Coronation Street’s Sally Carman has admitted it was ‘special’ to have her character Abi Webster reunite on screen with her late son Seb Franklin (Harry Visinoni) – despite the tragic circumstances surrounding his return.
Fans of the ITV soap have seen Abi unravel in the wake of Mason Radcliffe’s (Luca Toolan) murder last month, suffering with PTSD.
Since trying to save stab victim Mason’s life, she has seen visions of Seb’s final moments after he died in similarly violent circumstances in 2021.
Sally revealed that she ‘loved’ having Harry back on set as he reprised his role as Seb after nearly four years.
Praising her co-star and on-screen son, she actress said: ‘It was just gorgeous and just brightened my day. Even though we did those horrible scenes, he was so eager, and so happy to be back. He loved it. He was buzzing from it. He got every little bit of whatever he could out of it.
‘And it’s just that kind of energy you can’t help but be buoyed up by it, and full of positive energy anyway. Having Abi and Seb back together was special.’
She continued: ‘To act out those scenes when he appears has been amazing.
‘There’s so much history there and and there is a realism to the scenes, because you’ve gone through it, whether it’s acting or not.
‘It was the easiest thing to do in the world, to respond to and to play that, because it was actually happening in real time with him there in the room and it was, it was a phenomenal opportunity, and I loved it.’
Sally also said she relished the chance to play out Abi’s PTSD.
‘So it’s been exhausting because you’ve got to play for real, but yes, I have loved it,’ she said.
‘I didn’t realize that that was actually a thing that could happen with PTSD, to realize that people are suffering like that is horrific, absolutely horrendous.
‘Again, it’s just bringing awareness and more understanding to what PTSD actually is. This is a very serious, very serious.’
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 or stream first from 7am on ITVX.
