Sally Ann Matthews, Brooke Vincent premiere their new thriller film

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog January 2018, reposted to this blog with permission.)



Coronation Street's Brooke Vincent (Sophie Webster) and Sally Ann Matthews (Jenny flaming Bradley / Connor) have launched their new thriller film in which they play mother and daughter.

This week they attended the premiere of the film, which was set and shot in Manchester, called Chapter 1:Liv 53Two on Albion Street in Manchester.

Brooke plays Liv a young woman who wakes up three weeks after an almost fatal car accident and her mum, played by Sally Ann, tries to help her remember exactly what happened. But what she soon discovers is that some things are maybe best left forgotten.

The Manchester Evening News have some wonderful pictures from the premiere. You can view them all here.

Chapter 1: Liv will be released at film festivals this year before being made available online in 2019 and pre-production for the next in the Liv series is already underway.

Find out more by following  @chapter1livfilm on Twitter.

Read more Corrie news, interviews, gossip and spoilers  

---

Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Brooke Vincent on Sophie, #Kana and Dancing on Ice

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog January 2018, reposted to this blog with permission.)


Brooke Vincent, who plays Sophie Webster in Coronation Street, was interviewed on ITV's Loose Women today about her move from the street to the skating rink. Brooke will be starring in Dancing on Ice which begins this coming Sunday on ITV.

She talks to Loose Women about the training for Dancing on Ice which is proving difficult as she's been covered in bruises from falling over all the time.

Brooke also talks about taking a break from Corrie to do Dancing on Ice. She mentioned that her character Sophie goes after Kate, but can't understand why Kate isn't as struck on this idea as Sophie is. Obviously, we know that Kate is after Rana, but Sophie is none the wiser.

---

Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Sally-Ann Matthews and Brooke Vincent star in new film

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

Photography by Matt Bester

Last week we brought you the news that Coronation Street cast members were starring in a new film. You can read more on that here.

And now we can bring you some more news on the project with publicity pictures too.  The short film is called ‘Chapter 1: Liv’and it's an independent production written and directed by Dominic Stephenson. 

The film is a thriller with Brooke Vincent starring as Liv and Sally-Ann Matthews starring as mum.  When Liv wakes up three weeks after an almost fatal car accident, her mum tries to help her remember exactly what happened. What she soon discovers is that some things maybe better left forgotten.

The cast list also includes Simon Naylor (Dane Hibbs from Coronation Street) and Adam Blease (aka Dirk not Kirk) who will be in the film in a supporting artist role. Also in the film are actors Dan Cunningham, Chloe Ephraim, Rachel Wilde and Chloe Bodkin.

Filmed on location in Manchester, the film is due for release in early 2018.

Twitter:- @chapter1livfilm
Facebook:- @chapter1livfilm
Instagram:- Chapter 1: Liv - Film

---

Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Coronation Street cast star in new film

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


Sally Ann Matthews (Jenny Bradley) and Brooke Vincent (Sophie Webster) are starring in a new, short film called Chapter 1: Liv, and it's a thriller.

The film is written by Dominic Stevenson and you can follow the film adventure on twitter at https://twitter.com/chapter1livfilm

The title role of Liv will be played by Brooke Vincent and Sally Ann Matthews will play the role of mum.

Also in the play is actor Simon Naylor, who plays Dane Hibbs in Coronation Street (Clayton's dad and Shona's ex fella).

In addition, Coronation Street extra Adam Blease (aka Dirk not Kirk) will be in the film in a supporting artist role.

---

Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Sisters Reunited: Brooke Vincent reveals her part in Helen Flanagan's return to Corrie

(This post was originally posted by Stevie Dawson on the Coronation Street Blog in January 2016, reposted to this blog with permission.)

During last week's Weatherfield visit Stevie Dawson sat down with a cup of tea and some sandwiches in the Rovers with Brooke Vincent, who is returning to Coronation Street after a short stint in the theatre. Here's what she had to share:

Can you talk us through how Sophie returns?

It’s quite a funny scene actually, she gets out of the car and says hello to everybody and they see all these cases in the road, and then Rosie appears. So I bring her back with me. It’s a surprise for everybody else.

What’s it like having Helen Flanagan back?

It’s good, we’ve been messing about! Even though I was only away for a short time it’s nice to come back with somebody and me and Helen have obviously known each other for a very long time, she’s great, she’s good to have back. We are a bit like how our characters are written, we are very different.

Did you two stay in touch when she was away and what was your reaction when she said she’s coming back?

Well we stayed in touch but we didn’t get chance to see each other very often. As for coming back, I kind of had a conversation with her before I was leaving and she said I’d love to come back so I kind of told Kate (Oates) and then that was the last I heard of it. Then she rang me and I’d heard something so I asked her if she was coming back and she said yes darling Kate rang me and I was like oh that’s good then!

Kevin’s going through a bit of a tough patch at the moment with the garage but the Websters have always seemed to stick together. And Tim hasn’t met Rosie yet, so what’s the new dynamic like and how will that continue?

It’s like my mum having this daughter and then she comes in like a whirlwind, and that’s basically what Rosie is. Tim obviously has Sally who’s completely different to Sophie who’s completely different to Rosie so I think – obviously Joe (Duttine) loves Helen but character-wise I don’t think they know yet where they stand. But it is funny to watch.

What does Helen Flanagan bring to the show, as a person?

I don’t know whether I’m going to describe this very well (everyone laughs) but we had a scene the other day, and because she’s funny, she’s flouncing about and she’s a very ditzy character, and you’ve got me and Sally and Kevin who can be quite serious, it gives it different levels. It’s what families are. I’ve missed having her around, we did grow up together. It’s really nice to see Helen really happy and settled.

We know that Rosie brings trouble with her, how does Sophie react when she realises there’s sh*t going on?

Sophie doesn’t suspect anything, and neither does Rosie. You can tell because of how different the characters are and how differently we react, that the same situation wouldn’t have happened if it was Sophie living in the US. Rosie was always going to be trouble, but she’s away with the faries so doesn’t realise how much trouble we are in.

Photo credit: Metro newspaper

What reason do they give for coming back?

I was always coming back and Rosie misses Weatherfield.

Rachel Newton: I think later we realise for Rosie that life isn’t what it’s cracked up to be and things haven’t really worked out that well.

Did you ever think about permanently leaving Corrie?

No. Because of doing it from such a young age, you see this as normal. When it came up for me to do a play, it was nice to be able to do that and come back. This is like my home. Hopefully in a few years I’ll maybe go and do it again.

Do you think doing live theatre has improved you as an actor?

You’d have to ask other people! It’s very different. What I learned is that I actually know quite a lot about TV work, which I never thought I did I thought I just breezed through life. I used to constantly change myself because of a camera being there, or adjust another person or stand in a certain way. So hopefully I am a bit better.

If you did want a change, what would be the first thing you would look at doing?

Ummm, well I really enjoyed radio, because I could be me. I had more input in it. (Brooke guest presented on Key103).

Rosie is probably going to dominate most of the storylines now you are back, do you know what’s coming up for you, in terms of relationships or do you have any inkling of any upcoming storylines?

No I’ve not seen Kate (Oates) yet but I’m quite happy just being with Helen for now. As much as se says I’m her safety blanket she’s kind of mine too. When we were growing up she took a lot of the brunt of fame and I learned from her. I’m not in a rush to say I want my character to be doing ‘this’.

Do you hope they re-explore the Sophie and Kate dynamics?

I didn’t mind that storyline. For me personally, I get very arsey about this, but I think because I’m lesbian in the show, not everything I do should be about being a lesbian. It doesn’t need to be written about every time I do a scene ‘oh she’s a lesbian’ we are moving forward as a generation and you want it to be normal, we’ve said it and that’s that. There’s more to people than their sexuality. Have I said all that correct? (Everyone laughs).

If Sophie leaves the garage, where would you like her to go?

Well we (Rosie and Sophie) start window cleaning. So we’re like the Chuckle Brothers. I stand there doing all the work, obviously. It’s funny so we’re obviously enjoying playing that.

@StevieDawson 




NEW! Coronation Street Blog - the book.
A must for all Corrie fans!

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Corrie stars visit patients at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog December 2016, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Jennie McAlpine (Fiz Stape), Antony Cotton (Sean Tully) and Brooke Vincent (Sophie Webster) were among soap visiting Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital this week.  The soap stars were there to hand out presents to some of the hospital’s poorliest patients and to sprinkle a bit of festive cheer.

Jennie, Antony and Brooke spent time on Ward 84, the children’s cancer ward at the hospital, which looks after young patients with the condition from across the whole of the North West, before saying hello to patients on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.

The hospital’s young patients and their families were delighted to meet their favourite soapstars, who handed out presents and chatted to the young children.

Long-term patron Antony commented: “Visiting the Children’s Hospital at Christmas time is always one of my favourite times of the year. Meeting the patients and their families is always humbling, heart-warming and a huge privilege and is something I cherish as a patron of Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity.”

The support of Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity means that the hospital can provide additional resources that make life easier for patients and their families who use the hospital.



Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Be My Baby - a review of the play starring Brooke Vincent

(This post was originally posted by Ruth Owen on the Coronation Street Blog in September 2016, reposted with permission.)



What a treat it was to be at The Lowry in Media City last night to see Be My Baby, a play written by Amanda Whittington and featuring none other than Brooke Vincent who plays Sophie Webster on the cobbles.

If any of you are familiar with The Lowry, the play was staged in The Quays Theatre - relatively small, but which lends itself to a certain intimacy between actors and audience. There was not one spare seat.

The play is an absolute joy: witty, poignant and with some terrific music of the best decade for music - the 60s of course. It is 1964 and  the play opens with the main character, Mary Elizabeth Adams, sitting on the floor of her bedroom, listening to the wonderful Dusty Springfield track  'I Just Don't Know What to do with Myself'  on her portable record player. She is clearly pregnant and about to leave her comfortable middle class home for a stay in a mother and baby home until the baby is born and swiftly adopted. An unmarried mother and a grammar school girl to boot - she must be removed from her education and her home, her condition kept a secret from her father to avoid the shame of what she has done.

Brooke plays the part of Queenie - a tough, streetwise girl, often seen dragging on a fag in order to confirm her coolness, plus the frequent witty retort to the more naïve girls in the home, dreaming of the weddings they will (probably not) have, backed by the Dixie Cups singing 'Going to the Chapel'. It is also revealed that Queenie has been here before, in the same situation and so already has given birth once. Her previous experience of childbirth also helps place Queenie apart from the other girls. She is a girl with a past, a girl who knows the ropes, a veteran at this baby business and is possibly a little embittered at her fate.

The girls in the home are ruled with a rod of iron, wielded by Matron, played brilliantly by Ruth Madoc, of He de Hi fame. She is, as we later discover, a matron with a tender heart but nevertheless keen to avoid sentimentality, and never will she swerve form the fact that the babies, once born, WILL be adopted.

Attitudes of respectability, maintaining appearances, keeping up with the Jones's, trust in the police, the government, the law, the Establishment in short, are all brilliantly conveyed, especially by Mary Adams' mother, the embodiment of respectability and conventionality, who believes no woman is worth her salt unless she can do proper corners on a bed. It may have been the Swinging Sixties in London, but in this unidentified northern town, nothing much was swinging at all.

The title of the play, Be My Baby coincides with the title of the brilliant track by The Ronettes, whose lead singer, Ronnie Spector succeeds in conveying longing and yearning with more than a touch of the innocent belief in the perfection of true love. Though the baby in the song and in the play are different, Ronnie Spector is in with a greater chance of securing her 'baby' than these girls. Heartbreakingly, the girls in the home have no hope of keeping their babies.

Witty, and at times joyful as the play is, the audience is certain to feel relief that the stigma and 'the don't darken my door' attitude towards the girls and their babies born out of wedlock, has been well and truly buried by all, bar, maybe, an oddly and ugly bigoted few.

Ruth Owen, twitter @ruth1722



Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Sophie Webster's exit storyline revealed from Coronation Street

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog October 2016, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Brooke Vincent, who plays Sophie Webster in Coronation Street, is now on a three-month absence from work. She's currently starring in a stage play called Be My Baby. 

Our blogger Ruth is attending the show tonight at The Lowry and will be writing a review for fans to read here on the Coronation Street Blog.

As for on-screen Sophie, her absence will be explained as she leaves for Miami.  The Radio Times reveals that Sophie gets a call from sister Rosie, who invites her there for a break.

We'll see Sophie tell Kevin that she's leaving, in the episode to be screened on Friday 14 October.



Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Coronation Street contracts extended for two stars

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog May 2016, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Antony Cotton has had his contract extended to play Sean Tully in Coronation Street for at least another year.  He announced this on twitter. 

The Sun today says that Brooke Vincent, who plays Sophie Webster, has signed a new contract which will keep her in the show until February 2017.

Brooke will be taking a break from Coronation Street later this year to star in a play called Be My Baby.

She'll be playing 19-year-old young mum  Mary Adams in the play which will run at Manchester’s Lowry Theatre.  Find out more here.




Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Corrie Christmas wish list - Brooke Vincent

BROOKE VINCENT - CHRISTMAS Q&A 2015

Will your character being having a merry Christmas this year?
Yes and no. She’s missing Maddie, it’s her first Christmas without Maddie, she’s thinking about the past and how she used to spend it but she’s alright. She’s trying to focus on her family.

What’s your favourite Christmas board game?
Who am I. When you stick a post it note on your head and then you have to ask questions and guess who you are. It’s a great all rounder, you can play it with family or friends.

What’s your favourite Christmas tipple?
Strongbow maybe, or a Magners. I’m normally away on holiday so I’ll have it with a glass of ice in the sun.

Turkey. Or something else?
We normally have a Turkey salad as we’re usually away on holiday in The Canaries so you don’t want a full on roast dinner. We get everyone on the balcony. The women go up at about 2pm and start making stuff, then all the men come up and eat it! We’re going again this year, there are loads of us, about 60 family and friends. It’s grown and grown over the years.

Where’s your favourite place to spend Christmas.
Definitely on holiday, on the beach and around the pool.

Have you got a favourite Christmas memory?
I’ve got a good one. One year I woke up at 4 o’clock in the morning. This was when I was really young. I woke up at 4 o’clock in the morning, went downstairs and opened all my presents without my mum being there. She woke up at about 7am to find the carnage and my mum was livid. She didn’t know who anything was off and I had opened them all.

Sprouts. Devil or delicious?
Devil. I just don’t like them, not feeling them.

On Christmas day, PJs or fancy pants?
A bikini! A Christmas bikini maybe, I’ll find a red one.

Do you have a favourite Christmas film?
The Grinch, I just love it. I know all the words, I like to talk along with it, it’s not fun for anyone else but for me it’s amazing. I love it.

Do you have a song or a carol?
All I want for Christmas is youuuu - that one!

Describe your perfect Christmas.
When you just enjoy getting fat together. Eat loads. Drink loads. Laugh loads.

What do you hope to find in your Christmas stocking this year?
At Christmas I’m more of a giver than a receiver. I like to give presents. I like to see people’s faces when I give presents. I’m a good buyer I like to think.

You’ve got one spot left at the dinner table. Who are you going to invite? Any person, past or present.
Obvs Barbara Knox in her bikini, she has a great sense of humour and we laugh a lot, it might seem like an unlikely friendship but she’s on of my best friends on the set. Or maybe Maggie Jones who played Blanche, I’ll really miss having her around at work.





Deirdre: A Life on Coronation Street - official ITV tribute to a soap icon. Available here.


Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Coronation Street Blog Interview: Michael Le Vell and Brooke Vincent

(This post was originally posted by Emma Hynes on the Coronation Street Blog in September 2015, reposted with permission.)

There are few father-daughter onscreen relationships that are, to my mind, as authentic as the one between Kevin and Sophie Webster. I have enjoyed watching their bond over the years, and when my fellow blogger Ruth and I travelled to ITV in Manchester to interview the pair, I was interested to see if this same chemistry existed between the two actors, Brooke Vincent and Michael Le Vell.

As we talked about the live episode, how they feel about the show, their characters, and future storylines, there proved to be a lovely bond that was at once cheeky and respectful, and made interviewing them rather entertaining.

Both agreed that it was time for Sophie to grow up a bit and that, after a number of relationship traumas, she needs time to herself rather than having a new love interest. “People forget how long it takes to get over things like that” says Brooke as she recalls Sophie’s experiences with Sian, Jenna and Maddie.

Brooke saw it as a “massive honour” to be trusted with the lesbian storyline at the age of 16, and her progression into a young women now seems timely. “I’m two years older than my character so I’m constantly like, ‘right, when can she wear make-up? When can she wear red lipstick?’" Brooke tells us. "It’s going to be nice for me to grow up finally and wear stuff that I’d wear maybe when I was 21”. It will also help that she's to leave her job at Dev’s behind, as we’re told she’ll play a big part in the expansion of the garage where she’ll be working alongside her Dad helping him to run the business.

With regard to the live episode, Michael doesn’t feel having done one before eases the pressure, and really puts the viewership into perspective when he notes “We’ve all done live theatre before, but to fill a theatre with how many people are going to watch that one episode, you’d probably have to fill a West End theatre for the next 20 years 7 nights a week.” He revealed that they have a two week rehearsal time leading up to the episode which takes place on 23 September, and they never normally have this. He continues, “this is so different as well because I think a lot more people have a lot more lines to say because there’s no big stunt in it and it is all character driven storylines, and so people will have a lot more words and will definitely be on their guard.”

Recalling the Eastender’s live episode in which an actor’s name was said instead of the character being addressed, both vehemently agree about how easy it is to do this, and reveal that it happens all the time on set. Michael tells us “That’s what the public want in some perverse kind of way, they want to see these mistakes. And because the tram crash did go so smoothly last time, everyone thought it was recorded.”

Brooke adds, “It’s so easy for people to sit at home and judge, ‘cos I do it, when you’re watching, say, I’m a Celeb’. If something like that does happen, we’re not going to get sacked, are we?” she laughs, “I’ll just say ‘sorry Mum’ and carry on”.

While they’re worried Sally and Joe’s capacity for corpsing could be their downfall, Michael loves that they brought him into the Tim and Sally storylines, as they all have such a laugh. Brooke talked about how strange it was to have a new man join their family. “It was like real life” she tells us, “I was like, I’ll sit up straight and I won’t be lounging, and it was like my Mum got a new boyfriend in a way. And then we just really quickly gelled together”. Both agree that it would have been so easy to have the men at odds, but that it works so much better that they don’t hate each other.

I asked Michael what he thought of the decision to have Sally and Kevin kiss. Joking that “she’s not made of wood” he tells us “I love the partnership with Sally and Tim, they’re fantastic to watch and they make me laugh a lot. I don’t want to see them split up as a viewer.”

Michael talked about his pride in being part of Corrie, how much he loves it, and how moving to Media City UK has been great for bringing everyone involved closer together. His advice for any budding Corrie actors is to know your lines which proves humorous to Brooke who recalls him messing up during the Jenny Bradley balcony scene despite drumming it into her that she must remember hers. He can’t wait for the return of Sally Ann Matthews, and neither can I. Describing her as fantastic to work with, he adds, “She’s a such a wonderful person to be around, and a wonderful actress...and she did know her lines, every day.”

This cheeky parting shot summed up what was an enjoyable interview, and the relationship that exists between Brooke and Michael.

See also my interview with Joe Duttine and Sally Dynevor.

By Emma Hynes
www.emmahynes.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @ELHynes

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Pics: Corrie cast glam up for Brooke Vincent's 21st party

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog June 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Brooke Vincent, who plays Coronation Street's Sophie Webster, turned 21 this week.

 And last night there was a birthday bash to which a lot of the Corrie cast turned up.

Michael Le Vell, who plays Brooke's on-screen dad Kevin Webster, was there too. 

And our blogger Sunny Jim says: "I see that Sue Devaney was there. Does this herald a return for Sophie's Auntie Debbie? Probably just wishful thinking."

Have a look at all the pictures, all the frocks and fashion faux-pas at the Mail Online.



Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

More Corrie contracts signed - Sophie and Maria are staying

There's a good interview with Brooke Vincent, who plays Coronation Street's Sophie Webster, in the Mirror. 

Brooke turns 21 tomorrow, Tuesday June 4 and in the interview she talks about growing up in the public eye, maintaining a relationship with her boyfriend, playing Sophie the Corrie lesbian and being protective of Helen Flanagan.

There's also a video of Brooke doing a birthday shoot, which if you like that sort of thing is the sort of thing you'll like. It's here.

The Daily Star also reports that Brooke has been given another deal to stay on Coronation Street, by which I guess that means she's had her contract renewed, or, in tabloid speak Brooke "agreed the mega-bucks deal after a meeting with the ITV soap’s boss Stuart Blackburn".

Samia Ghadie, who plays Maria Connor on Coronation Street, has reportedly signed a £100,000+ contract to stay another year on Corrie's cobbles.

The 30 year-old actress has played Maria on Coronation Street for 13 years. Ghadie's contract will ensure she continues playing her role until mid-2014.

Viewers have recently watched Maria fall in love and move in with gay character Marcus Dent. Fans watched the fall-out this week from the couple attending a friend's wedding reception, with Marcus getting flack from hiding his relationship with Maria.


Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Blast from the past: The Webster girls

(This post was originally posted by Stevie Dawson on the Coronation Street Blog in June 2013.)

Here are some interesting clips of the Webster girls, actresses Helen Flanagan and Brooke Vincent in their first scenes on Coronation Street.

The first clip, here on Youtube, is from 2000 when we first saw Helen playing Rosie Webster.



And here's sweet little Sophie Webster in her first appearance, as played by Brooke in 2004.

In the image here on the left taken at Brooke's 21st birthday party last week, we can see both girls all grown up. How time flies!

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Brooke Vincent on Sophie's chances with Jenna

(This post was originally posted by me on the Coronation Street Blog in January 2013.)


Over on the ITV official Corrie site, Brooke Vincent talks about Sophie's new romance with her physiotherapist, Jenna. Brooke says that Sophie has already got a "vibe" that Jenna may be a lesbian and her own crush on Jenna has been growing as she's been recovering with Jenna's professional help. Sophie thinks that Jenna may reciprocate her feelings but what we, the viewer, have seen could also point just to a friendship.

Sophie takes matters into her own hands, makes the leap of faith and kisses Jenna but they're interrupted by Kevin who blows his top. Not willing to listen to Sophie who insists she instigated the kiss,  Brooke explains: "Kevin blames Jenna because he is embarrassed that he made a pass at a woman who is clearly not interested in men. He can’t blame Sophie, she is his daughter, he just feels stupid and he wants to blame someone.

"

Sophie is being naive, though, thinking love can conquer all but we all know Sophie isn't the brightest button in the box. If I was writing this storyline, I'd have Jenna be a little attracted and flattered but back off firmly, recognizing that Sophie's crush is something that can happen in these types of situations ("transferrence" anyone?) The storyline will only serve to introduce Jenna as a lesbian but she ends up being Sophie's friend instead, possibly introducing her to a younger friend as a blind date.

But they won't listen to me, will they? Will they heck!



Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Brooke Vincent tackles disability role for Sophie Webster

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog October 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

This week on Coronation Street, Sophie Webster faces the possibility of never being able to walk again after injuring her spine in a car accident.

Brooke Vincent, who plays Sophie, has confessed how hard it was to glimpse life with a disability, in preparation for the storyline.  Corrie has had Brooke working with Jamie Rhind, a community support officer with the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA), who was left paralysed when he broke his neck at the age of 19, diving into shallow water in a disused quarry.

Following nine months of rehabilitation Jamie, 34, has rebuilt his life and now lives independently. He volunteers as a mentor for the SIA to help newly injured people come to terms with disability.

Brooke said of the storyline: "It has been really hard and, for me personally, it's been so restraining on what you can actually do. You can't put socks on or anything. I just don't know how people physically live like that or cope like that."

She said playing the part had given her greater understanding of the lives of wheelchair users. She added: "I can remember a few weeks ago I had weights on my legs, and I was only trying to change my top but I couldn't get up to do it and I was so frustrated. That's when it hit home for me - you can't just nip upstairs and you can't jump into the car and drive off. All I want is to get it right for the people who are watching and who have gone through a similar experience."


Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Brooke talks about Sophie's journey

(This post was originally posted by me on the Coronation Street Blog in July, 2010, reposted with permission.)

There's a good article over on SheWired.com with an interview with Brooke Vincent. It's all about the journey that Sian and Sophie have made from best friends to coupledom. Brooke talks about filming with Sascha Parkinson, her long time friend and says that although confused at first, Sophie now accepts that she's a normal girl who just happens to be a lesbian. Her new found faith in God isn't an issue either because Sophie believes God accepts her for who she is as well.