Carla Connor’s mental health struggles see her talking to three Coronation Street characters who have died, in heartbreaking scenes to be screened next week.
The Underworld boss, who blames herself for the death of Rana Habeeb after her factory roof collapsed, suffers a severe psychotic episode.
Battling suicidal urges, Carla has imaginary conversations with Rana, as well as Hayley Cropper and Aidan Connor on the fire escape in Victoria Street.
But during five episodes airing next week she learns the roof was sabotaged – and who did it.
Coronation Street trailer teases dramatic week of episodes as Rana's killer revealed
Alison King, who plays Carla, said the “emotional” scenes come as her “psychosis has got so bad” and she is convinced her family has turned on her. Alison, 46, added: “She is busy trying to get the microchip out of her ear she thinks they have implanted.
“It was very hard to play as it was so terrifying for her at that stage – inside her head
everything is terrifying.
“She thinks she is seeing Hayley, then she thinks she is seeing Rana and doesn’t know if Rana is dead or alive. Then she thinks she sees Aidan.
“To her it is real. She is in a very dangerous predicament and unrecognisable to Peter, [Barlow] who is desperate to rescue her.”
Julia Lamb, of mental health charity Mind, praised Corrie for tackling such a sensitive subject.
She said: “It’s refreshing to see Coronation Street explore how traumatic events can lead to psychosis, [which is] frequently and misrepresented.”
