In upcoming episodes of Coronation Street, Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) is devastated when her boyfriend Aaron Sandford (James Craven) tells her he slept with her best friend Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney). Summer confronts Amy, who reveals she was unconscious and unable to consent, meaning Aaron raped her.
Actress Harriet Bibby explained Summer's initial reaction: 'First she gets the story from Aaron that he and Amy have slept together. Obviously she’s heartbroken and breaks up with Aaron and tells him to get out.' Summer is torn between her boyfriend and her best friend, but ultimately believes Amy.
'Summer’s furious because her and Amy have been friends for so long. From the story that Summer has got from Aaron she thinks that Amy has betrayed her,' Bibby said. 'But when Amy actually does turn around and tell Summer that she didn’t consent to this, Summer believes her. After that she’s not prepared to take Aaron on at all.'
Bibby added: 'I think as soon as Amy says it, your gut instinct is to not want to believe it... Her first response is you’re lying, he wouldn’t do that but I don’t think Summer believes what she’s saying because she knows her best friend and she knows she would never lie about it.' Summer ultimately tells Amy: 'I believe you, I’m really sorry.'
The actress stressed the importance of Summer's unwavering support: 'She never questions Amy and I think that’s really important because you’d like to think that if you were telling your friend that that happened to you... you would want them to turn around and be with you.'
