Nobody wants to make an enemy of the murderer next door. That’s exactly what Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) is about to do when she agrees to a business decision likely to upset one of the most dangerous people on Coronation Street – Maggie Driscoll (Pauline McLynn).
Friday’s visit to the Cobbles will see Leanne discover that Megan Walsh (Beth Nixon) is pregnant, which makes her reflect on her own history and consider a surprising new direction in life.
During a girly coffee morning in Roy’s Rolls with Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley) and Mary Taylor (Patti Clare), Megan gets an appointment reminder on her phone… which Leanne is quick to notice. Later, Leanne and Eva find Megan in tears, and after some gentle coaxing, admits that she’s pregnant.
What neither women know of course, is that Megan is a child predator who is actively grooming Eva’s underage stepson Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale). Keeping her cards close to her chest, Megan insists the father is her ‘official’ boyfriend Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard) but claims that she is not ready to be a mother. That’s why she is going to get an abortion today.
Understanding, Leanne knows how Megan is feeling and draws on her own experience with her miracle baby. ‘I’ve been exactly where you are now.’ Leanne explains. ‘They said I couldn’t have kids and then I had a one night stand and it happened. I got my Oliver. My miracle baby. He’s gone now. But I don’t regret it. And I wouldn’t change it for the world’.
Oliver Battersby was the result of a fling between Leanne and Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson). She loved him dearly, and his tragic death from Mitochondrial disease remains one of her most impactful and significant stories on Coronation Street to date.
But despite Leanne’s advice to sleep on it, Megan’s mind is made up and she goes to the clinic.
Later, it’s clear the trip down memory lane as left Leanne both shaken and thoughtful, as she unloads to Eva in the Rover’s Return. “What am I still doing here? Working in a curry house – those rainy Cobbles!” Desperate for a change, Leanne resolves to take action. ‘I’m going to sell my share in Speed Dahl. Start again somewhere new and hot. A fresh start with no memories and no baggage’.
But Leanne’s musings are interrupted by Maggie nagging Eva for having a glass of wine on the job. While Leanne encourages Eva not to put up with the old battleaxe, Eva has another idea – buy out Maggie’s share so they can run the Rovers together! ‘Me and you running the Rovers!’ Eva gushes. ‘It would be brilliant!’ Clearly loving the idea, Leanne doesn’t disagree.
But we can think of one person who wouldn’t be so keen – Maggie. The sharp-tongued mistress of the Rovers Return has never been thrilled about calling Eva her daughter-in-law, and is fiercely protective when it comes to her family… so much so, that she killed her husband by throwing him down the stairs during a blazing row.
If Maggie’s willing to commit murder, how will she react to Eva and Leanne trying to muscle in on her pub?
