Christmas on the cobbles isn’t a festive occasion for everyone this year, as two Coronation Street residents find themselves embroiled in an actual fist-fight.
Tensions have been bubbling between Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) and sister Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor) in recent weeks, ever since Leanne discovered that Toyah was still seeing Nick Tilsley (Ben Price).
After the initial shock and betrayal wore off, Leanne made a plan to get back at them both, which has so far involved her trying it on with Nick and setting up a fake bank account in Toyah’s name.
In upcoming scenes, Leanne is set to continue transferring large sums of money from the Bistro account to Toyah’s fake account.
When Nick returns from Tenerife, Leanne is quick to usher him into the office and make out that there is a problem with the accounts.
After going over the figures, Nick makes a call to the bank Toyah’s fake account is registered with and asks them to freeze the account.
When Toyah arrives at the Bistro, she expects a warm welcome from Nick, but is shocked when she is promptly arrested by DC Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) for theft and fraud by abuse of trust.
‘It’s an enormous shock, she’s completely blindsided by it because she hasn’t done anything wrong,’ actress Georgia Taylor revealed.
‘Nick’s been away with Sam, she’s really missed him but in the meantime Leanne has been really messing with them both, sending text messages which we may later find out not be true, so Toyah is desperate to see Nick and make sure they’re still on track, then she’s met by this.
‘She walks into the Bistro giddy to see him and then Kit is there arresting her on suspicion of fraud which is the last thing she thought was ever going to happen.’
Toyah insists to Nick that she is innocent and Leanne must be setting her up, but who will he believe?
The next day, when Leanne finds a Christmas present for Toyah in Nick’s briefcase, she furiously heads to the police station and informs Craig Tinker (Colson Smith) that Nick and Toyah must be in it together.
As guests arrive at the Bistro for Gail Platt and Jesse Chadwick’s (Helen Worth and John Thomson) Christmas Day wedding, the police also make an appearance, informing Nick and Toyah that they need to ask them some questions regarding the fraud allegations.
After being shown the details of the TLH Holdings account, Nick insists he knows nothing about it.
Meanwhile, Leanne and Toyah break out into a blazing row, which quickly escalates into a full-on fist-fight, which Max Turner (Paddy Bever) makes sure to film.
‘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,’ Georgia explained.
‘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!’
After seeking legal advice, Nick is advised to do some digging to try and prove that Leanne has set them up, while Toyah tries to win Leanne back over by insisting that they never meant to hurt her.
When Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney) later accuses Nick of sending flirty texts while in Tenerife, Nick digs through the CCTV and spots that Leanne has two phones – could he be getting closer to catching her out?
The following week, Toyah is shocked to learn that Leanne could be facing a custodial sentence, and she begs Nick to drop the charges against her. Will he agree?
‘It’s interesting because Toyah and Nick have two quite different responses to this,’ Georgia teased.
‘Toyah feels great compassion for Leanne and because she does have quite a forgiving nature she wants to do anything to stop her sister from getting into more trouble and causing her more pain.
‘Whereas Nick has had enough, this is the straw that broke the camel’s back for him. He’s quite determined to take Leanne down which I think is going to cause a bit of conflict between Nick and Leanne…’
