Coronation Street star Tina O'Brien has spoken for the first time after it was revealed that her character Sarah Platt killed Theo Silverton in the ITV soap's latest whodunnit storyline. The builder was found dead following a 13-month reign of physical and mental abuse over his partner Todd Grimshaw, and the revelation came during a dramatic dinner party episode on Monday, June 22.
Flashback Reveals the Murder
During the dinner party hosted by Sarah and her fiancé DS Lisa Connor-Swain (played by Vicky Myers), tensions erupted as Maria Windass confronted her husband Gary and Sarah about a suspected affair. However, the real secret was far darker. A flashback sequence showed the night of Theo's murder: Sarah received a suspicious text from Todd's phone and went to the flat she had shared with Theo. There, a drunk Theo taunted her, bringing up the son she and Todd lost 21 years earlier. As the confrontation turned violent, Theo threatened Sarah, and she grabbed a metal pipe, striking him on the head. Theo fell from the scaffolding and died. Sarah then called Gary to help cover up the crime.
Tina O'Brien's Reaction to the Twist
Speaking about her first reaction to learning Sarah was the killer, Tina O'Brien said: "I was really shocked, but for me, personally, I completely understand how it happened, why it happened. For me to get into her character and her head, I feel like, in that moment, she didn't feel like she had any other choice." The actress, who has played Sarah since 1999, admitted keeping the secret was difficult: "I've literally been a big bag of nerves. It's been so difficult, I told my mum and I just recently told my children Scarlett and Beau. It's really hard having to keep it quiet for that long, especially when you're online, you're seeing all the chat on social media... Actually filming these scenes the weeks after have been the hardest thing I've ever filmed because I felt like my face looked guilty constantly."
Excitement for the Storyline
Despite the pressure, O'Brien expressed excitement about the storyline: "There was a lot of debate in the green room as soon as we were told there was going to be a murderer... But I genuinely didn't worry, at the end of the day, this job is incredible, but to be an actor is not necessarily a job for life. So, I just was really excited to be given the honour of being the murderer, and then hopefully, however it plays out, I'll enjoy Sarah's arc."
