Bethany Platt

Bethany Britney Platt is a fictional character in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She was born on screen during the episode broadcast on 4 June 2000. She was played by Mia Cookson in 2000 and by twins Amy and Emily Walton from 2000 until 30 December 2007, when the character of Bethany departed. The character of Bethany was reintroduced and recast in 2015 with Lucy Fallon taking over the role and Bethany made her return on screen on 20 March 2015.

Bethany is the daughter of Sarah-Louise Platt (Tina O'Brien) and her classmate Neil Fearns (Paul Holowaty), granddaughter of Gail Platt (Helen Worth) and great-granddaughter of Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls). Bethany's storylines have included her taking ecstasy tablets when her uncle, David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd) hid them in a toy. Bethany departed with Weatherfield with her mother Sarah for a new life in Milan. Her return storyline saw her running away from home in Milan back to Weatherfield, her infatuation with Callum Logan (Sean Ward) as well as being caught up with her family's feud with Callum.

Storylines

2000–07

When 12 year-old Sarah-Louise begins to worry about gaining weight and is horrified to discover she is five months pregnant. After considering adoption and a plan for her mother Gail (Helen Worth) to pretend the baby is hers, Sarah decides to raise the baby herself and gives birth, aged 13 in June 2000. Just hours after her birth, Bethany is kidnapped by Alison Webster (Naomi Radcliffe), whose baby son Jake has just died. Alison and Bethany are found but Alison commits suicide after handing Bethany over. Sarah originally plans to call her daughter Britney after pop star Britney Spears, but is persuaded not to by her grandmother, Audrey (Sue Nicholls). Sarah tries to cope but, being little more than a child herself, relies heavily on her mother and once even leaves Bethany at home alone. Sarah struggles to find boyfriends who will accept that she is a teenage mum but things come to a head when she begins dating Aidan Critchley (Dean Ashton). When Aidan crashes the stolen car he is driving and Sarah is badly injured, she realizes Bethany was nearly left without a mother and resolves to put her first. However, this is not the last time Bethany's life is put in danger. In 2003, Gail's husband Richard Hillman (Brian Capron), having been revealed as the killer of Maxine Peacock (Tracy Shaw), tries to kill Sarah, Gail, David (Jack P. Shepherd), Bethany and himself by driving the family car into the canal. Thanks to Gail handing Sarah a pair of nail scissors as she kissed her goodbye, Sarah is able to cut herself free, undo Bethany's seat belt and swim to safety with her.

When Sarah begins dating Todd Grimshaw (Bruno Langley), he accepts Bethany as his own. Much to Gail's disgust, Sarah and Bethany moved in with Todd and his family, leading Gail to involve Social Services and causing a rift in the family. When Bethany's father, Neil Fearns, is killed in a car accident, Sarah decides to take Bethany to the funeral. Neil's mother, Brenda (Julia Deakin), is pleased to meet Bethany and asks to be part of her life. After Sarah and Gail fall out, Brenda invites Sarah and Bethany to live with her, even agreeing that Todd can move in too after some misgivings. However, when Brenda insists they sleep in separate rooms, Sarah worries Brenda is taking over and they leave. However, Brenda has become mentally unbalanced by her grief and kidnaps Bethany, planning to kill herself and Bethany so they can be with Neil. However, Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire) finds them and manages to talk Brenda down. Despite the difficulty of looking after Bethany at such a young age, Sarah is persuaded by Todd into having another baby. However, Todd is secretly struggling with his sexuality and the shock of discovering his affair with Karl Foster, sends Sarah into premature labour. Bethany's half-brother, Billy Platt, dies shortly after birth. Bethany gets a new father figure when Sarah begins dating Todd's brother, Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas), soon after their split. Jason becomes very fond of Bethany but she is almost left fatherless once again when Jason panics about the responsibilities of marriage and parenthood and jilts Sarah at the altar. Sarah later forgives Jason and he becomes Bethany's stepfather although David ruins the wedding by deliberately driving into the same part of the canal that Richard drove the family into.

When an increasingly off-the-rails David hides ecstasy tablets in one of Bethany's dolls, Bethany finds them and swallows one, making David panic. He makes Bethany drink salt water, hoping to make her sick, but is later forced to admit the truth. Bethany makes a full recovery but Social Services become involved and the possibility of Bethany going into care is raised. As a result, Sarah tells Gail that either David moves out or she and Bethany will. Concerned about their safety, Gail tells David to leave. When Sarah's uncle, Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce) offers David a job in Milan, Sarah gets revenge for her ruined wedding and Bethany's trauma by planting ecstasy in his drawer at Audrey's Salon. When Audrey finds the drugs, Stephen withdraws the job offer and Sarah persuades him to give it to her instead. Sarah plans to move to Italy with Jason and Bethany. However, at the train station, Sarah admits to a horrified Jason that she planted the drugs and he refuses to go with her. Sarah and Bethany then leave for Italy without him.

2015–

Bethany returns to Weatherfield and persuades Andy Carver (Oliver Farnworth) to buy her drinks in The Rovers, annoying Andy's girlfriend, Steph Britton (Tisha Merry). When Gail comes in, Bethany's identity and age, are revealed, horrifying landlady Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh). Gail later phones Sarah and discovers Bethany has run away. Bethany pleads to stay, claiming she hates Milan and Sarah virtually ignores her in favour of work and her new boyfriend, but Gail still books a return flight for her. However, Bethany hides her uncle Nick Tilsley's (Ben Price) car keys and runs away to ensure she misses her flight. Sarah returns to Weatherfield to take Bethany back to Milan but this ends in a heated argument and Bethany throwing an ornament at Sarah. The pair later reconcile and recall fond memories of their time in Milan, with Sarah agreeing they can stay a few days and that she will find her a new school when they return. However, Bethany is determined not to go back and manages to get Audrey on her side. Bethany causes further trouble when she shoplifts from a boutique, forcing Sarah to get help from David's enemy, Callum Logan (Sean Ward). Bethany then winds her mother up by regularly pointing out Sarah's obvious attraction to Callum, whilst trying to convince Jason that Sarah wants him back. When Jason tells Sarah he isn't interested in her, the two play Bethany at her own game by pretending to reunite. Bethany eventually seems to be resigned to returning to Milan. However, when Stephen repeatedly chases Sarah to send him a report and she lies that her internet is down, Bethany spots her chance and sends him a casual email, proving there is nothing wrong with their internet access. A furious Sarah tells Bethany that she has finally got her way as Stephen has fired her.

At Gail and Michael Rodwell (Les Dennis)'s wedding reception, Bethany gets tipsy and accidentally knocks over the buffet so Nick sends her home. Gail is devastated as her wedding cake has been ruined. Bethany later develops feelings for Callum, despite him dating her mother, and begins spending more and more time at his flat. Callum convinces Bethany to deliver some drugs to a heavily-tattooed man, who intimidates Bethany. She spends the next day with Callum and his friend, Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell), and offers to do another delivery for him. However, the police raid The Dog & Gun (which is Callum and Gemma's local pub), which panics Bethany. She gives the drugs to Callum who gives them to Gemma and Callum is furious when Gemma is arrested. Bethany spitefully tells Sarah that Callum has been looking at other women inappropriately, upsetting Sarah and nearly results in the couple breaking up, but Callum talks his way out of the situation.

Callum took photos and videos of her delivering his drugs and pretending to smoke cannabis which he used to blackmail Sarah when she broke up with him over his dangerous lifestyle. After learning that Max witnessed Callum beating up Jason in the ginnel, he drugged Sarah and forced Bethany to give him an alibi. Bethany told police that she was with Callum in his flat when Jason was attacked. She later retracted her statement when Callum used his thugs to threaten Audrey and wreck No.8. Later unknown to Bethany David's wife Kylie accidentally kills Callum, Bethany however is told he is gone away but Sarah, wrecked with guilt, as she was there when the murder took place takes her and Bethany back to Milan for a few weeks. Bethany learns Sarah is pregnant by Callum after overhearing Todd, David and Kylie discuss it. She confronts Sarah in The Bistro and lets Gail and Audrey know about Sarah's pregnancy.

Creation and casting

Amy and Emily Walton shared the role of Bethany Platt from the character's birth in 2000 until 2007 when Tina O'Brien chose to quit.^[1][2] Mia Cookson also played the role of Bethany alongside the Walton twins in 2000.^[3] On 23 October 2014, it was announced that Bethany, now 14 years old, would return to the show.^[4] Katie Redford was initially cast in the role,^[5] but was sacked just days later before filming began after it was revealed that she was 25 years old, not 19 as she and her management had claimed.^[6] On 29 January Blackpool-born Lucy Fallon was confirmed as her replacement.^[7] She returned on 20 March 2015.^[8]

Development

Bethany takes ecstasy

In 2007, a storyline involving David Platt planting ecstasy tablets in a toy of Bethany's and Bethany accidentally taking drugs was revealed. Of the storyline, Jack P. Shepherd commented "I was quite excited because I've not really done emotional stuff before. I've done little bits but this is a huge storyline. It's a character change for David. The only way David knows how to get attention is by doing bad things. It's the only time when people sit up and listen."^[9] Executive producer Keiran Roberts said "We didn't set out to do a story about the danger of drugs, but we have got responsibilities and if we can send out a useful message, in this case that drugs can be very dangerous, then that is all well and good."^[10]

Reintroduction

With the announcement of Sarah's return soon came the announcement of her daughter Bethany's return with actress Katie Redford being cast in the role. Speaking of the announcement Redford said: “Until I'm actually on set, I genuinely don't think it will sink in that I'm joining the cast of Coronation Street. I know it sounds clichéd but it really feels like a dream come true. Bethany Platt is going to be such a fun and witty character to play and I hope everyone enjoys her return as much as I'm going to!"^[11] She returned on 20 March 2015.^[12] It was later revealed that Redford would be replaced in the role of Bethany with Lucy Fallon taking over the role. Speaking of her casting, Fallon commented: "Walking onto the set was surreal and nerve wracking, but everyone has been really welcoming and I am thrilled to have been given this great opportunity." Bethany made her return on screen on 20 March and Sarah made her return on 30 March 2015.

Feud with Callum Logan

In February 2015, producer Stuart Blackburn revealed that Sarah would embark on a relationship with Callum Logan portrayed by Sean Ward who is the ex of David's wife Kylie Platt portrayed by Paula Lane and an enemy of David's. "David's got massive problems, because over the weeks Callum's taken a real liking to Max and Max is actually his biological son," Blackburn told ITV. "And he's got almost as many rights to Max as David does. On the seemingly good news front is the return of Bethany and Sarah, but very quickly Callum takes a real liking to Sarah. It's a liking that is returned, so huge problems for David!"^[13] Bethany also has a crush on Callum and Callum uses this to his advantage. Blackburn said "Sarah Lou is involved with Callum and her daughter Bethany also has a crush on him. Callum will use this crush and Bethany will become his insurance policy if things go wrong. Bethany thinks she is grown up, but she is just a 15-year old kid. She is naive and she is going to get in a world of trouble because of her involvement with Callum."^[14]

Reception

For her portrayal as Bethany, Lucy Fallon was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2015 Inside Soap Awards.^[15]

See also

• List of Coronation Street characters (2000)
• List of soap opera recasts

References

External links

• Bethany Platt at the Internet Movie Database