Anna Windass & Owen Armstrong

[Perdita]

Former Coronation Street couple Anna Windass and Owen Armstrong face further turmoil next week as they are forced to face up to their bankruptcy.

After the bailiffs arrive to take their belongings, Owen (Ian Puleston-Davies) faces his darkest ever moment as the severity of the situation dawns on him. However, as Anna reaches out to him in his hour of need, it looks as if they might finally put their mistakes behind them and reunite.

Here, Debbie Rush - who plays Anna - discusses the latest drama for the family, and what's now in store for Anna and Owen.

Does Anna feel as though life is unravelling for her and the Windass/Armstrong clan?
"Yes she does. She feels as though nothing will ever feel the same again. I think Anna feels completely lost and just doesn't know what to think about her life or where to go from here."

Does Gary and Izzy's split inspire Anna and Owen to get back together?
"Not specifically, no. For Anna and Owen, their relationship is very different to Gary and Izzy's. Against all odds, Anna and Owen will always be completely and utterly in love with each other. Whatever happens between them, they'll always be drawn to one another."

Do you think Anna has forgiven Owen for his attitude towards her after he found out about her and Phelan?
"When we see the bailiffs tip up on the Street, I think Anna realises just how broken Owen is and it breaks her heart. They've tried everything to fix things between them but Anna just can't help herself forgive him and want to take him back. When she sees how broken he is, that's when she realises how much she loves him and wants to carry on supporting him."

How is Anna recovering in the wake of the Phelan trauma?
"I don't think Anna will ever fully get over what happened with Phelan. She will never ever forget what happened and what she had to sacrifice to save her family. In a way she deeply regrets what she did but then she knows she had to do what she could and she'd do whatever it took again if she had to in order to save her family. I think part of the problem that she had with Owen, before he found out about her and Phelan, was that the thought of being near a man made her sick to her stomach. I think that will take a while for her to get past."

Is she determined to stick with Owen?
"Absolutely. Once they both admit how much they love and need one another, Anna is more determined than ever to stick by him and help him through it. That's who Anna is - she would go to the ends of the earth for her family and for Owen, even when they weren't together she would have done anything for him."

How are they feeling about the prospect of bankruptcy?
"It seems to be one thing after another for the family at the minute but I think Anna knows they'll get through the other side if they all stick together. I think after everything that's happened for Anna this is one more thing they're going to have to struggle to get through. Her main worry is keeping the house - she wants Faye to have as much stability as possible, so losing the house would devastate them."

How does she feel when Faye lets the bailiffs in and they start taking stuff? Did she not think to tell Faye not to let anyone in?
"Owen has warned Gary that they may be getting a visit from the bailiffs soon and that they need to be really careful. Gary was at home with Faye on the day the bailiffs turned up, but he'd nipped to the corner shop. Faye's only young and she's thinking about other things when Gary tells her not to open the door - obviously Anna's been trying to keep the seriousness of what's going on hidden from Faye so I don't think she understands how serious Gary's warning is. Anna and Owen come home to find things being taken from the home and they are completely horrified. I think Anna's devastated that Faye's had to watch their home being taken apart."

So do they just watch their possessions being taken?
"There's not much more that they can do. Gary's tried to order them out but they've refused unless they get what they are owed. Owen is deeply ashamed and I think Anna's hurting so much for the whole family."

Why does Anna refuse the help from Sally and Tim when they offer to have Faye stay with them for a while?
"Anna and Owen are so proud and Anna's extremely determined to keep everything together and keep Faye where she is and have everything as normal as possible. She doesn't want to admit defeat and the last person she'd want to accept help from is Sally."

Anna is a very proud person - how does she face up to having to go to the food bank?
"She is a very proud person, but she's proud of her family and she'd go to the ends of the earth for them - she's already proven that. If the only way she can feed the family is by going to a food bank then so be it. Anna doesn't want the rest of the family to know though, as she knows it would break their heart that she'd had to go to such measures - so she deals with it on her own."

Does she worry about how these problems are affecting Faye?
"Massively. With everything going on, it's been impossible for Anna to keep as tight a rein on Faye as she usually would and for once she's ever so slightly taken her eye off the ball. But once Anna and Owen are back together, Anna knows she has to pull rank and keep everyone together and keep Faye sheltered from everything that's going on as much as possible."

What does the future hold for the Windasses?
"They are far from being out of the woods yet and have a long way to go before they reach normality again, but I think now Anna and Owen have reunited they have much more of a chance of getting back to normal."

[Perdita]

Coronation Street actor Ian Puleston-Davies has announced that he is leaving the soap.

The actor began playing builder Owen Armstrong in 2010 and is expected to star in his own play in summer 2015.

"Next year I will have been playing Owen Armstrong for five years and it felt like a good point to move on," the 56-year-old told The Sun.

"I have returned to my writing and in 2015 hope to put on a new play. But I'd never rule out returning to the role of Owen at some point."

Producer Stuart Blackburn is yet to reveal how Owen will exit Weatherfield but said: "We wish Ian all the very best and there is still a lot of fantastic drama to come for him before he leaves."

Meanwhile, Owen's ex-wife is set to be introduced to the soap in the near future, delving into their past with daughters Izzy and Katy.


Poor Anna and Faye ...

[swmc66]

That's a shame I thought they made a nice couple

[Perdita]

Coronation Street producer Stuart Blackburn has warned that Owen Armstrong will be seen "in a different light" in the build-up to his exit from Weatherfield.

Owen will bow out on screen in the summer as actor Ian Puleston-Davies has decided to leave the role.

Puleston-Davies is expected to film his final scenes in March, but show bosses still have some dramatic stories lined up for him as his ex-wife Linda will soon arrive in Weatherfield, played by former EastEnders actress Jacqueline Leonard.

Owen has told his daughters Izzy and Katy that Linda walked out on them because she couldn't cope with them as children, but as the storyline develops, it becomes clear that he may not have told them the whole truth.

The former builder will also be facing other family dramas when Faye Windass - the adopted daughter of his partner Anna - discovers that she is pregnant at the age of just 12.

Speaking at a Coronation Street press event this week, Blackburn revealed: "Owen's story will be heartbreaking. The minute Linda steps back, Anna realises how much he loved her back then, which goes against what he's told her.

"Izzy has grown up thinking, 'The reason my daddy is crying is because I am disabled and mummy can't cope', but that's not the truth.

"Everyone will see Owen in a very different light - his reactions to Faye's pregnancy will cause a lot of problems. Once Anna realises that Faye is pregnant, she won't have time to deal with this petulant, selfish man - it will be all Faye, Faye, Faye."

Katy (Georgia May Foote) is also leaving the Street this year after show bosses decided to write out the character.

Blackburn added: "Katy will become involved with Callum, but of course that won't end well and her exit will tie in with what happens between Owen and Linda and Linda leaving again."

[lizann]

as usual turn a character bad and unlikeable before they leave

[parkerman]

as usual turn a character bad and unlikeable before they leave

To be fair, he was bad and unlikeable when he arrived. It's the bit in between where he's been different.

[mariba]

So they are copying Emmerdale with Emma Barton storyline..kind of..I hope Owen goes because he realizes that he never loved Anna(and also tells her that! ) and gets back with his ex. I want nothing but heartbreak for Anna from now on I bet she'll go knocking on Roy's door then! I so dislike Anna more and more each week. I wish it was her going instead.

[swmc66]

Personally I hope Owen does not betray her in that way...although I don't like her much. She has done a lot for him and his family and supported him through his bankruptcy, Phelan, stopped him burning the place down etc

[Dazzle]

Personally I hope Owen does not betray her in that way...although I don't like her much. She has done a lot for him and his family and supported him through his bankruptcy, Phelan, stopped him burning the place down etc

I used to like Anna but can't stand her now (nor Owen). Frankly, I just wish they'd all leave (except Gary who's been bearable lately).

[lizann]

To be fair, he was bad and unlikeable when he arrived. It's the bit in between where he's been different.

but he will become extra bad and unlikeable to facilitate his exit