Tina McIntyre

Tina McIntyre
Michelle Keegan as Tina McIntyre (2011)
Coronation Street character
Portrayed by	Michelle Keegan
Duration	2008–14
First appearance	7 January 2008
Introduced by	Steve Frost
Spin-off appearances	Out of Africa (2008)
Classification	Present; regular (departing)
Profile
Occupation	Student (until 2007) Shop assistant (2008) Newsagent assistant (2008–09, 2010) Barmaid (2010–14) Secretarial assistant (2012–13)
Home	17A Coronation Street
Family Father Joe McIntyre Mother Anna McIntyre Stepmother Gail Platt (2010)

Tina McIntyre is a fictional character from 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, including perjury, abortion, the sudden death of her father Joe (Reece Dinsdale), a strong friendship with Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox), becoming a surrogate mother for Izzy Armstrong (Cherylee Houston) and Gary Windass (Mikey North), deciding to raise the baby as her own son, a feud with Kylie Platt (Paula Lane) and many relationships such as David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd), Tommy Duckworth (Chris Fountain), Dr. Matt Carter (Oliver Mellor) and Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas). In April 2013, it was announced that Keegan would be leaving the show in 2014.

Storylines

Tina is first seen trying to book a doctor's appointment at the Medical Centre for an STI test and argues with Gail Platt (Helen Worth). Tina starts dating Gail's son, David (Jack P. Shepherd), and soon learns that she is pregnant. She discusses the situation with Gail, feeling unable to tell her own parents, and Gail is pleased to hear that she wants a quick abortion. Gail pays for Tina to go to a private clinic, providing that she doesn't tell David, worried that he is too unstable to be a father. David eventually finds out and ends the relationship. Furious with Gail for interfering, he pushes her away when she tries to stop him leaving the house but she accidentally falls down the stairs. Shocked, he visits Tina and they reconcile. She gives David an alibi but Gail's memory returns and she gives a vague description of a different assailant to protect David. Feeling guilty and wanting to be punished, David goes on a rampage, smashing windows in the street and he is imprisoned. The couple reconcile when David is released, and things become complicated when Gail embarks on a relationship with Tina's father Joe (Reece Dinsdale), who gives David a job. Later in the year David and Joe become embroiled in a feud with the Windass family, who owe Joe money. In January 2009, David gets into a fight with Gary Windass (Mikey North) and is badly beaten. David convinces Tina to tell the police that Gary started the fight and he is charged with assault. However, Tina cannot bring herself to commit perjury in court and tells the truth, that David had punched Gary first. Gary is acquitted and Tina and David split up. Tina gets a job at The Kabin newsagents and develops a strong friendship with her boss Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox).

In July 2009, Tina shares a drunken kiss with Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas) after he humiliates himself with Minnie Chandra (Poppy Jhakra). Although initially enjoying his attention, Tina tells him that he isn't her type and leaves. Later, she and Jason meet again and return to his house. Tina asks Jason if he is in love with her and, when he says he is, she tells him she reciprocates and they embark on a relationship. They buy the flat above The Kabin, and renovate it together, assisted by her father. In February 2010, Gail returns from a short break in the Lake District alone, claiming Joe got a job refitting a yacht there but Tina is worried about her father's wellbeing. David and Gail later inform Tina that Joe is missing, having planned to fake his own death in a boating accident in order to use his life insurance to pay off debts he owes to a loan shark.

Joe's body is later discovered and Tina is devastated, identifying her father's body. The police wrongly suspect Gail murdered Joe and Tina starts to believes this, banning Gail from Joe's funeral and on learning that Gail is planning to go to Italy, she tells the police of her suspicions. Gail is arrested and charged with murder while Tina sinks deeper into depression and ends her relationship with Jason after he proposes to her. David's friend, Graeme Proctor (Craig Gazey), tries to help her but she refuses and when he learns she has stopped eating, he moves in to look after her. Gail is cleared of murder, leaving her furious as she is still convinced of Gail's guilt, but Tina eventually realises that Gail is innocent and they make peace.

Tina falls in love with Graeme, despite reconciling with Jason as he supported her through Gail's trial, she realises that she isn't being fair to Jason and ends their relationship. Graeme tells Tina that he loves her and she eventually tells him she feels the same and they start dating. In September, Tina quits her job at The Kabin after Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden) accuses her and Graeme of credit card fraud and starts work at the Rovers in December. On her first night, a gas explosion at The Joinery bar causes a tram to derail and crash on to the Street. Tina helps with the rescue effort as many residents seek shelter at the Rovers.

In February 2011, during a Valentine's Day meal with Graeme, Tina realises their waitress is an old friend, Xin Chiang (Elizabeth Tan), and sees that she is upset. Xin explains that she is struggling financially and Tina suggests Xin moves in with her and Graeme but their landlord, Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin), puts the rent up. In March, Tina and Graeme's flat, destroyed in the tram crash, is repaired and ready for them to move back in to but Xin is being threatened with deportation, due to visa problems, so Tina suggests she and Graeme get married. She and Graeme stage a break-up and Tina moves out so Xin can move in but they become a bit too close, making Tina jealous. Despite an investigation by the UK Border Agency, Xin gets her visa but after she twists her ankle after falling from a ladder, she is forced to stay but Graeme takes the marriage seriously, refusing to get back with Tina and starts an affair with Xin. Tina is devastated and when David's wife, Kylie Platt (Paula Lane), tells Tina that she should have expected it, leading to a fight in the pub and Steve gives Tina a verbal warning. Feeling that they have betrayed her, Tina threatens to report Graeme and Xin to the Border Agency but Gail persuades her not to. Graeme and Xin move to London regardless but before Graeme leaves, she tells him that she could never hate him despite him breaking her heart, and they part on good terms.

Tommy Duckworth (Chris Fountain) pursues Tina for weeks as she gives him mixed signals after moving in with him and Tyrone. Tommy accepts Tina's offer to have dinner together, despite having a date with Amber Kalirai (Nikki Patel). Tommy leaves Amber to be with Tina, claiming that Tyrone is in hospital but she sees that Tyrone is okay. She then visits Tommy and confronts him, after seeing him with Tina, and dumps him. Tina is furious and trashes the dinner. In August 2011, Tina starts dating Dr. Matt Carter (Oliver Mellor), after flirtatious conversations and they date until Tina realizes that Matt is embarrassed by her working in a pub when he gets her a job interview at Nick's bistro. Tina tells Matt that if he is embarrassed by her, they should split up but he insists he just wants her to do better for herself. Tina throws a pint over Matt and dumps him. In March 2012, Tina tells her colleague Sean Tully (Antony Cotton) how she feels about Tommy and Sean tells her that Tommy reciprocates but Tina is unsure. Sean suggests that she make a "Pros and Cons" list. Tina has more pros for Tommy than cons on the list but she still has doubts. Tommy then plans a night out in town and Sean warns Tina that he could meet someone else and forget her so she asks him out. The evening is successful until Tommy finds her list and is upset to see that she describes him as immature. He confronts Tina and after an argument, she storms out.

In April, Tommy is devastated to learn that his grandfather Geoff Horton (Dicken Ashworth) has died of aids. Tina supports him and encourages him to go to the funeral. Afterwards, they talk about his Geoff and Tina tells Tommy about her father's death and this bonds them, realising they are in love. Tommy tells Tina his Geoff would have liked her and Tina responds by saying Joe would have approved of him. They kiss and start dating. The following week, Tommy's father, Terry Duckworth (Nigel Pivaro), returns to the street. Despite Terry having sold him as a baby to his maternal grandparents after his mother's death, Tommy bonds with Terry and goes to work with him at his new lap dancing club, despite Tina's doubts. These worsen when she learns Terry is in serious debt to Rick Neelan (Greg Wood), the loan shark her father had been in debt to when he died. Tina discovers that Terry and Tommy plan to burn down the club to claim the insurance. Tina begs Tommy not to go through it, but Tommy insists that he has no choice. However, he cannot go through with the plan and Terry intends to do start the fire himself. When Tina tries to stop him, a struggle breaks out Tina is knocked unconscious. She is rushed to hospital and spends three days in a coma. On regaining consciousness, she tells Tommy that Terry was responsible for her injuries. Tommy confronts Terry, and demands that he choose between £9,000, or him. On visiting Tina later, he lies to her that Terry had paid Rick before leaving when he had actually left with the money. Tommy is then forced into smuggling drugs in cars at the garage where he works by Rick to pay off Terry's debt and when Tina finds out, she forces Tommy to confront Rick and orders him to leave them alone. Rick then gets his henchmen to beat Tommy up in front of her. When Rick orders Tommy to drive thousands of pounds of cocaine to Amsterdam, Tina decides to take action She takes the drugs on the day of Rita's wedding to Dennis Tanner (Philip Lowrie) and in revenge, Rick kidnaps Rita and threatens to throw her into the canal if she doesn't return the merchandise, so Tina gives them to him. However, as he tries to leave, he is stopped by the police and arrested. Tina had previously tipped off Kirsty Soames (Natalie Gumede) and dumps Tommy briefly but the couple soon reconcile. In August, Tina is stunned to learn that Kirsty is beating Tyrone when she finds him treating his injuries in the garage. When Kirsty leaves Tyrone, she tries to support him and tells him that he is better off without her but this upsets him and he throws her out. Beth Tinker (Lisa George), speculates that Tina and Tyrone were having an affair which is why Kirsty had left but Julie Carp (Katy Cavanagh) does not believe her. Tina eventually tells Tommy the truth and this eventually leads to a fight in The Rovers in September 2012, which results in Kirsty going into labour. Tina is then shunned by her friends and neighbours who believe she has a vendetta against Kirsty and Tyrone.

Tina agrees to become a surrogate for Gary and his girlfriend Izzy Armstrong (Cherylee Houston), in return for payment from Izzy's father Owen (Ian Puleston-Davies). Tommy is unhappy with the plan but Tina insists, explaining that they need the money to pay off Tommy's debts. Tina goes through with the embryo transfer, despite concerns from Rita and Tommy, unable to cope with Tina being pregnant, ends the relationship. Tina helps Tyrone and Fiz run away with baby Ruby after Kirsty has Tyrone arrested for domestic abuse. Tina begins to feel suffocated by the Windass family as her pregnancy progresses and is shocked when Gary tries to kiss her. Outraged, she threatens to tell Izzy and Gary begs her not to. Izzy's sister, Katy Armstrong (Georgia May Foote), finds out and makes a snide comment to Izzy during an argument about Gary not being perfect and Izzy confronts him, after finding him with Tina.

She tells Izzy what happened and leaves them to discuss the matter and she goes back to work but then goes into labour. Tina is rushed to hospital and gives birth to a baby boy with Tommy and Izzy present. Disgusted with Izzy's refusal to allow Gary to see the baby, Tina allows Gary see his son and this leads to Gary and Izzy rowing in the special care baby unit. Furiously, Tina reprimands them for their behaviour and throws them out. They reconcile and decide to name the baby Jake, but spending so much time with him, expressing milk and having to sign consent forms for his bowel operation, makes Tina realise that she cannot bring herself to hand Jake over to Izzy and Gary. When the baby is strong enough to come out of the incubator to be held, Izzy and Gary are not pleased to find Tina holding him and Gary suggests getting Tina to take a step back in order for Izzy to bond with him. Tina then tells them that she has decided to keep the baby. Izzy and Gary are outraged with Tina and she promises to repay the surrogacy money but initially they don't want it, leading to another row in the special care baby unit and Tina stops them from visiting the baby after they are reprimanded by the midwife. They learn that they cannot force Tina to sign the adoption papers. Tina moves in with Rita and when asked by Rita in The Rovers how the baby is, Anna insists she answer so she tells them that Joe is fine and they can visit if they want. However, Anna, Gary and Izzy are further angered by Tina changing the baby's name and leave the pub in disgust. After Gary tells Anna that there is nothing they can do to stop Tina, Anna storms into the pub and slaps her, shouting at her, Tommy, Rita and Dennis in front of a packed pub. Tina asks Tommy, Rita and Dennis if she is doing the right thing after being slapped by Anna. Tommy tells Tina that he will support her regardless but she has to think about how Joe will feel when he is older. Izzy and Gary reluctantly decide to let Tina keep Joe. Just as Gary and Izzy are handing the baby to Tina, she realises that what she is doing is wrong and tells Izzy and Gary that they can keep him. When she gets home, Tina breaks down in Tommy's arms.

The next few months prove difficult for Tina following her surrogate ordeal. When Izzy arrives at The Rovers and tells Tina that the Bistro is fully booked and they have no where to hold Jake's welcome home party, Gloria Price (Sue Johnston) allows Izzy to have the party at The Rovers, upsetting Tina. At the party, everything gets on top of Tina, and after many spiteful remarks from Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford), she throws a glass of wine in her face. Tina then grabs a bottle of vodka and shouts at Rita, calling her nosy. Tina then runs off to the Red Rec where she comes across a gang of youths. When the youths attempt to bribe the vodka from Tina, she threatens them, so they leave her alone. Tina later returns to the street, unaware that a concerned Rita has wondered to the Red Rec looking for her. The youths target Rita and attack her, running off with her belongings. Tina, Tommy and Dennis all race to the Red Rec where they find Rita sitting on a bench, distraught. Dennis later scolds Tina for her childish tantrum which resulted in Rita getting mugged.

There are further shocks for Tina when David tells her that Kylie and his half-brother Nick Tilsley (Ben Price), had a one-night stand on Christmas Day 2012. Tina is concerned about David's actions, and is disgusted when she learns that David has started up a vendetta against Nick and his wife Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson). This all comes to a head when David tries to kill Nick in a car accident, which has left Nick comatosed. Tina then tells David that she wants nothing more to do with his problems. David later gets Tina involved again after he has a paternity test done on Kylie's new-born daughter, Lily Platt, which prove that David is her father. Kylie later becomes suspicious of David and Tina, and they share a catfight in the middle of The Rovers. The next day, Kylie apologises to Tina for the fight, and begs Tina to tell her that is going on. Tina keeps her mouth shut, and Kylie later gets the truth from Nick.

When David splits up with Kylie, Tina offers him a place to stay. However, this infuriates Tommy who accuses Tina of never putting him first, and leaves for the Canary Islands. A few weeks later, Tommy rings Tina and tells her he is not coming back and ends their relationship. Tina then gets into a feud with Tracy, after Dennis carelessly pawns Rita's engagement ring at Tracy's shop, and Tina ends up throwing a brick through the shop window. Tina also becomes friendly with Tracy's stepbrother Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) who warns her not to antagonise Tracy. Tina later starts babysitting Peter's son Simon (Alex Bain), taking him to and from school. When Peter rows with Rob Donovan (Marc Baylis) at the pub at his stag night, Tina helps calm Peter down. When Peter tells her that his fiancée Carla has taken over planning their wedding and he isn't sure he wants to get married. The pair then almost kiss, but are interrupted by Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard). The next day Peter comes back from his honeymoon with Carla, Tina kisses Rob and are caught by Carla. When Peter finds out, he attacks Rob. On Christmas Day 2013, Kylie winds Tina up so Rob escorts Kylie out of the pub. Tina follows them, and when she insults her for sleeping with Nick, Kylie punches Tina. The pair then descend into another catfight, and the police arrive and arrest Kylie for punching Tina. After Rob gives Tina a lift to town and Tina gives Rob a peck on the cheek. Then a jealous Peter catches Tina and later that day and Tina then sleeps with Peter nearly caught by Roy Cropper (David Neilson). Tina later visits Peter asking him to leave Carla Connor (Alison King) but he refuses. After learning she has no future with Peter, she packs her bags and flees the street.

Character creation

Background

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.

Casting

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]

Development

Characterisation

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]

Departure

On 20 April 2013, Keegan confirmed that she had quit Coronation Street.^[8] The actress stated "I have had the most amazing six years at Coronation Street and it was such a difficult decision to leave. But I felt it was the right time for me to make the next step in my career. I will miss Tina and will always be grateful to ITV and Coronation Street for giving me such an amazing role to play for my first ever acting job."^[8] Keegan added that she was excited to see what the coming months would hold for Tina, while series producer Stuart Blackburn commented that plans were being made for her "powerful and gripping" exit storyline.^[8] Keegan was planning to leave when her contract expired in November, but was persuaded to stay until May 2014.^[8]

Reception

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."^[9] Keegan went on to win the award.^[10][11] which she was voted for by a panel.^[12] 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^[13] 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.^[14] 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.^[15] The Daily Mail commented how the character has gained a large male fan base after just 18 months within the show.^[16] 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.^[17] On Digital Spy's 2012 end of year reader poll, Keegan was nominated for "Best Female Soap Actor" and came second with 14.2% of the vote.^[18] Keegan was voted 'Sexiest Female' at the British Soap Award for four years in a row for her portrayal as Tina.

References

External links

• Tina McIntyre at itv.com