Bethany, Mel and Shona, What lies ahead?

Just like everyone else, I was delighted to hear the guilty verdicts for Nathan, Neil and crew. I did though want to hear for how long they were sentenced and to hear the words, ‘Take them down.’ Still, there was a beautifully touching moment, after the verdict, when Bethany and Sarah hugged each other for a long time, because, with Nathan and crew locked away, their involvement in her life is over. The relief was palpable and justice was done. Nathan, Neil and the crew will endure long sentences and, for now, the girls they might have captured and abused are safe, at least from them. A vacuum has been created though, and it won’t and can’t be long before it’s filled. That’s life, sadly.

Bethany over time, will hopefully recover. It won’t be easy and it won’t be quick When Bethany said she was ‘lucky’ in court and the barrister tried to distort her meaning, we know what she meant. She was lucky in the sense that she had a supportive family. Mel doesn’t have a supportive family and Nathan was quick to point out, that whereas Bethany did have a family who love her, that was not the case for Mel. Hardened as she seems, she was still in thrall to Nathan: obedient to him, terrified of him and totally used by him, believing herself to be in love with him.

Mel’s circumstances are nowhere near as favourable as Bethany’s. Will we hear about her again? Will we find out if Mel can recover? In time, might she and Bethany gain strength from each other? Of the three girls, Mel is the least fortunate. We have heard nothing of any family ties. Our last sighting of her was when she had a change of heart and let Bethany out of the car in which she’d tried to kidnap her, in order to prevent her giving evidence in court against Nathan, Neil and co. So, what now for Mel? Where will she go? How will she earn a living? Does she have friends she can turn to? She is the most damaged of the three girls and it’s my sense that she will take a long time to recover. She’ll surely come to realise just how much she has been abused and used and perhaps those people who work with abused women will help her – but, first of all, Mel will have to have the courage to present herself. I don’t believe she is a bad person – just someone who was absorbed into Nathan’s sick world. She believed that the manipulative, exploitative Nathan actually loved her, rather than seeing the reality that Nathan loved just 2 things – money and himself.

And what of Shona? Shona seems to me to be a different kind of female. She and David seem to be going well. That Shona is Clayton’s mother, is not something either of them can forget. David’s feelings for Shona seem strong; strong enough to overcome the fact that she is Clayton’s mother. They seem well suited. Shona makes an effort with Max and Lily, which must warm David’s heart. Perhaps because she is older than Bethany and more aware of how the world works, as well as having given birth aged 13, Shona appears to be made of tough stuff. She showed her good heartedness when she tried to rescue Bethany, and was in no doubt what the consequences would be if found out – namely, a good beating by 2 of Nathan’s henchmen. There is though the threat of Clayton’s father hanging over her and his knowledge that she won a reasonable amount of money. He does seem a threatening individual, and I’m certain we’ll see more of him. I can’t leave this post without a mention of Lara. !4 years old – exploited and abused. Nathan had made her life so unbearable, that at her tender age, she can bear life no more, and jumps in front of a train.

By Ruth Owen, Twitter: @ruth1722

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

The Light and the Dark on the Cobbles

(This post was originally posted by Ruth Owen on the Coronation Street Blog in October 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

First of all, the light...

This stunning piece of comedy gold represents much needed light on the cobbles. It concerns Liz and her belief that Peter and Toyah have invited her back to serve behind the bar at The Rovers.Peter has sent a note to Steve asking him to come back to the pub after he was barred. The problem is that Peter assumed that Steve would receive the note but hadn't considered its ambiguous nature, nor the possibility that Liz would get hold of it and assume she was invited back.

Bouyed up by Tyrone's comment that a bit of glamour was needed behind th bear and the Liz, had 'still got it' Liz handed in her notice at The Medical Centre in readiness to take up her job offer at the Rovers.

Launching herself behind the bar, she thrusts her bag at Peter and gets stuck in. She informs her new employers that she is doing a 'freebie' as she transitions'  into her old role.

Toyah blames Peter for the mix up and tells him he should be the one to let liz know of the misunderstanding . Peter tries to worm his way out of it by flattering Toyah, telling her that she is braver than he is. So, reluctantly, Toyah has a go and fails spectacularly. Liz is so excited to be back 'in her own pond' that Toyah cannot get a word in. As she tries to tell Liz that there has been no job offer, Liz interrupts, glowing with happiness, 'Can I just say that I feel I've come home.' and 'Im so happy to be back behind the bar, where I belong.' An exasperated Toyah gives up.

The brilliance of the piece stems from Beverley Callard's excellent comic timing. Once again, I have to repeat that in the soaps, and in Corrie in particular, some of the acting is as good as any to be found on the stage in the West End.

Now to the dark...

Mel has successfully gained access to the Platt household. At first it was hard to tell if her need was genuine, but after a call to Nathan, in his prison cell, awaiting trial, and the words, 'Im in' all confusion ends.

So should we pity Mel or should we despise her for her playing on Bethany's sweet nature, naivety and gullibility? Mel is clearly captured under  Nathan's spell and her manipulation of Bethany is an attempt to stop Bethany giving evidence against those who so vilely abused her.

Mel, is an interesting character in that she must realise what Nathan does, how he tricks girls into abuse by telling them he loves thank and that by sleeping with his friends, the girl is making him happy. It is a twisted, distorted world, but because Nathan is such an arch manipulator and, on the surface, initially, an attentive boyfriend, who claims to be in love with the girl. Surely then Mel knows this, yet seems willing to be duped by Nathan again, believing that he loves her. Just how damaged is Mel?

When Bethany tells Mel how foolish she was to believe that Nathan loved her and how long it took her to realise that he was merely using her, an agonising expression crossed Mel's face, suggesting that she does actually know, deep down that he is using her, but damaged as she is, has to believe it's true. It is chilling to see the wreckage that a man such as Nathan can create,

There is though, for the viewer the safety net that villains in soap operas always get their comeuppance. Heartbreakingly, in the real world, I suspect that in the majority of cases, there exists no such safety net.


By Ruth Owen, twitter: @ruth1722  

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Sonia Ibrahim Interview: Mel's return to Coronation Street

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog September 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)


How did you first feel when you heard that Mel was going to come back to the street?
I was obviously very happy but I knew that there would be some kind of intention behind it from Mel. But even though there is a reason why she is back, it is good that all of Mel’s story comes out and the Platts get to know everything about her.

What happens in that first moment Bethany sees that Mel’s back?
Mel has been homeless for a while so when she sees Bethany, she's desperate to speak to her. Bethany knows what Mel has done so obviously she doesn't like her and she wants to phone the police but Mel manages to persuade her to invite her into the Platts' to hear her side of the story.

What is Sarah’s reaction when Mel first comes back?
She probably wants to hit her and to go for her since she's put her daughter through all that. But Bethany persuades Sarah to at least let Mel talk.

Why does Bethany agree to talk to Mel after everything?
Bethany is trying to continuously open Mel’s eyes to how brainwashed she is. Bethany keeps asking her to come to court because she needs her help; Lara is not a reliable witness and Mel knows more so she can help to put Nathan away.

What’s Mel’s reaction to that?
Definitely deep down Mel knows that it’s right and that she should do it. There’s always the to-and-fro in her mind of whether she should go to court but that little voice in her head, which is Nathan, is just niggling away at her, saying, ‘No, do what I want, do what I want!’.

What is it about Mel’s backstory that makes us understand why she is the way she is?
At first Bethany doesn't know what Mel has been through and tells Mel not to play the victim so that’s when Mel says she’s had it worse. She says that she's taken beatings for Bethany and explains she was Nathan’s first with all this stuff and it just escalated. Mel still thinks that she's his one true love - she's been through a lot, a lot more than anyone realises.

How has it been playing such a complex character with the backstory looming over her?
At times it is challenging to get into that mindset but it’s been really good to play the different sides of Mel and have such a character arc in the story. You've seen a massive journey for her and I've really enjoyed playing that.

Have you found that viewers are understanding her a lot more?
Yeah, definitely. I have noticed that people are warming to her because they can see that there’s something with her. People can see that she's very manipulated.

Have you had anyone coming up to you in the streets?
The thing people always say is, ‘You really look like that girl in Coronation Street’, and I’m like, ‘Yeah, it’s me’, but everyone’s been really nice.

What’s it been like working with the Platts?
Ever since I started working with Lucy we have formed a really lovely friendship and she's just such a nice girl. We have bonded and that’s good when you're working so close with somebody, especially on a storyline like this when it does get quite dark because it’s nice to be able to have those uplifting moments in-between. Working with the Platts like Tina, Helen and Sue has been so much fun on set. Sometimes I just stand there and watch because I am still new to it and it’s interesting to see how everyone does the different things and how their characters get to where they get to.

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Sonia Ibrahim Interview: Mel's return to Coronation Street

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog August 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)


How did you first feel when you heard that Mel was going to come back to the street?
I was obviously very happy but I knew that there would be some kind of intention behind it from Mel. But even though there is a reason why she is back, it is good that all of Mel’s story comes out and the Platts get to know everything about her.

What happens in that first moment Bethany sees that Mel’s back?
Mel has been homeless for a while so when she sees Bethany, she's desperate to speak to her. Bethany knows what Mel has done so obviously she doesn't like her and she wants to phone the police but Mel manages to persuade her to invite her into the Platts' to hear her side of the story.

What is Sarah’s reaction when Mel first comes back?
She probably wants to hit her and to go for her since she's put her daughter through all that. But Bethany persuades Sarah to at least let Mel talk.

Why does Bethany agree to talk to Mel after everything?
Bethany is trying to continuously open Mel’s eyes to how brainwashed she is. Bethany keeps asking her to come to court because she needs her help; Lara is not a reliable witness and Mel knows more so she can help to put Nathan away.

What’s Mel’s reaction to that?
Definitely deep down Mel knows that it’s right and that she should do it. There’s always the to-and-fro in her mind of whether she should go to court but that little voice in her head, which is Nathan, is just niggling away at her, saying, ‘No, do what I want, do what I want!’.

What is it about Mel’s backstory that makes us understand why she is the way she is?
At first Bethany doesn't know what Mel has been through and tells Mel not to play the victim so that’s when Mel says she’s had it worse. She says that she's taken beatings for Bethany and explains she was Nathan’s first with all this stuff and it just escalated. Mel still thinks that she's his one true love - she's been through a lot, a lot more than anyone realises.

How has it been playing such a complex character with the backstory looming over her?
At times it is challenging to get into that mindset but it’s been really good to play the different sides of Mel and have such a character arc in the story. You've seen a massive journey for her and I've really enjoyed playing that.

Have you found that viewers are understanding her a lot more?
Yeah, definitely. I have noticed that people are warming to her because they can see that there’s something with her. People can see that she's very manipulated.

Have you had anyone coming up to you in the streets?
The thing people always say is, ‘You really look like that girl in Coronation Street’, and I’m like, ‘Yeah, it’s me’, but everyone’s been really nice.

What’s it been like working with the Platts?
Ever since I started working with Lucy we have formed a really lovely friendship and she's just such a nice girl. We have bonded and that’s good when you're working so close with somebody, especially on a storyline like this when it does get quite dark because it’s nice to be able to have those uplifting moments in-between. Working with the Platts like Tina, Helen and Sue has been so much fun on set. Sometimes I just stand there and watch because I am still new to it and it’s interesting to see how everyone does the different things and how their characters get to where they get to.

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Sonia Ibrahim on being starstruck at Coronation Street

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog June 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)


Sonia Ibrahim, who plays Mel in Coronation Street, is interviewed by fans in this week's Inside Soap magazine. 

She answers questions which Corrie fans have sent in to the magazine and she comes across really nicely.  She says that she was really starstruck when she first started work on the show.

"I was excited by everyone on my first day. Every time I saw someone I'd say "Oh my God, that's Peter Barlow!" or "Oh my God, that's David Platt!". But the actors who left me most starstruck were people like Bill Roache (who plays Ken Barlow) because he's the centre of old-school Corrie, isn't he?"

Asked which former Corrie characters she would bring back if she had the chance she said Tina McIntyre and Becky McDonald.

And if she could play anyone else on Corrie for a day, it would have to be Eva. "I think she's great. She's so feisty and is a very strong woman who has that girl power and independence about her. It'd be very cool to work in the Rovers Return too!".

Sonia recently got engaged at Manchester Town Hall. You can read more on that here.

See also: Sonia Ibrahim reveals why Mel can't help Bethany

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Sonia Ibrahim reveals why Mel can't help Bethany

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog April 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

There's an interview this week in the fab Inside Soap magazine, with Sonia Ibrahim, who plays Mel in Coronation Street. She's always lurking, that Mel one, isn't she? Always lurking around a corner, listening and not saying much, not speaking out, now helping Bethany.

Why not?

Well, Sonia says this to Inside Soap: "Deep down, Mel loves Nathan. She hopes he will come back to her. She's petrified of him and jealous of Bethany because deep down, she loves him.

"Mel is actually being just as manipulated as Bethany is. She has been abused by Nathan so she knows what he is capable of and how scary he is. But in her eyes, he did save her from a terrible upbringing - even though he didn't make life any better with the things he did to her."

Sonia says we'll definitely start to see a more human side to Mel as Bethany's story progresses. "Nathan tells her that if Bethany isn't there, she'll take her place and Mel doesn't want to go back to that."

She also reveals that as part of the research for this horrible storyline she went to the Escape Charity launch where she listened to stories from survivors which broke her heart.

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Corrie actress gets engaged at Manchester Town Hall

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog May 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Photo: Instagram/SoniaI89

Coronation Street's Sonia Ibrahim, who plays Mel Maguire in the show, got engaged this week. Sonia posted pictures of the proposal on her Instagram page.

Sonia told the Manchester Evening News: “I’m so happy to be engaged. He is my best friend as well as my partner and we’re excited to spend the rest of our lives together! Without going into too much detail, he took me to Manchester Town Hall pretending we were supposed to be trying a new restaurant in there.

“Upstairs is a beautiful space which they call 'The Bees' where we stood talking. He then surprised me by getting down on his knee with the ring in his hand. I burst into tears and of course said yes!"

She added that we will see more of a human and emotional side to Mel as we see what is happening to Bethany.

She said: “It’s not right and Mel knows it’s not but Mel is torn. Nathan says to Mel that if Bethany isn’t there then she will be taking her place and she knows that and doesn’t want to go back to that. As much as Mel doesn’t want to do these things, she is petrified of that.”

Read more Corrie news and spoilers here

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

What's Mel hiding? Corrie's Sonia Ibrahim reveals all

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog April 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

What's Mel hiding behind the counter at the tanning salon, we wonder?

Actor Sonia Ibrahim, who plays Mel, has revealed why her character hasn’t warned or helped Bethany.

In an exclusive interview with Metro, Sonia says: "I knew from the beginning that Mel had a history with Nathan in the same way as what is happening to Bethany so I knew when taking on the role that she had been his victim,” the actress told the Metro.

“The things that she is doing for Nathan are to try save herself so she doesn’t have to go back there and do those things.

“That’s definitely her biggest fear – Mel knows exactly what Nathan is capable of because she has been through it all. She doesn’t want to be on that end of it; she’d rather stay on this end of it.”

"She feels really bad; as the scenes go on, you see a bit more of a human side to Mel".

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter