Coronation Street star Tina O'Brien has teased the fallout to her character Sarah Platt's murder confession, warning of potential prison turmoil and suggesting that Gary Windass could be framed for the crime. The actress, who plays Sarah, spoke about the dramatic storyline that has seen her character accidentally kill Theo Silverton, with her ex Gary Windass helping to cover it up.
Sarah's Guilt and Confession
Sarah's partner, Detective Kit Green, is convinced that Gary is the killer, but next week Sarah confesses the truth to him. O'Brien described Sarah as "incredibly torn," torn between wanting to tell Kit and fearing the consequences. "She can see how much he loves her and she definitely wants to be with him," O'Brien said, adding that Sarah feels guilty about discovering Kit's plan to propose.
The actress explained that Sarah is "struggling with the idea of getting married while hiding such a massive secret" and is "hitting breaking point." She fears that telling Kit would end their relationship, ruin his career, and force him to choose between turning her in or becoming a "dodgy cop."
Gary's Potential Framing
O'Brien hinted that Gary could be shockingly framed for Theo's murder, with Kit potentially throwing him "under a bus" to protect Sarah. "Because of the way he feels about Gary, I think if it came down to it, he would throw Gary under a bus to protect her," she said. This adds a new layer of tension as Gary's marriage to Maria is already falling apart, and Sarah feels "incredibly guilty" for being in the middle of it.
For the first time, Sarah is also feeling "a bit frustrated with Gary," wondering why he didn't advise her to go to the police instead of taking the burden himself. O'Brien noted that Sarah has always felt supported by Gary, but now questions his judgment.
Relationship with Kit
When Kit proposes during a romantic lunch, Sarah feels "like the worst person in the world." O'Brien said that while Sarah loves Kit and wants to be with him, she worries that if he discovers the truth, he will see her as only being with him to avoid prison. "It would create a horrible dynamic of mistrust and confusion, and it's hard to say if that could ever be repaired," she added.
Asked whether Kit is the right person for Sarah, O'Brien said that six months ago she would have said yes, but now it's complicated due to the emotional support and care still present between Sarah and Gary. "Even though they never crossed a line, there's a level of emotional support and care still there," she noted.
Prison Fears and Audience Reaction
O'Brien expressed concern about how Sarah would cope if sent to prison. "I would be very worried for her. She might appear to be a 'soft touch' to hard criminals and I worry she'd get into problems in there—especially if they found out she had a partner who was a police officer," she said.
The actress also shared the audience reaction since the reveal that Sarah is the killer. "It's been really good. I've had so many people coming up to me in the street, genuinely shocked. I was so convinced that everyone would know it's me that it's been interesting to hear feedback—some people were completely surprised, others suspected it, but everyone seemed to love the dinner party scene and the reveal," O'Brien concluded.
