Coronation Street star Olivia Frances-Brown has revealed that 'anyone could get shot' as her character Jodie Ramsey's revenge plot against half-sister Shona Platt (Julia Goulding) reaches its climax next week.
Jodie has spent months destroying Shona's life through lies, seduction and theft, all part of an elaborate plan to pay her back for running away from home as a teenager and leaving Jodie to deal with their unstable dad Doug (Steve Evets). Now she is attempting to take over Shona's entire family, including husband David (Jack P Shepherd).
Jodie's warped mindset
Explaining what drives Jodie, Olivia said: 'It's all about her warped mind. Jodie has convinced herself that David symbolises her potential for future happiness. She's lost the plot a little bit and truly believes David is the answer to all her wants and needs – which obviously isn't reality! She's just completely hooked on that idea now.'
'Jodie idolises Shona so much that she literally wants to step into her shoes, take over her life and know what that feels like. By taking over David, the house, the role with Harper – she genuinely wants to know how it feels to be Shona.'
'She loves her sister, but she wishes Shona had treated her differently throughout her life. There's a deep need to get her own back and have some sort of revenge. As much as she cares about their relationship, she's willing to do whatever it takes to get the happiness she feels she deserves.'
The gun and the showdown
Jodie has a gun stashed away, stolen from Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard), who had been hiding it for gangster Fiona Morley. After her step-niece Lily (Grace Ashcroft Gardner) discovered the weapon, Jodie convinced her it was a fake. Now she is saving it for a rainy day – and that rainy day is about to break over Weatherfield.
According to Olivia, everyone is a potential target. 'It's definitely been a long time coming for it to blow up between Jodie and Shona. Let's just say… somebody is about to get their comeuppance and you'll just need to watch to find out!'
'It's not every day at work that someone brings out a real weapon – with a professional gun handler on set to show you how to use it safely. When I read the script, I knew it could truly be anyone getting shot…'
What happens next
The identity of the shooting victim remains unknown – whether it will be Shona, David, Jodie herself or an innocent bystander. Even if Jodie survives, questions remain over how she will escape justice for the carnage she has caused.
Olivia hinted that Jodie should never be underestimated. 'She's always got a trick up her sleeve. Confrontation puts her straight into fight-or-flight mode. She'll either give it everything she's got or just run.'
