| Amber Kalirai | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coronation Street character | |||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Nikki Patel | ||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Tony Wood (2005) Phil Collinson (2011) |
||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2005–09, 2011— | ||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 9 November 2005 | ||||||||||||||
| Classification | Present; regular | ||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 9 January 1991 | ||||||||||||||
| Residence | 15a Coronation Street | ||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Shop assistant (2009, 2011—) Takeaway Worker (until 2009) Student (until 2011) |
||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
Amber Kalirai is a fictional character from the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Nikki Patel, the character first appeared on-screen during the episode airing on 9 November 2005. In May 2011 it was announced that Patel had returned to filming and Amber appeared again from 11 July 2011.
Contents |
The character is the daughter of Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin). She first arrived on in November 2005, when her mum Ravinder was taken into hospital and she was looked after by Sunita and her dad on the Street. Amber started helping out in the Corner Shop but her incessant chat wound up Dev. Initially Dev did not want Amber in his life as he was married to Sunita Parekh at the time and she served as a reminder of his philandering ways. However, he warmed to her and she came to live with him after her mother Ravinder moved to Finland with her partner. She had a crush on fellow neighbour David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd) but he was initially unaware of her feelings. When he did confront her, she denied it.
In early 2008, Amber began working at Valandros restaurant with Leanne (Jane Danson), Paul Clayton (Tom Hudson) and Luigi until it was set alight by Paul. Dev then claimed that he did not want her any where near Paul. Amber has had an infatuation from David after he has been trying to make his ex girlfriend Tina (Michelle Keegan) jealous, first by letting Amber use one of his gig ticket which Tina had refused. In August 2008, David invited Amber around to his house for lunch in a deliberate attempt to annoy Tina. Amber, unaware that she was being used, kissed a less than enthusiastic David. Unable to contain her anger any longer, Tina stormed around to the house demanding to know why David was playing these games, this interruption left Amber humiliated. She breaks up with her boyfriend Daryl (Jonathan Dixon) when she finds out he was going to leave her after her Dev paid him, although he changed his mind. She left Weatherfield for University in London.
She returns nearly two years later to stay with Dev, much to Sunita's reluctance. She soon starts catching up with old acquaintances such as Sean (Anthony Cotton) and David, and helps Sophie Webster (Brooke Vincent) get her job back at her dad's shop. She also reveals to Sophie she was kicked out of university and gives Sophie tips on how to get back on Kevin (Michael Le Vell)'s good side. She then goes for a night out with Tommy Duckworth (Chris Fountain) and arrives home early next morning, Sunita agrees not to tell Dev about her staying out all night, but Sunita does tell Dev, and Amber reveals she has been kicked out of university. Tommy and Amber go on a date, but Tommy tells her he has to leave as Tyrone is in hospital but he goes on a date with Tina, Amber walks in on them on a date and is furious. In October 2011, Amber takes Sophie to a lesbian bar, where Amber gets a girl's phone number but tells Sophie so won't be calling back as she is not a lesbian.
Then while Sophie's girlfriend Sian is in France with her mother Amber takes this as an opportunity to take Sophie out. She takes her to a bar where a boy chats up Sophie and as an act to "get the guy to leave her alone" Amber kisses Sophie and claims to be Sophie's girlfriend, Sophie, shocked asked Amber what she was playing at but wasn't too bothered as Amber had earlier spiked her drink. The next day Sophie calls in sick at Dev's corner shop feeling terrible after Amber spiking her drink and partly trying to avoid Amber. Sophie then consoles in Amber's step-mother Sunita of what to do and of guilt of developing feelings for Amber, Sophie then proposes to Sian and Sian accepts.
Nikki Patel was cast in the role.[1] In May 2011 it was announced that Patel had returned to filming with the serial.[2]
Amber is a street wise and sassy character who isn't afraid to speak her mind. ITV Publicity goes onto confirm this by describing the character of Amber as: "She is an intelligent, friendly, outgoing, chatterbox who loves sharing gossip with Norris Cole. She’s sassy and streetwise too.[3] What's On TV magazine describe Amber as: "Open and honest and always speaks her mind - even if it's uncomfortable hearing! She loves to gossip and is able to indulge her passion with equally nosy shopkeeper Norris"[4]
Amber later began dating Darryl Morton, which is her first real relationship, and has continued to see him up to this date, although the pair have faced many obstacles within their first few weeks of dating. Darryl later moved in with Amber and her father after becoming homeless when Jerry Morton rented his house to the Windass clan. Due to the onscreen romance with Amber, his character was given a reprieve so they could carry their onscreen romance after originally being axed with the rest of the Morton family.[5][6]
The character of Amber became centre to storylines during 2008 and Patel impressed bosses with her performance and awarded her with an onscreen relationship and friends the first being Minnie Chandra who is portrayed by Poppy Jhakra. A spokesperson from the soap opera said: We've been extremely pleased with Nikki Patel's performance as Amber, so we thought it was about time to explore her friends on the Street. Minnie will play a part in the development of Amber's relationship with Daryl Morton and Dev's relationship with Tara."[7]
In 2006 actress Nikki Patel was nominated as Best Newcomer at the National Television Awards.[8] Ian Wylie on Manchester Evening News stated that Nikki Patel has shone in the portrayal of the determined school girl Amber[9] and also went on to say that he thought she should have won an NTA for her portrayal of the character.[9] Kate White from Inside Soap ran a feature on what christmas presents she would give to soap characters. White said she would buy Amber a "big spoon" so she could stir up trouble for her neighbours. As White thought Amber did a great job of making Sophie and Sian's "terribly twee romance much more exciting".[10]