Coronation Street actress Beth Nixon has unveiled a significant behind-the-scenes detail regarding the soap's distressing grooming narrative. Beth, who portrays Megan Walsh in the long-running ITV series, appeared on This Morning to discuss her role in the harrowing plotline.
Protecting the Young Actor
During her appearance on the daytime show, Beth was joined by soap expert Sharon Marshall, who disclosed an intriguing production fact. Sharon revealed that Beth and her teenage co-star Lucas Hodgson-Wale, who plays 16-year-old athletics student Will Driscoll, never actually shared an on-screen kiss.
'I didn't realise until you said it backstage, we've never actually seen you kiss the actor - because the actor himself was 17,' Sharon explained. 'So you've protected the actor on-screen.'
Creative Solutions for Sensitive Scenes
Beth elaborated on how this approach benefited her performance. 'It's obviously helped me, it's made it easier for me,' she stated. 'There's a barrier of the level of intimacy that we have. I didn't even know that going into filming.'
The actress expressed surprise at audience reactions to this revelation. 'It's really interesting - when I tell people that we've never kissed, they're really surprised. They're like, "You have, you definitely have" and I'm like, "No, no, no", we haven't.'
Beth described how the production team handled these sensitive moments. 'It's just implied and we get creative in how we're going to end the scene where there should be a kiss.'
Portraying a Complex Character
The actress discussed the challenges of playing Megan Walsh, whose character has been grooming and manipulating her teenage student in recent episodes. Recent scenes have shown Megan's crimes being exposed, leading to her arrest, though she hasn't yet faced full justice.
'It's such an honour to be trusted with a storyline like that... it's so delicate,' Beth remarked. 'There's so much in it. I get to work with a lot of the greats there as well. It's just been amazing from start to finish.'
Understanding Megan's Psychology
Beth provided insight into her character's mindset. 'She's got like a god complex about herself. She doesn't think that she's doing anything wrong, ever. She believes her own lies, massively.'
The actress continued: 'Even if she does something and then denies it, in her own brain, she didn't do it. That's just the way that her brain works. Massive narcissist and yeah, just completely out for herself.'
Public Reaction and Social Commentary
Addressing how viewers have responded to her character, Beth noted: 'I've been really lucky. I think because I'm a woman... if it were the other way around, I think the public reaction would be a lot different.'
'I get people saying, "Oh she's naughty, ain't she?", but I think because I'm a woman it's slightly more forgiving,' she observed. 'That's the whole reason we're doing the storyline - it's up for debate.'
Beth highlighted the important social message behind the plot. 'When it's an older woman it's kind of seen as a "rite of passage" for young boys, but obviously that's not the case. Will is a child and Megan is an adult and she's in a position of trust.'
Connection to Upcoming Whodunnit
This revelation comes as Megan Walsh finds herself among five characters potentially facing death in an upcoming Coronation Street mystery. Back in February, a flashforward to April 23 teased that either Megan, Theo Silverton, Maggie Driscoll, Carl Webster, or Jodie Ramsey would be killed off.
All five characters have developed grudges with other Weatherfield residents through their antagonistic actions, keeping viewers guessing about who will meet their demise. Online speculation has intensified among dedicated fans attempting to solve the mystery.
Fan Theories and Speculation
Recent developments have led some viewers to believe they've eliminated one suspect. When actor Jonathan Howard, who plays Carl Webster, posted a behind-the-scenes photo from the Coronation Street set to Instagram, fans quickly theorized this meant his character wouldn't be the April 23 victim.
The photo showed Howard posing with co-stars Alan Halsall, Vinta Morgan, and Michael Le Vell, with the caption: 'Sun finally came out to say hello on the cobbles today...'
Fans immediately began commenting on social media. One wrote: 'Oh, so one less murder victim suspect. I'm pleased.' Another added: 'Ooo... Carl isn't the one who ends up dead on the 23rd then...' while a third shared: 'Oooooo Carl doesn't die!'
A fourth fan chimed in with: 'Well I'm guessing Carl doesn't die!! Spoiler alert lol.'
Coronation Street continues to air on ITV1 and the streaming platform ITVX, with viewers eagerly awaiting the resolution of both the grooming storyline and the upcoming whodunnit mystery.
