Stars of Coronation Street have issued a thrilling warning to fans, promising that the upcoming Corriedale crossover with rival soap Emmerdale will deliver huge, unexpected twists that leave characters' lives 'forever changed'.
Soap Worlds Collide in Hour-Long Spectacle
In an exclusive chat with The Mirror, actors Sally Carman-Duttine and Jonathan Howard, who play Abi Franklin and Carl on the ITV stalwart, teased the dramatic fallout from the unique event. The special hour-long episode, which sees the worlds of Weatherfield and the Dales collide, is set to air on Monday, January 5.
Sally Carman-Duttine was clear that viewers' predictions are likely to be wrong. 'For sure, it's not gonna go how anybody expects,' she revealed. 'But it is gonna be really engaging, really interesting and you are all gonna have a really good time. Get the popcorn and some snacks!'
Fallout and 'Forever Changed' Lives
The actress hinted at serious consequences stemming from a deadly stunt, stating bluntly: 'There's a possibility lives will be forever changed.' When questioned on how their characters, Abi and Carl, would react if the other was hurt, Sally joked about the unpredictable dynamic.
'Well I think that it could go either way,' she said. 'It will either be, "oh no, that's horrendous. Let's sort things out, I love you." Or it could be, "that's unfortunate, I've got a bus to catch."' Jonathan Howard played it safe, adding: 'I'm not quite sure what I can say, so what she said.'
Behind the Scenes of the Crossover Event
Filming the ambitious crossover was a memorable experience for the cast. Sally described 'a lot of frantic energy' during night shoots, but praised the camaraderie and even the catering. 'We had such a good time and the food was brilliant,' she shared.
She expressed her honour at being involved, calling it 'the stuff of dreams' and 'the cherry on top of the cake.' Jonathan Howard echoed the positive sentiment about working with the Emmerdale team, noting there was 'no competition, no ego' and that everyone collaborated as one team.
His experience wasn't entirely smooth, however, as he joked about contracting an ear infection during filming. 'I suffered for this episode, and everyone suffered hearing about my ear infection,' he admitted. Sally retorted: 'He used it in his performance, I was sick of hearing about it.'
Starstruck Moments and Webster Drama
Jonathan also confessed to being starstruck by Emmerdale legend Jeff Hordley, who plays Cain Dingle. 'When I was a kid watching Emmerdale and Corrie I always liked watching Cain,' he explained, expressing surprise that the actor's real name wasn't Cain.
The interview touched on the ongoing drama within the Webster family on the cobbles. Jonathan, whose character Carl is involved with Abi, suggested the family's issues were a collective problem, but quipped: 'To be honest it's all Kevin's fault for marrying such a beautiful lady, he needed to marry someone his own age.' A remark that prompted Sally to warn: 'He's gonna kill you.'
The pair plan to watch the much-anticipated episode, which airs on ITV1 and ITVX at 8pm, with their on-screen family. They hope to enjoy a Webster viewing party alongside co-stars Sue Devaney and Michael Le Vell.
