| Tina McIntyre | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coronation Street character | |||||||
| Portrayed by | Michelle Keegan | ||||||
| Introduced by | Steve Frost | ||||||
| Duration | 2008— | ||||||
| First appearance | 7 January 2008 | ||||||
| Classification | Present; regular | ||||||
| Spin-off appearances | Out of Africa (2008) | ||||||
| Profile | |||||||
| Date of birth | 18 February 1991 | ||||||
| Home | 9 Coronation Street | ||||||
| Occupation | Newsagent assistant (2008–09, 2010) Barmaid (since 2010) |
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Tina McIntyre is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Michelle Keegan, the character first appeared on screen during the episode airing on 7 January 2008. The character has gained a large fan base due to her brash personality, with the character being central to many key storylines such as perjury, abortion and the sudden death of her father.
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In January 2008, Tina becomes the girlfriend of David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd), and within a week, has sex with David, resulting in Tina becoming pregnant. When David has Tina's name tattooed on his arm, she becomes very angry and storms out. Gail (Helen Worth) convinces Tina to abort the baby which she does. When David eventually finds out about the abortion, he pushes his mother down the stairs, leaving the scene quickly and fleeing to Tina's, making up with her while he is there. She later gives David an alibi. Tina tells David that she will help him if it goes to court and has to commit perjury. David convinces Tina to lie for him. When Gail's memory starts returning, David is caught out and sent to prison.
In July 2009, Jason plants a drunken kiss on Tina after humiliating himself with Minnie Chandra (Poppy Jhakra). Although at first clearly enjoying his attention, after the kiss, Tina angrily informs him that isn't the way to win her affections and leaves. Later, she and Jason go out for a drink together and return to Jason's house. Tina then asks Jason if he fancies her and, after he admits he does, she tells him the feeling is mutual and they kiss passionately. The couple then move in to the flat above The Kabin after their bid to buy it is accepted and they renovate it together. The relationship ends in December 2009.
In February 2010 after Gail returns from the Lake District without Joe, after a breakaway, Tina becomes worried. Unknown to everybody, Joe has in fact drowned at the lake in a botched attempt to fake his own death in order for Gail to claim on his life insurance policy. In March 2010 when Gail is accused of murdering Joe. Tina then comes to suspect that Gail may be guilty and bans her from attending Joe's funeral. Tina sinks deeper into depression as she grieves for Joe. David's friend Graeme Proctor (Craig Gazey) does his best to try to help her but she refuses and he discovers that she has not eaten for a long period of time. Gail is proven not guilty, which leaves her reeling. However, when she later learns that Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) was making up the claim that Gail confessed to her, she comes to realise that her stepmother is innocent, and she makes her peace with her.
Tina begins to harbour deeper feelings towards her close friend Graeme. Having reconciled with Jason as he supported her through Gail's trial, she soon comes to the conclusion that she is not in love with him and tells him. Graeme admits to Tina that he is love with her, however, she does not reciprocate immediately. In September 2010, Tina quits her job in The Kabin after Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) accuses her and Graeme of credit card fraud. In December, Tina accepts a new job working behind the bar at the Rovers. Her first night on the job proves to be memorable for all the wrong reasons when a gas explosion at The Joinery bar causes a tram to derail and crash on to the Street. Tina helps in the rescue effort as many devastated residents seek shelter at the Rovers.
In February 2011, during a St Valentine's Day meal with Graeme, Tina is surprised to find their waitress is her old friend Xin Chiang (Elizabeth Tan). Tina notices Xin isn't her usual self and Xin explains that she is upset as she cannot pay her bills. Tina offers Xin the spare room in her flat but when landlord Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin) hears of the girls' plans, he tells Tina the rent would have to be increased if Xin moved in. The following month, Tina and Graeme's flat, which was destroyed in the tram crash, is fully refurbished and ready to move into. In March, as Xin's visa is running out, Tina concocts a plan to keep her in the UK whereby Graeme would marry Xin. Tina and Graeme stage a break-up soon after in the first phase of the plan and Tina moves out of the flat. After Xin moves in, she and Graeme develop a close friendship and Tina becomes jealous. Despite an investigation by the UK Border Agency, Xin is granted her visa. However, a twisted ankle means that she cannot move out of the flat. In May 2011, Graeme refuses to go to bed with Tina because he is married to Xin despite it not being a genuine relationship. Graeme and Xin then develop feelings for each other and they end up sleeping together. Graeme tells Tina about the affair and she is angry and heartbroken. Tina is provoked by David's wife Kylie Platt (Paula Lane) who tells Tina that she should've expected this. Tina and Kylie brawl in the pub to the annoyance of Steve who gives her a final verbal warning. Tina deals with the situation very badly and threatens to report Graeme and Xin to the immigration authorities. After Gail intervenes, Tina changes her mind and as Graeme and Xin leave Weatherfield for London, she tells him that she could never hate him despite breaking her heart.
Tommy Duckworth has been pursuing Tina for many weeks now, with her giving him mixed signals. She moves into number 9 with Tommy and Tyrone. Tommy accept's Tina's offer of a meal together at home, despite having arranged had a date with Amber Kalirai. Tommy quickly sneaks off from the date to be with Tina, after lying to Amber that Tyrone is in hospital. Amber walks in on Tommy making a move on Tina and dumps him. Tina is left furious and storms off after trashing up the dinner in anger.
In August 2011, Tina gets the attention of local doctor Matt Carter (Oliver Mellor), after some flirtatious chatting, he asks her out. They went on regular dates, much to Tommy's jealousy. In October, Matt started to urge Tina to quit her job at The Rovers and get a new one at the Bistro. He gets her an interview without asking Tina, which makes her angry. After she doesn't turn up, he goes into the Rovers to ask her why. She tells him that she feels like he is embarrassed by her being a barmaid, he argues that she is wrong, but is persistent in saying that she could do much better for herself. Tina is happy with her job, so him saying this results in her throwing the beer she had just poured, all over him.
Tina McIntyre was cast in the soap to portray a short-term girlfriend of character David Platt, to help change his evil ways. As the character's personality was portrayed on screen, soap bosses and viewers were impressed with the character and actress Michelle Keegan which resulted in her character becoming a permanent fixture.[1] Giving the character more ties to Coronation Street it was announced that her onscreen family had been cast. She has worked in low-skilled jobs such as the Kabin and as a barmaid. Her main links in 'Coronation Street were initially with the Platt family.
Auditions were held for the part of the character and Michelle Keegan received a call from her agent telling her she had been offered the part, the initial audition being only her second for any part.[2] She was called to a meeting with producer Steve Frost, he was immediately happy with her and handed her the scripts.[3]
In an interview with the Daily Mirror, Keegan spoke about her character's success in the show stating that: "Tina came in to the show just to change David into a nice character, and then to get to the point where he pushed his mum down the stairs. I was supposed to be out of there after that. But they’ve kept me on. They needed a bit of a ballsy character, I think. She’s moved into the Platts’ now and she’s getting a family base around her, so hopefully she’s around for the long haul. I didn’t think I was staying, so I’m very lucky".[4]
During the character's first episode, Tina clashed with various characters such as Betty Williams, Gail Platt and Becky Granger who had taken an initial dislike to her. This showed off her brash personality and her straight talking attitude from her first appearances. These personality trends have helped characterise and popularise Tina.
Describing Tina's personality after her arrival on screen, the official ITV website states: "Tina has never felt like she’s fitted in anywhere, but she’s not a pushover by any means. She thinks she knows everything, but doesn’t and would rather be friends with lads than girls, who usually hate her. Challenge her to an arm wrestle and she’ll probably win."[5] Also stating that she is feisty and fell into a common job rather than not being smart enough to do anything else, with Michelle saying during an interview: "She’s feisty but she’s essentially a good girl at the moment".[4] In another interview she reveals that her character dresses to appear sexy and confident.[6] and with another the ITV official website saying: "She can be very feisty but she's just a normal, vulnerable, 17-year-old girl and she's very confused.".[7]
On the teenage abortion storyline actress, Keegan (who knew about the storyline before taking the part) said: "It was such an emotional storyline to be involved in I was scared and wondered if I'd really be able to pull it off. But it's been a real challenge and good to get my teeth into something.".[2]
Ian Wylie of Manchester Evening News commented on Keegan's nomination as best newcomer at The British Soap Awards 2008 and her portrayal of the character saying: Coronation Street’s Michelle Keegan is nominated as Best Newcomer, fully deserved even after just a few months on screen" and "teen rebel Tina McIntyre, played by Michelle, reminds many of a young Suranne Jones as Karen McDonald."[8] Keegan won the award.[9][10] which she was voted for by a panel.[11] One of the main reasons Michelle was given a longer contract with the soap was because the character had impressed the viewers and bosses so much[12] and Ian Wylie also commented on the win and big impression, an achievement because of the short amount of time the character has been on screen.[13] Jon Wise of 'The People' observed her as bolder than Liz McDonald's make-up and brassier than Leanne Battersby.[3] Michelle has also been nominated at the National Television Awards for Best Newcomer.[14] The Daily Mail commented how the character has gained a large male fan base after just 18 months within the show.[15] The Daily Mirror added that she had gained a notable army of fans because of her character's personality and Keegan's natural acting style.[16]