Sarah Platt
Sarah Platt | |
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George Shuttleworth |
Sarah-Louise Barlow (also Platt, Tilsley and Grimshaw) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She was born on-screen during the episode broadcast on 2 February 1987. She was played by Leah King in 1987 and by Lynsay King from 1987 until 8 October 1999 when King opted to leave to focus on her education. Tina O'Brien took over the role on 31 October 1999; she opted to leave in 2007 and made her final on-screen appearance on 30 December 2007, although she made some brief voice-over appearances the following month.[1] A number of false rumours about O'Brien returning to the role surfaced during her absence from the serial.[2] In October 2014, it was announced that O'Brien would reprise the role, with Sarah returning on 30 March 2015.
Sarah is the daughter of
Storylines
1987–2008
Sarah is born prematurely in February 1987, and questions are raised about her paternity, due to Gail's affair with Brian's cousin,
Sarah subsequently befriends
Sarah becomes rebellious at the age of 15, splitting from her boyfriend
Sarah reconciles with Todd, and they move into the flat above the bookmakers, causing problems between Gail and Sarah, particularly when Sarah tells her that she is pregnant in late 2003. She is unsure about having the baby, but Todd convinces her to go ahead, and they get engaged, despite their families' disapproval. However, Sarah is unaware that Todd is struggling with his emerging homosexual feelings, and he begins an affair with
Sarah dates
Sarah's relationship with David is strained when Bethany takes an ecstasy pill that David had hidden in one of her dolls, and nearly dies. Sarah forbids David from attending her wedding, while Gail kicks him out. The pair continue to bicker continuously with each other up until Sarah's wedding day in October 2007, when he attempts to kill himself. The police interrupt the ceremony to inform the Platt family of the attempted suicide; Sarah marries Jason regardless, knowing it is just a stunt to ruin her wedding.
Shortly afterwards, Gail's brother
2015–present
Bethany (now
Callum later tells David and his wife and Max's mother Kylie Platt (Paula Lane) that in exchange for £20,000, he will be out of their lives forever. Callum turns up at the Platt house, where he takes Sarah hostage. When she tries to escape, he attacks and attempts to rape her, but is stopped when Kylie arrives and hits him over the head with a wrench, killing him instantly. Sarah is left in shock, and is forced to help cover up his murder.
Callum's murder leaves Sarah traumatised.
Sarah starts a relationship with
She later finds out that Bethany is being groomed, and Nathan is subsequently arrested, with Bethany moving back in with her mother. Sarah throws Gary out, having been told he had a one-night stand with
In February 2020, Sarah marries
Creation and casting
The character of Sarah was created as the daughter of Brian and Gail Tilsley. The character was born on screen. Sarah was played by Lynsay King from 1987 to 1999. Lynsay's twin sister Leah, who died of cot death in 1987, alternated in the role of Sarah with Lynsay for a brief period until her death. In 1999, Tina O'Brien was recast in the role. O'Brien was given the part when she was 16, playing the character who was still only 12 at the time. She left the role in 2007, but has said that she would consider returning to the role in the future.[9] O'Brien confirmed her return to the serial in October 2014, with her returning to filming in February 2015, and appearing on-screen from March 2015 onwards.
Development
Teenage pregnancy
The character's teenage pregnancy storyline was created to highlight the risks of teenage pregnancy. However, the storyline was highly controversial, as it was suggested that it glamorised the issue.[10] Despite this, it has been praised for its message.[11] Actress Tina O'Brien has revealed that she was "naive" over the plot at the time of filming, oblivious that it would create much controversy.[12] The storyline has been discussed in Television and criticism published by Intellect Books, which talked about the character and the storyline's impact.[13]
Internet grooming
In May 2001, it was revealed that Coronation Street would feature a storyline in which the issue of paedophiles "grooming" kids over the internet would be played out with Sarah. In the storyline, Sarah turns to the internet in her bedroom as a way of meeting people. While visiting chatrooms, she is befriended by a 16-year-old boy who shares her interests and sends her a photo of himself. It turns out, however, that it is a man posing as a 16-year-old and when he persuades Sarah to meet him face-to-face, she finds herself in a very dangerous situation. A spokeswoman for
Relationship with Todd Grimshaw
Sarah begins a relationship with Todd Grimshaw (
In March 2003, Polly Graham from the
The storyline sparks a fight between Sarah's mum Gail and Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver). Gail brands Todd a "two-timing, twisted, lying pervert" and the two proceed to pull each other's hair out in the street.[25]
Relationship with Jason Grimshaw
In late 2005, Sarah began dating Todd's half-brother, Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas). They had an on-off relationship and were due to marry in 2006. Speaking of the storyline Ryan Thomas said: "Jason was thinking about getting married in four years rather than four months. It was just a gesture, and that's all he wanted it to be. He thought they would just get engaged and they didn't have to get married for ages yet. It was more of a stepping stone for him. It has come round quickly for Jason, and he is sort of being pushed into it. He doesn't want to lose Sarah so he is going along with it because he does actually love her." Asked if Jason would settle down, Thomas also said: "He's had a bit of a past and he's a bit of a Jack The Lad around Charlie but on this occasion, for once, he's actually showing some grown-up qualities and, when faced with the prospect of losing Sarah, he chose to bite the bullet. There's no grey area with Jason because there's not that much grey matter! Everything's in black and white. It's either marry Sarah and keep her or don't marry Sarah and lose her forever." Speaking about if Jason will also be able to handle Bethany, Thomas said: "He certainly will – he pulls her to one side during the ceremony and makes her a pledge. He realises he can't have Sarah without Beth – they come as a package." The storyline resulted in Jason leaving Sarah and also resulted in Sarah leaving the street for a new life abroad with Beth.[26]
Departure
In April 2007, it was announced that O'Brien had quit her role as Sarah. Speaking of her reason for quitting, O'Brien said: "This has been an extremely difficult decision to make. I love playing Sarah and have had an amazing seven-and-a-half years in Coronation Street. But I feel that the time has come to see what else is out there for me as an actress". She also thanked the producers and the writers for giving her fantastic storylines during her stint on the show. She also revealed that she will miss everyone. Producer
In March 2008, it was reported that O'Brien was "seriously" considering a return to the soap just three months after leaving as she "struggled" to find acting work since an appearance in a Christmas pantomime.[29] Ryan Thomas, who was O'Brien's boyfriend at the time, stated that he would "love" her to make a return to the soap so that they could work together again.[30] It was reported again in July 2009 that she was to return to the role of Sarah for an "explosive" Christmas storyline in December 2009, but O'Brien denied these rumours, saying that she was not going to make a comeback "anytime soon".[31][32]
In November 2011, the
Reintroduction
On 23 October 2014, it was announced that O'Brien had reprised her role and that Sarah would be returning to the show in Spring 2015. Speaking about her return, O'Brien said "I am delighted to be returning. Sarah has a lot of history and unfinished business on the street and I'm looking forward to finding out what she's been up to and why she's returned home." O'Brien returned to filming on 2 February 2015.[36] Helen Worth who plays Sarah's mum Gail Platt spoke of O'Brien's return on ITV breakfast show Good Morning Britain saying: "I am absolutely delighted. I found out yesterday for sure and I can't wait to welcome her back."[37]
Discussing in an interview with Digital Spy about how she felt about being back on the show, O'Brien said: "It's lovely. I thought I was going to walk in and feel very much like the new girl, but actually I did a scene in the Platts' the other day and it was strangely normal, almost like someone was going to pinch me and say, 'You've been in a coma for seven years!' It was really odd, but nice." Asked how the return came about, she replied: "Well, I had been to see [Coronation Street producer] Stuart [Blackburn] and we had some chats, but then I was in the process of having a baby so it was slightly put on hold. After I had Beau, it was then brought up again and I said, 'Oh yes, I'd love to'. It was nice actually, as it meant that I could have this really precious time with my little boy but I also knew that I was going back to something as well. There are things Sarah hasn't finished with David, Jason, her mum – and obviously now this whole new dynamic of Bethany. It's so exciting to be part of the Platts, so I jumped at the chance."[38] O'Brien revealed that she was nervous about returning after being away from the serial for several years: "I was really nervous as it has been so long, but the second the scripts came through, it was really quick. When I did the scenes with Jack [P Shepherd, who plays David] and Helen [Worth, who plays Gail] and everyone, it was really nice. Sarah has got a little bit older and wiser during her time away. She has mellowed, but she's still very outspoken. I think she thinks Weatherfield is a little bit beneath her. She struts back in, she's been working in fashion, she sees David and she is like, 'Oh my gosh, you are still living with your mum'. There is still a soft side of her and you see some really nice scenes with her daughter."
With the announcement of Sarah's return soon came the announcement of her daughter Bethany's return with Katie Redford being cast in the role. Speaking of the announcement, Redford said: "Until I'm actually on set, I genuinely don't think it will sink in that I'm joining the cast of Coronation Street. I know it sounds clichéd but it really feels like a dream come true. Bethany Platt is going to be such a fun and witty character to play and I hope everyone enjoys her return as much as I'm going to!"[39] It was later revealed that Redford would be replaced in the role of Bethany with Lucy Fallon taking over the role. Speaking of her casting, Fallon commented: "Walking onto the set was surreal and nerve wracking, but everyone has been really welcoming and I am thrilled to have been given this great opportunity." Bethany made her return on screen on 20 March 2015, while Sarah made her return on 30 March 2015.[40]
The Platts vs Callum Logan
In February 2015, producer Stuart Blackburn revealed that Sarah would embark on a relationship with
Callum's murder and cover-up
Coronation Street aired a special live episode to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of ITV. In the episode, Callum and Sarah argue inside the Platt's home. Callum attacks Sarah, overpowers her and threatens her life. Kylie Platt (Paula Lane) walks in on the struggle and hits Callum over the head with a wrench.[47] Her actions leave Callum bloody and dead on her kitchen floor. The live episode concluded with David returning home to the fatal scene. He decides to help Kylie and Sarah to conceal Callum's murder. He wraps the body up and puts him down a manhole in their garage.[47] The following episode features the trio plotting to dispose of Callum's body in a public space. An ongoing conversion of the garage in a bedroom extension poses a problem and they need to move quickly, but a series of events ruin their plans.[48] Kylie and David are physically sick when they first try to remove the body from the man hole. They are later interrupted by a visit from the police who investigate Callum's abandoned car. Gail then hires Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas) to cover the manhole up with concrete, unaware Callum is concealed inside.[48]
The show planned a dramatic stunt which would lead to the discovery of Callum's corpse. The scene featured
Pregnancy and postpartum psychosis
On 15 October 2015, it was reported that there would be a shock twist in the recent Callum murder storyline with Sarah finding out she is pregnant with his baby. An ITV insider reportedly said: "It is a great twist by Corrie bosses. Sarah will be left with a heartbreaking dilemma about whether or not to keep evil Callum's baby. The decision threatens to tear the Platt family apart as they are already struggling to cope with keeping Callum's death a secret and now have this bombshell."[51] Speaking about discovering her character was pregnant with Callum's baby, O'Brien said: "I literally gasped. Then I shuddered at the thought of being 'pregnant' again, and when I was expecting my second child Beau, I was just massive and uncomfortable towards the end."[52]
Speaking of Sarah's reaction to the pregnancy O'Brien said: "She's absolutely stunned, "One she's been checked after being run over, the doctor tells her she's absolutely fine – and so is her baby! She obviously knows that the baby is Callum's. Sarah's devastated and she feels so shocked and foolish. It's horrendous for her." O'Brien went on to say: "She's completely torn. Keeping the baby will mean having a reminder of Callum with her every day and having to live with what's happened even more than she already has to. Sarah would have to lie to her child for its entire life and she wonders whether she would be able to do that." David's wife, Kylie, later finds out about the pregnancy, and O'Brien said "Kylie finds out because Sarah is acting really shifty. She's making secret phone calls to the clinic because she's unsure about what to do. And that's how Kylie finds out. Weirdly, it's Kylie who's been on Sarah's side more than David. So I think Kylie will prove to be a support network for Sarah."[53]
Following Sarah giving birth to a baby boy named Harry, it was revealed that Sarah would talk to Callum's dead body as her anxiety increases. Sarah attempts to seek help by confiding in Kylie that she can't bear to be in the same house as Callum's corpse and can't stop thinking about him. Sarah later carries Harry into the annexe where she talks to Callum's corpse. O'Brien responded to the criticisms that Coronation Street has been copying EastEnders with soap fans noting the similarities to Stacey Branning's (Lacey Turner) postpartum psychosis storyline. On the comparisons, she told the Daily Star Sunday: "It's a shame. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't. Lacey Turner is a fantastic actress. But this is very different. Stacey's got bipolar, whereas Sarah's psychosis is centred around Callum. There were thoughts about her having post-traumatic stress disorder. But because she's had a baby and because she's got the trauma of what's gone on with Callum, it will be classed as post-natal psychosis." O'Brien also noted that the storyline has been "the hardest thing I've ever done" and she's felt a huge responsibility to get it right.[54]
Reception
Sarah's
For her portrayal of Sarah, O'Brien was nominated in the category of Most Popular Newcomer at the
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