Coronation Street actress Sydney Martin has revealed she sought advice from Emmerdale's Mark Charnock while preparing for her character Betsy Swain's stroke storyline. Charnock's own character, Marlon Dingle, suffered a stroke in 2022, and his portrayal of the condition's aftermath was widely praised.
Betsy's stroke was confirmed in Wednesday's (July 15) episode, with doctors discovering she had suffered two life-altering strokes. The cause was identified as a blood clot resulting from neck artery damage, after Betsy revealed that her boyfriend, Dylan Wilson, had strangled her during consensual sex. The storyline was developed with input from the Institute for Addressing Strangulation, The Stroke Association and Safeline.
To ensure accuracy, Martin spoke to stroke advisors and two young stroke survivors, including Louise Hindley, who had a stroke at 20. She also practised communicating with her flatmates, explaining: "It's important to me to convey everything as best I can. Stroke sufferers have trouble finding the words." She described herself as a perfectionist who wanted to get the story right.
The actress wears a prosthetic to depict Betsy's paralysis and facial drooping. "Half her body is now paralysed," she said. "She has facial drooping on the eye and mouth and she is slurring." Betsy will later return home from hospital, requiring a downstairs bedroom and a wheelchair.
Martin, who joined Coronation Street two years ago after leaving her job at Tesco, said she feels fortunate to be trusted with the storyline. She has previously been involved in plots including the death of Mason Radcliffe and the mystery surrounding Theo Silverton's death. Speaking about the impact on young viewers, she said she hopes young stroke sufferers will take comfort from the storyline.
