Alison King has warned that her Coronation Street character Carla Connor-Swain will be left 'devastated' in upcoming scenes as she faces the possibility that the Underworld factory may be no more, while her past trauma is 'triggered'.
The actress, who first appeared as Carla in 2006, with her 20th anniversary on-screen set to fall in December, has revealed that the character is struggling to keep her beloved business afloat.
Carla's Struggle to Save Underworld
Speaking about the trouble the factory is facing, Alison said: "She's trying her absolute best to keep a lid on how stressed she is, so she doesn't panic everyone. But with inflation, everything is tight. The orders haven't been coming in, and they haven't been winning the contracts they wanted. She's keeping it under her hat, but they are really struggling."
Carla's wife, Lisa Connor-Swain, offers support, but when the detective suggests they could survive on her wage alone, that is not something Carla would ever want. Alison explained: "Lisa is very literal, so she says things coming from a place of love, but it's not what Carla wants to hear. Carla is learning to deal with that and understand what Lisa actually means, but she hates the thought of that. The factory is a huge part of Carla's identity, it's everything to her. It's that or nothing. She lives very much in the present, and that fight-or-flight mode keeps her going."
Idris's Interference and Factory Break-In
According to spoilers for next week's episodes, Idris Nazir overhears Carla talking to Lisa about an important meeting at the hotel. During the meeting, Carla and Michael Bailey are pleased with how things are going, but as the client heads to the loo, Idris stops him. Later, an intrigued Idris listens in as Carla confides in Lisa in the cafe that she will have to cancel the Christmas bonus and needs to get the current order out on time to save the factory.
Alison said of Carla: "She loves her workforce, they mean everything to her. They're like her children, especially after giving her the most beautiful wedding. So having to let them down, especially financially right before Christmas, is absolutely devastating for her. She's completely gutted."
Carla breaks the news to the devastated staff that she is struggling to keep the factory afloat. Meanwhile, Idris meets up with Brody at the rear of the factory and, handing him a lighter, tells him he has a job for him. Brody later lets himself into No.4 and steals Sally Metcalfe's set of factory keys, then enters the deserted factory, unaware that he is being watched by Leanne Battersby. Soon, Sally finds Carla and Lisa in the Rovers and tells them the factory alarm is going off.
Past Trauma Triggered
Speaking of the events, Alison commented: "She's devastated. She keeps it to herself for as long as she can before having to confess that the insurance won't cover it. She simply overlooked it because her head was full with everything else, Sarah, Betsy, and keeping things running. Given past trauma like the roof collapse, it's a massive trigger for her. At this point, she genuinely thinks it was just a terrible, tragic accident."
An angry Leanne confronts Idris and Brody, revealing that she saw Brody break into the factory. Carla tells the shocked factory workers that she has no option but to shut the factory and can only pay them one month's wages. A remorseful Brody is left disgusted that Leanne and Idris seem unconcerned about the factory having to close and all the staff being out of a job.
Later, an excited Idris shows Leanne the factory floor plans and explains that once the money is through from the sale of the school land, the factory will be theirs. Carla is touched when Sean, Izzy and Michael join her in the Rovers and tell her they will do anything to help her get the factory back up and running.
Alison said of Carla's predicament: "Running it with someone else wouldn't be her first choice, but if it's her only option to keep everyone above water, she'd do it. What's driving her to save it is the panic of having no plan B, not wanting to play second fiddle to Lisa, and feeling a massive responsibility toward her staff and being a role model for Betsy. But she does not want Idris involved at any cost."
