Street star Bill Roache has admitted that he is keen to see more turmoil for the Barlow clan.

The actor's character Ken recently kicked adoptive daughter Tracy (Kate Ford) out of the family home after Becky McDonald's revenge saw the schemer's true colours revealed.

Meanwhile, more drama is expected to play out over the coming days as Ken's son Peter (Chris Gascoyne) deals with the consequences of his affair with Carla Connor being exposed.

Roache told Loose Women today: "Long may it reign! Dysfunctionality is the order of the day! I'm not responsible for Tracy's genes - that's Deirdre and Ray Langton. But I'm afraid for Peter's genes, I am!

"Peter, going way back, he's a bigamist, an alcoholic, an adulterer. You name it, he's done it."

Discussing Tracy, he continued: "She is a one - and a half! And that will carry on. She is unbelievable, really, what she does. Deirdre certainly feels for her, and Ken does occasionally. When she got married, Ken thought it was all going to be lovely, but then he discovered what she'd done. It's great stories."

The 79-year-old, who has been with Coronation Street since episode one in 1960, added that he wants to be part of the drama on the cobbles for some time to come.

He explained: "People say, 'When are you going to retire?' I say, 'It's not an option'. While they want me and while I can do it, I will carry on."

i hope peter and carla leave and leanne keeps simon

I thought Frank would get away with it , Frank gets off with it but he must get his sometime .. sally next for the Frank treatment ? I really do hope so shes another that her comeuppance. As for greeting face leanne she can take Freddie Parrot Face Davie's kid with her ..

I hope Leanne returns soon and fights for custody of Simon

Coronation Street star Jane Danson has promised that there are dramatic scenes on the way when her character Leanne Barlow returns to Weatherfield.

Leanne fled from the area earlier this month after finding out that husband Peter (Chris Gascoyne) had been cheating on her with Carla Connor (Alison King).

Viewers will see Leanne arrive back later this month, hoping to pick up some of her belongings. However, when her stepson Simon falsely claims that Carla has been hitting him, Leanne feels compelled to stick around on the cobbles - and has an angry showdown with the troubled businesswoman.

Danson told All About Soap: "Leanne finds Carla at the factory and basically knocks seven bells out of her. The old Leanne comes out now and then - she's just protecting someone who she loves very much. She thinks if you can't settle it with words, then you settle it with your fists.

"She knows that children embellish things, but it's music to her ears, really. It's an awful thing to accuse someone of, and she sees it as a great way to prove that Carla isn't right for Peter. It's the perfect revenge for what Carla's done to her family. She definitely doesn't apologise after she discovers Simon was lying."

The actress added that Leanne still wants to take Simon away from Peter even after Carla's innocence has been revealed.

"Whether that's just away from them or out of Weatherfield, I don't know," she said. "Either way, she's decided that Peter and Carla are going to have a fight on their hands over Simon.

"She can see that whatever happens between her and Peter, Simon is just a little boy who's caught in the middle and really needs looking after."

Coronation Street airs Leanne's comeback episode on Friday, February 24 at 8.30pm on ITV1.

There's some excellent news from this week's Inside Soap magazine about an upcoming custody battle for the Barlows.

Leanne and Peter look set to go head-to-head in the battle for little Simon and it's all going to kick off soon. First, Peter asks Carla to pick up Simon from school where he lashes out at her, kicking and screaming all the way home. Stella rings Leanne to tell her what's happened and Leanne returns to the cobbles determined to get Simon away from Carla.

Also, Inside Soap reveals that in the coming weeks little Simon tells Leanne that Carla's been hitting him. My guess is this is just Simon acting out his rage against Carla - but who knows if Carla would have it in her to hit a little kid, especially if she's been drinking and in a rage?

With Leanne gunning for Peter and Carla, the magazine says that a custody battle will be on the cards - and what a court case it could be. Leanne could drag up Peter's alcoholism and bigamy and Peter can drag up Leanne's prostitution and drug taking past. It could be an exciting storyline, with poor little Simon in the middle of it all.

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Originally Posted by alan45

what a court case it could be.

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Or, in keeping with Corrie's view of the law, they could just fight out a duel on the Red Rec.

But how could Leanne have any claim on Simon when she is not his real mother? Oh sorry forgot this is Corrie where they let a convicted murderer go free, so anything is possible.

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Originally Posted by ellie2

But how could Leanne have any claim on Simon when she is not his real mother? Oh sorry forgot this is Corrie where they let a convicted murderer go free, so anything is possible.

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Didnt Leanne legally adopt Simon at some stage?