Former Coronation Street star Channique Sterling-Brown has revealed she deliberately flirted with DS Lisa Swain on the show to distract fans from the character's eventual romance with Carla Connor.
The actress, who played Dee-Dee Bailey, made her TV debut in 2022 as the daughter of Ed and Aggie Bailey. She quickly became a fan favourite and won Best Newcomer at the British Soap Awards in 2023.
In September last year, Channique announced her departure from Weatherfield, with her final scenes airing in mid-December as Dee-Dee left for a new life in Dubai.
Flirting to Mislead Viewers
Speaking on the Tis Yourself podcast, Channique explained her strategy: "I had this massive thing where I would always flirt with DS [Lisa] Swain because obviously I knew she would be getting with Carla [Connor]. I just wanted to throw the fans off."
She added: "You never know what the Corrie writers are gonna do, right, if they see something they like, so I was like, imagine they really like it and they made Dee-Dee gay."
Lisa and Carla's Wedding
In April, Lisa and Carla married in emotional scenes after overcoming a flood at the Chariot Square Hotel. Lisa surprised Carla with the wedding, with witnesses including Lisa's daughter Betsy, Carla's nephew Ryan Connor, and Roy Cropper. They became the first two women to marry in the soap's 65-year history.
Sally Metcalfe then activated the Underworld security alarm, leading Carla to the factory where a wedding reception awaited, surprising even Lisa.
