Coronation Street actor Jonathan Howard, who portrays Carl Webster, has shared his aspirations for the villain's potential redemption if he survives the ongoing murder week. The character is among five potential victims facing death in a gripping storyline.
Actor Hints at Carl's Future
Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, Jonathan Howard teased what lies ahead for Carl if he makes it through the week. He stated, 'If Carl survives, I think everything he is going to go through this week will be life-changing for him. If he dies, the Websters, or most of them, will have mixed emotions. If he survives, then hopefully he has the chance to redeem himself a little bit.'
The actor acknowledged the possibility of an exit, adding, 'I'd be very grateful for the time I have had here. I feel very lucky to play the part I've done. He is so much fun to play. It's much better to do that stuff in-character than in real life!'
Desire for Character Growth
Asked if he would like Carl to change, Jonathan confessed, 'As long as he can still be an annoying little brat. If he didn't lose that, I'd be happy to have a bit of humility.' He also expressed concern over Carl's recent actions, particularly blackmailing his mother Debbie Webster despite her dementia diagnosis. 'When I started, I was winding people up, doing selfish things, robbing cars, hit and runs. But his one saving grace was he loved Debbie. Since he's found out she's his mum, he's just taking advantage of her dementia and blackmailing her, so that's been a bit harder to play.'
Jonathan emphasized the need for empathy in his role: 'I've got to have empathy and compassion and find the humanity in him. If I'd grown up my whole life not really knowing who my family was and feeling left behind, how would that impact me? I've got to play what's on the page, but I've got to try and find the reason behind it.'
Potential Redemptive Arc
The actor concluded, 'If Carl survives, how far are we going to push the envelope? I love playing the mosquito and I really hope he continues to have some of that in him. But I try and find moments of kindness and moments of wanting to be loved.'
Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
