Catherine Tyldesley interview: Eva's baby bombshell

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


When Eva confides in Shona that she doesn’t feel well, has it even crossed her mind that she could be pregnant?
No not at all, she just thinks she’s tired and she’s coming down with something, it’s totally not crossed her mind.

So when Shona suggests she could be pregnant what does Eva start to think?
She starts to panic a little bit but in the back of her mind she really believes she’s not pregnant, so it’s a massive shock and a huge irony when she finds out that she is, especially when you think a year ago she would have given anything to settle down and have babies, but after everything that transpired this is just the worst thing that could have happened.

What are Eva’s initial thoughts about what she might do or is she just in shock?
Initially she’s just in shock, then after she’s been to the doctors and discussed things she realises she can’t see any other way out of this situation than to have a termination. All she’s ever wanted is to meet prince charming, settle down and have a family so the thought of getting rid of this baby is not an easy decision at all for Eva. She feels completely stuck with no way out.

Does Eva know if the baby is Aidan or Adam’s?
After she’s spoken to the doctor she knows but she’s not sure she’s ready to talk to the father, it’s all such a mess. Eva being Eva and not thinking about consequences decides there’s nothing she can do other than to have an abortion.

At that point the only person she’s confided in is Shona, is she supportive of Eva?
They’re not particularly friends but Shona just stumbles across Eva’s secret and having had a child herself she recognises the signs and I think she can see how vulnerable Eva is. Shona’s really good to Eva, she’s got a kind heart and she tries to support her.

Does Eva not feel that she can confide in Leanne or Toyah?
She does want to but she finds it really difficult, ordinarily she’d tell Leanne everything but something that’s stuck in her mind is that Leanne was quite judgemental of her at the wedding and I think she’s a little bit scared of Leanne saying I told you so, this is karma. It’s difficult for her because she does normally lean on Leanne. Then there’s just no way she feels she could talk to Toyah about it, Toyah and Eva are like chalk and cheese, they do really care about each other even though they often clash, but Eva has seen what Toyah has been through trying to have a child and she couldn’t bear the thought of talking to her about possibly terminating her own pregnancy.

How did you feel when you were told about this storyline and the mess that Eva was going to find herself in? 
It’s amazing, I just think the storylines that Kate Oates is bringing to the table are fantastic. But my heart bleeds for Eva all the time because she doesn’t think about consequences and it’s such a great tragedy the way it’s all ended up after the wedding. Eva and Aidan were perfect for each other and if only she’d managed to not be so stubborn things could have been very different.

Do you think Aidan is the one Eva should have been with rather than Adam?
It’s difficult because she is actually starting to fall for Adam. For a long time it was just Aidan Aidan Aidan but at the moment Aidan doesn’t want to know and Adam is offering her everything that she wanted. So her head has literally just been turned, she’s just starting to fall for Adam when she finds out that she’s pregnant, which makes things even worse, it’s such bad timing. Before the pregnancy if Aidan had come back on the scene and said let's get back together then I think Eva would because I think they were perfect for each other and that’s where the sadness lies.
 

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Pics: Catherine Tyldesley strikes a movie pose

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

Catherine Tyldesley, who plays Eva Price in Coronation Street, has been photographed for a new series of shots in Best Magazine. 

Catherine is styled as movie icons Marilyn Monroe, Faye Dunaway and Brigitte Bardot in the pictures taken for Best Magazine by Nicky Johnstone.

As we already know, Catherine is leaving Coronation Street in 2018.  You can read more on that here.

In a statement, Catherine said: "Coronation Street has been a dream job for me which is why this was such a difficult decision to leave. Eva has been such fun to play over the last seven years, and who knows, one day she might storm the cobbles of Weatherfield again. In the meantime I’m excited about the future, new acting projects, and spending time with my family."future, new acting projects, and spending time with my family."

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Cath Tyldesley and Shayne Ward recreate Horror Classics

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

Pic: https://twitter.com/Cath_Tyldesley

Catherine Tyldesley, who plays Eva Price, and Shayne Ward, who plays Aidan Connor, have been playing around on social media making their own versions of classic horror films.  It's quite fun, have a look at them below.

First off is Psycho... 

Me and this spoon @shaynetward have done another video for you lot! #corriehorrormovie2… https://t.co/8diaw7PimI

— Cath Tyldesley (@Cath_Tyldesley) October 24, 2017

And there's another little video here...

#namethefilm #corriehorrormovie1#8daystillhalloween @Cath_Tyldesley @itvcorrie https://t.co/BZDyhCBl75

— Shayne Ward (@shayneTward) October 23, 2017

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Coronation Street Blog interview: Cath Tyldesley

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

Weddings can be an expensive business, but the stakes are higher than your average where Eva Price is concerned. Intent on wreaking revenge on Aidan for his infidelity, Maria for breaking the sacred ‘girl-code’, and Jenny for keeping their secret, the question is, at what cost?

I caught up with Cath Tyldesley, who plays Eva, at Coronation Street studios in Manchester to hear all about the Big Day. If you don’t want to read any spoilers, it’s probably best to look away now.

Describing it as “very action packed”, there is no doubt that Cath enjoyed every minute of this epic shoot. But what could she tell us about the events which lead up to it, and what unfolds on the day itself?

First up is the hen party, which, we’re told, is used as a way to get at Jenny and Maria. “She’s just vile to Maria” explains Cath before revealing details of a humiliating stunt pulled on her in the Rovers which I won’t spoil for readers. “I really felt for [Samia] because [Eva] just goes for it” she tells us, “but she deserves it in her eyes.” It’s interesting to hear that Maria is to bear some of the brunt of her revenge as, up to now, Aidan has seemed the main target. So, does Cath feel Eva is more angry at one over the other? “It’s both of them” she explains. “But what I quite liked is that, for years actually, whenever she’s talked about being cheated on, she’s spoke many times about the girl code and how much she despises women that do that. So the fact that it’s her best friend that’s done it is just another level for her. Her feelings for Maria are completely gone now, there’s nothing left, but she does still love Aidan despite what he’s done.”

Love him she might, but she is still hell-bent on revenge, and he manages to flatten the champagne on the morning of the wedding by confessing to his affair. Cath explains, "It’s a real game changer that for Eva… she can see the absolute sincerity in his eyes, she can see how genuine he is and that he does actually really love her and the whole thing to him has been a massive mistake.” She continues, “She had the day completely planned out to a tee. She’s got this revenge plot firmly in her mind and then all of a sudden she’s like, ‘he’s offering me everything I ever wanted and he’s come clean’.” It wouldn’t be Eva, however, if this wasn’t tinged with irritation. “At the same time, she was really angry with him, because she has this firm plan and she’s like, ‘oh, now you’ve done this’…so there are lots of different emotions.”

Nor would it be Eva if she didn’t capitalise on an opportunity to take down her nemesis when Maria gatecrashes the wedding and, as we’ve seen in the official Corrie promo video, the pair swap the chocolate fountain for a real one. 2.5 hours and no less than 6 very heavy, completely ruined, wedding dresses later, the pair were tired out after thrashing it out in the water, but both really enjoyed it and Cath clearly felt it was worth it. “I was just really excited about it, to be doing something that physical” she explains. “Normally it is very coordinated, but because of the nature of the scene they were like, ‘Just go for it guys’ and me and Samia were like, ‘Oh my God’. And we did, we just went for it, you know, within reason. We’re kind of both aware of what we should and shouldn’t do. But yeah, it was pretty full on.” She continues, “It was good fun, I really enjoyed doing that actually.” It wasn’t all high drama either, “Andy Whyment plays a blinder in the fountain scenes” she reveals, “I just find him hysterical anyway, so yeah, it was really funny stuff.”

So, what does Cath think about the emergence of this villainous element to her character? “I’ve loved it, I’ve absolutely loved it” she enthuses. “It’s been really nice to see another side to her because, when she came into it, she was a woman scorned and you know, she is her mother’s daughter, they are strong, feisty women. And I think Eva is a very likeable character and her vulnerability and her dizziness makes people like her, but I think this is great that we go, ‘oh crap, yeah, we forgot about this side to her’.” She continues, “Every boyfriend that she’s ever had has cheated on her. At some point you are gonna lose it, and this is character changing for her, this is it now, she’s had enough.”

Asked if it’s likely that something could develop with Adam, Cath tells us, “I think for her at the moment she appreciates that he’s a good looking guy and it’s been a shoulder-to-lean-on sort of thing for her, but her heart is with Aidan.” But can Eva ever forgive him? “Yeah, I think she could. I think for her, that was her prince charming, I think she loves him that much.”

Having just gotten married herself last year, Cath found it weird to be back in a wedding dress and in bride mode again. “The way everything was shot, we tried to do things in order as much as we could cos of the nature of the scenes, it did feel like I was getting married again. It was bizarre” she says. “But yeah, I loved it. Who doesn’t love putting a big frock on? It was the first dress I saw and I knew in my head exactly what I wanted ‘cos I choose all of Eva’s outfits, and as soon as I saw it, I was like, that’s the one.”

As my interview with Cath coincided with the announcement that Corrie’s sixth episode would comprise a Wednesday double and start on the 20th of September with this very wedding, I was interested to hear her thoughts. Speaking of Kate Oates, Cath says “she’s just fantastic, she’s an absolute powerhouse. Everything has been structured in a way that nobody is overloaded, and everything is quite evenly spread, so it’s been great for us. And, as a viewer, I’m really excited because it’s just another episode.”

All that remains now is for us to choose a hat for the 20th, and position ourselves as far from that fountain as possible.

Meeting Cath was lovely. Her enthusiasm and sense of humour is very infectious. She was also, in fact, the captain of my Rovers Return pub quiz team on the day, but more on that later...

By Emma Hynes

www.emmahynes.net

Twitter: @ELHynes

Facebook: @EmmaHynesWrites

Instagram: emmalouhynes

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Revenge comes at a Price

(This post was originally posted by Emma Hynes on the Coronation Street Blog in July 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Ah, sweet revenge. A dish best served cold, and an apparent staple on the menus of the various cobble-lined eateries of Coronation Street. Campaigns of vengeance have included ‘Mad’ Maya unleashing all manner of torments on Dev, culminating in an explosion; Tracy having Charlie Stubbs for dinner and Crème brûlée à-la Carla for dessert; and David attempting to turn the courtroom to cinders at the trial of Clayton Hibbs. Most of these held elements of the spectacular; a gas leak, car full of petrol, and blazing apartments. The perpetrators are known for their dark sides, and even though, for example, conman extraordinaire, Lewis Archer, exacted a more subtle revenge on Gail via a public screening of a sublime video tape, he was still a slippery character with a shady past.

Now, fast forward to the present day where Eva Price is in full vengeance mode, having discovered her partner Aidan has been having an affair with close friend Maria. There is no way this fabulous modern-day Corrie icon could be accused of having a truly sinister side, and there isn't an explosion in sight, which for me makes this current tale of retribution all the darker.

Aidan’s infidelity leaves her with strong grounds for hurt, upset and anger, and up to very recently, I was firmly on her side as I too desired his comeuppance. The scenes during which she discovered he was unfaithful were tear-inducing, and Cath Tyldesley is doing a customarily brilliant job. But the action has taken a decidedly questionable turn. 

Pretending to be having Aidan's child as she attempts to bankrupt him and destroy his business, Eva is displaying behaviour which, I feel, does her character a disservice. Our editor Glenda has shared her thoughts on the fake pregnancy element of the storyline, and I wholeheartedly agree with her sentiments. 

In addition to this major deception, attempting to bleed Aidan dry and take the factory in cahoots with Adam, and all now in the knowledge that Johnny is ill, has me seriously doubting her moral compass; even to the point where I actually feel sorry for Aidan. He’s stepping up in the belief that he’s to be a father, and planning to buy a flat, which she’s trying to convince him should be in her name. He's also risked the wrath of the current Underworld office dwellers by giving her a job there.

Sadly, there is something undignified in Eva’s actions which I feel is beneath this character who I’m very fond of. Yes, we always knew she had bunny boiler tendencies, but this all seems a bridge too far. And while she might show glimmers of doubt and regret, they’re negated by the fact that she carries on with her deception, each step of which is worse than the last. It's also interesting that Aidan appears to be bearing the full brunt, while Maria, it seems, is safe glaring from screen left.

Explosive acts of revenge borne out of passion are one thing, but sustained and callous efforts to destroy others by subtle, calculated means are, for me, a dark prospect, and I think our Eva is better than that. While we can't know how this will all unravel, I think the worst thing would be to see her plans come to fruition and find her loving every minute of it. No thank you. I'd rather she learned a valuable lesson which garners sympathy, and has us loving her even more as she picks up the pieces.

By Emma Hynes

www.emmahynes.net

Twitter: @ELHynes

Facebook: @EmmaHynesWrites

Instagram: emmalouhynes

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Cath Tyldesley reveals the truth about Eva's laugh

Cath Tyldesley reveals the truth about Eva's laugh
Cath Tyldesley, who plays Eva in Coronation Street, has revealed the inspiration behind her character Eva's famous laugh.

"I went to drama school with an opera singer, and she had a laugh which was quite similar and Eva's is a version of that," says Catherine in this week's TV Times.

"People keep sending me tweets asking for it as a ring tine. As if you'd want that as your ring tone!"

Ooh, I don't know...

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Coronation Street Blog Interview with Catherine Tyldesley

(This post was originally posted by Jordan Lloyd Beck on the Coronation Street Blog in June 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

“She wants to take him for everything he’s got. She wants him to hurt”

Cath Tyldesley on Eva’s reaction to Aidan’s affair

 

Hiya! It’s just Jordan with another Corrie cast interview from the recent press day. This time, it’s with the fabulous Catherine Tyldesley who plays Eva Price. As one of my favourite characters currently treading the cobbles, I was very much looking forward to listening to the lady who brings her to life so well.

The interview centred upon the current love triangle. Unlike Eva, we all know that her fiancé Aidan is having an affair with that salon slapper Maria. However, time is ticking and pretty soon the fiery blonde will find out just what Aidan has been up to when she’s not been looking. Viewers should expect explosions and Cath wasted no time in teasing what’s to come when Eva the Diva is unleashed:

“It’s quite extreme…! She very much reverts back to Eva the Diva, which is great because when I first came into Coronation Street, she was a very fiery person. It’s nice to see her come back to that. She is quite extreme with the way she reacts. I don’t think I would have done those things personally but for me as an actor, it’s brilliant to play!”

Cath went on to explain that Eva is, naturally, upset and angry and the fact that Maria is her first best friend after the death of Kylie just rubs salt in the wound. Cath herself is hoping for her first proper Corrie catfight to come out of this. Interestingly, Eva finds out about the affair some time before taking any action. She doesn’t do the age-old thing of yelling, screaming and throwing clothes out of an upstairs window. It’s a proper revenge plot and according to Cath, Maria should be scared.

When teasing exactly how Eva will find out about naughty Aidan, Cath kept her cards very close to her chest. But she did enthusiastically promise that it’s a good reveal:

“It’s the best find-out ever!”

 

However, Eva will get through this bunny boiler stage, with the help of Toyah and Leanne – a dynamic Cath described as lovely. Interestingly, Cath also mentioned that Adam Barlow is to become a supportive face for Eva. However, don’t be misled into thinking that Adam will be Eva’s new squeeze; Eva will have very little time for men during her mad revenge plot.

“When I’m reading scripts, I’m cringing at what she’s doing. But it’s wonderful. Very Eva”

“She’s gonna come out of this stronger. It’s what Corrie do best – writing strong, feisty women”

But in typical Corrie style, Eva will suffer yet another blow only a week after finding out that Aidan is having an affair.

She’s pregnant.

This will have obvious emotional ramifications for the bubbly blonde, but as the conversation soon moved to how Eva will rock maternity wear – and how Cath will rock the bump – it would seem that Eva, like Madonna, is keeping her baby.

Veering away from the love triangle gossip, Cath began to spoke of Eva’s career potential. She pointed out that Eva’s focus in life has always been to have a boyfriend, not a career. Maybe now is the time to change that. Cath can see Eva having a business venture; something like a mobile tanning salon. What do you think? I think that’s a fantastic idea! However, my favourite little titbit to come out of this interview was the origin of Eva’s laugh:

“A girl that I went to drama school with was an opera singer and she had a laugh that was quite similar. Eva’s is like a very heightened version of that”

A very interesting chat and I for one cannot wait to see Eva the Diva unleashed on the cobbles once again.

As always,

Thanks for reading!

Jordan

Twitter: @JordanLloyd39

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Interview: Cath Tyldesley on Corrie, Family, Fitness and Fun

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

There's a lovely, long interview with Coronation Street’s Catherine Tyldesley (Eva Price) in The Sunday Post today.

Catherine talks about working as an actress on our favourite show and the importance of the support network she has around her in her family. She also talks about body image and the way photographers change the way she looks in shots.

“That’s where things are going sour. In the past I’ve done magazine shoots where they’ve got rid of a stretch mark on my boob or dimple on my bum. But I’ve become much more aware of it. I feel I have a responsibility and don’t airbrush anything I put up (on Instagram). Otherwise people would see me in real life and realise I don’t look like that.”

On her little boy Alfie, she says: “I remember when I first had him saying I’d find that work/life balance,” she confides. “But now I don’t think you ever do and I’m having to come to terms with that. While I love my job, I feel like I’m spinning plates all the time. There’s no such thing as a routine.

“I can be told I’m in at 7am and then it changes to 11am, or the other way round. Technically, we’re on call six days a week and while it’s rare we’ll be asked to work a weekend, we have to be there at the drop of a hat, really. That’s the importance of having a brilliant support network and everyone just chipping in.

And on her Coronation Street storyline with Aidan and Maria, she says that Eva is "still friendly with Maria and isn’t remotely suspicious. Eva’s been dropping wedding hints without realising Aidan is torn between the pair of them. She just hopes Aidan makes a commitment as getting married is all she’s ever wanted. But things are going to get explosive and you wouldn’t want to cross Eva. This is the best storyline I’ve ever had and I’m so grateful.”

“This is my dream job. I’d always hope there would be a home for me here I see Eva growing old here. I’d like to see her in the Rovers when she’s 80-odd with her boobs up to her eyeballs! No matter what happens in life – and of course there are other things I want to do – I’d like to think there’s a place for me at Corrie. I adore it.”

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Coronation Street couple sign up for another year

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

Cath Tyldesley and Shayne Ward, who play Eva Price and Aidan Connor in Coronation Street, have signed up to the show for another 12 months, says The Sun.

Mr Curry Sauce tells the tabloid:  “Aidan and Eva have been top value on Corrie and they’ve quickly made themselves one of the soap’s power couples. Producers took a chance on Shayne when they hired him for the gig but it’s one of the best decisions they could have made. Shayne and Catherine are firm friends off set and the cast are delighted they’re remaining on board.”

As always with tabloid tittle-tattle, we don't know if this is true or not but I do hope it is.



Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter


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