Corrie star reveals Sarah's devastation in big week
Coronation Street's Sarah Platt sees her family torn apart next week, as the truth about Audrey Roberts' missing money comes out at the worst possible moment.
The show's special 9pm week sees David confess everything to Audrey during a family holiday, after realising that the net is closing in on him and Nick. As rows and recriminations ensue, whose side will everyone be on?
Here, Tina O'Brien – who plays Sarah – previews the unmissable episodes.
How is Sarah feeling about heading off on the Platts' family holiday?
"Sarah is down in the dumps about Gary, so she has got her own problems at this point. She has realised that she is not going to have the future that she thought with her man.
"Sarah is reluctant for the holiday because she is thinking: 'Oh great, family in a lodge, this could be hell on Earth!' But she is also excited to spend a bit of time with her gran and her mum, so she is quietly optimistic for a nice, normal holiday."
What are Sarah's first thoughts when she finds out about Nick and David stealing from Audrey?
"Sarah is devastated and feels like there is no coming back from it."
If Sarah had to choose between Nick and David, who would she side with?
"She would choose David. David has had his issues in the past and Sarah has always found ways to forgive him. Maybe it's because he is her little brother and she always wants to sort out his problems.
"She feels so betrayed with Nick. David is quite remorseful, but Sarah feels Nick has an attitude, which she is really hurt by. As far as she is concerned, she never wants to see Nick again. She doesn't want to work in the factory with him, she wants him out."
What did you think when you read the scripts and saw the Platts imploding in these episodes?
"Anything that involves me being on set with a bunch of Platts, I'm in heaven. I love being with the guys. We all have quite different personalities but we all gel so well. It feels really good to be a part of. There's going to be more to come as we see the fallout from this and we see the ways that the Platts try to make this work as a family."
Do you think this could be what tears the Platts apart?
"Yes, I do. Audrey is heartbroken. What they have done to her is unforgivable and so painful. Sarah feels very betrayed by them as well."
How does Sarah feel towards Gary at this point?
"There is too much lying and there's not been enough communication, so it's done. Sarah is gutted and she misses him, but he isn't able to guarantee that these things will change. When she finds out he is not coming on the trip, she is disappointed that something has come up again because that seems to be the ongoing problem."
How do you feel about the possibility that Sarah and Gary's relationship is over for good?
"It's really difficult because I love working with Mikey [North, who plays Gary]. He is the greatest guy to work with professionally and we work so well, it's like a dance. However, if I was to advise Sarah, I'd say that she should get away from Gary because he's bad news. But I do think Sarah and Gary work so well and I really enjoy working with Mikey."
Are the Platts like a family off screen too?
"Helen [Worth, who plays Gail] is very caring and mothering. If I ever have a problem or I need advice I go to Helen, without a doubt. She really listens and always makes me feel very loved and looked after.
"Jack [P Shepherd, who plays David] is a real wind-up merchant but I love him dearly so I guess that's how I would feel about a little brother! Lucy [Fallon, who plays Bethany] actually calls me mum sometimes and Ben [Price, who plays Nick] is like an older brother, wise and caring.
"Sue [Nicholls, who plays Audrey] is wonderful. I love listening to Sue, I love watching Sue, I love Sue as Sue, I love Sue as Audrey! It is like a fake, weird family."
Do you still learn a lot from Sue and Helen?
"Absolutely. To me, Sue and Helen are Coronation Street and to be around that, I go 'wow'. The way they are as mother and daughter and how they wind each other up is so natural. That's family to me and that is very clever."
What was it like to work on location at a holiday park for these episodes?
"It was lovely, we felt like we were on holiday because we even stayed in the lodges and had a brilliant time. It's very different from filming on the street, because when you are at Coronation Street you are jumping between different filming blocks and doing a lot of different strands at the same time.
"But when we were filming on location it was in a lodge by a lake, so it felt like we were filming a mini-drama."
Do you think Sarah should also be worried about Rick Neelan after he finds out about her breaking into his office?
"Yes I do, and she knows that too so I think she should be very worried."
What advice would you give to Sarah?
"Move! Move everyone and change your phone number!"
Coronation Street airs at 9pm all next week on ITV.
Read more news, spoilers and gossip on our Coronation Street homepage
Digital Spy Soap Scoop video – hit play below for all the latest Coronation Street spoilers, as David confesses to Audrey, and Carla's troubles come to a head.
Want up-to-the-minute soaps news, spoilers and gossip on your social feeds? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Soaps Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @soapscoop Twitter account.
('You Might Also Like',)
