The actress has confirmed the return of the classic ‘Battersby brawl’ this Christmas, but will Toyah and Leanne Battersby pull through?
Coronation Street star Georgia Taylor has confirmed the return of the classic ‘Battersby brawl’ this Christmas as a warring Toyah Habeeb and Leanne Battersby come to blows.
Fans of the ITV soap have an inkling that Leanne is up to no good having discovered that her sister and her ex-partner Nick Tilsley are still seeing each other after their affair was exposed amidst the downfall of Institute mentor Rowan Cunliffe in the autumn.
It’s been revealed in spoilers for the Christmas period that after returning from Tenerife, Nick calls at the Bistro and is ushered into the office from Leanne who explains there’s a problem with the accounts. Going over the figures and discovering a series of payments made to TLH Holdings, he calls the bank to freeze their account.
Then, wehen Toyah Habeeb arrives for work, excited that Nick is back, her excitement turns to shock when DC Kit Green arrests her on suspicion of theft and fraud by abuse of trust. Toyah assures Nick that she’s never stolen a penny from the bistro, someone has set her up and she reckons that someone is Leanne.
Later, after sneaking a look inside Nick’s briefcase, Leanne is furious to see a wrapped Christmas present for Toyah. Leanne calls at the station and shows PC Craig Tinker a pile of presents from Nick to Toyah, making out that they are in it together.
Unaware of her sister’s latest move, Toyah arrives in the Bistro to help Nick set up for Gail and Jesse Chadwick’s wedding, explaining that Leanne has lifted her ban for the occasion. As guests arrive, the police show up and tell Nick and Toyah that they need to ask them some questions on a fraud allegation.
As Kit shows Nick the account from TLH Holdings, Nick assures Kit he’s never seen them before. At the station a row with Toyah and Leanne escalates into a fight and Max Turner films it.
Speaking about the violent scenes, Toyah star Georgia revealed how it happens on the day of Gail Platt and Jesse Chadwick’s winter wedding. She said: “Toyah and Nick have been further questioned about the fraud, they’re back at the bistro, then they quite boldly in front of everyone share a kiss.
“Of course that is the exact moment that Leanne walks through the door and far as she’s concerned they’re just rubbing her nose in it. A huge row escalates between the two sisters which culminates in a physical, old school Battersby brawl.”
On filming the scenes, the soap star shared: “It was a lot of fun to film but what I loved most was all the other characters in the scene and their reactions which were just absolutely brilliant. Craig, the bumbling police officer bursting in and making a hash of things, Colson is just so funny and such a joy to work with.
“Then Sue Devaney, who plays Debbie Webster, is just hilarious, at one point there was a camera just purely on her watching all her reactions, we were all creasing up, she’s a comic genius. It was such a great atmosphere and energy having us all together in a big group.”
But will there be a way back for the warring sisters? “They have been through so much but this is next level and the way things are going it’s going to take a very long time,” Georgia confessed. “But I really do hope they can come back together. Things are definitely not great in the Battersby camp but I think that ultimately there’s just too much history there to not have them back together.”
