INTERVIEW

FOR BETTER...Kate Ford,O 34, who firstR took on the roleWORSE? very instinctive. She’ll just know when the Coronation Street’s Steve McDonald is about of Tracy 10 years ago, isn’t one to make time is right to take the ammunition out. apologies for her character’s appalling “Basically, she decides to put on a cracking to marry scheming Tracy Barlow – unless behaviour. And yet she can understand, at outfit, rock up to the church and say to Becky’s bombshell wrecks their big day least to a degree, why Tracy has resorted to Steve, ‘This is what you could have won…’” such extreme, unforgivable measures. There are several ways this could then BECKY DECIDES “She’s so scared of losing him,” she pan out, of course, particularly with vil, twisted, And how long did our sympathy last? explains. “She’s just desperate.” regard to Katherine’s final scenes. Will TO PUT ON A poisonous Ooh, several hours. By the following And Kate adds that, for all her character’s she successfully wreck the wedding? Will CRACKING OUTFIT, – over the years, episode, true to form, Tracy had turned this faults, “Tracy is a genuinely devoted mum.” she reconcile with Steve? Will she be ROCK UP TO Ewe’ve pinned terrible tragedy to her advantage in the What sets us up so nicely for Monday’s leaving alone? Or will she pledge her THE CHURCH AND no end of labels on most despicable fashion, claiming that a fall marriage ceremony is the fact that future to this Danny chap she’s taken such TRACY’S SO Coronation Street’s down the stairs at Becky McDonald’s flat Katherine Kelly, who’s been playing the a shine to – the widowed hotel manager SAY TO STEVE, SCARED OF LOSING Tracy Barlow. – to which she’d stormed for yet another wayward but ultimately lovable Becky since (played by ex-Holby City star Jeremy ‘THIS IS WHAT STEVE. SHE’S JUST And with every confrontation with her nemesis – was what 2006, is all set to leave the show. Sheffield) whose little lad, Billy, has already YOU COULD DESPERATE justification. Even her had caused her to lose her babies. And, So it doesn’t take a genius to figure out brought out Becky’s maternal instincts. initials have an unpleasant worse, that Becky had actually pushed her. that the writers will have created a suitably “At this point, Danny is out of the HAVE WON’ KATE FORD ring to them. As we go into this week’s big storyline spectacular departure for her character, as picture,” Katherine reminds us, “because But just before – Tracy’s wedding to Steve Becky’s gullible ex prepares to tie the knot he’s just been told he’s being transferred to KATHERINE Christmas, we CORONATION McDonald (Simon Gregson), the with the woman who has wrecked her life. Barbados. But he has left her a ticket and KELLY couldn’t help STREET, father of her daughter Amy, the Throw in the fact that, unbeknown to the all the possibilities are still buzzing around feeling man who would have been these happy couple, Becky has finally unearthed in Becky’s head. desperately MONDAY, twins’ dad, and the guy she’s indisputable proof of Tracy’s despicable “The thing is, until she has given Steve sorry for the 7.30PM & 8.30PM, taken such evil delight in stealing deception – sneaking into Dr Carter’s office one last chance to look her in the eyes spiteful little ITV1 from the despairingly innocent last night and printing out Tracy’s tell-tale and believe her, she can’t think about so-and-so, Becky – that’s pretty much where we medical records – and you can rest assured anything like that. She’s been like a dog as she suffered a still stand. Steve has swallowed Tracy’s we’re in for some typical soap-style with a bone, trying to get her hands on miscarriage, losing awful lie, continuing to believe that his ex is wedding day fireworks. The question is, these medical records and clearing her the twins that she effectively a killer, while bride-to-be Tracy how exactly will Becky drop her bombshell name. Now she’s got to run with it before had been expecting is thrilled that at last she has the man she’s – and with what consequences? she can think about anything else. Tracy Barlow and felt her world been chasing all this time. “She’s waited so long to get proof,” “She gives Steve one last chance to Right: (Kate Ford) and crashing down around her. Toxic Except, of course, this is Soapland, where explains Katherine, 32, “that I don’t think believe her, to stop him making the biggest Katherine Kelly Steve McDonald individual though she may be, you weddings rarely go to plan. Especially those even Becky knows what she’s going to do mistake of his life.” as Steve’s ex-wife, (Simon Gregson) wouldn’t wish that on anyone. involving Steve McDonald… with it. She’s not one to make plans, she’s Mike Ward Becky McDonald WILL IT BE FIFTH TIME 1995 2001 2004 2009 2012 Steve’s first wedding was back His second came in Tracy Barlow livened up Steve’s In 2009, things looked promising Steve and Becky’s marriage in 1995, when he tied the knot 2001, when he second wedding to Karen for Steve and Rovers barmaid eventually went into LUCKY FOR STEVE? with Vicky Arden (played married Karen (left) by turning up at Michelle Connor (Kym meltdown last year, having Can’t make it to Steve by Chloe Newsome, Phillips (Suranne the ceremony to Marsh’s character) – only never really recovered left) in St. Lucia. Jones, left) to help reveal Steve was baby for Steve to dump her from two miscarriages McDonald’s wedding? He’d hopped into her win a bet. Amy’s father (he and and propose to Becky and a failed adoption Don’t worry, he’s bed with Vicky They divorced Tracy had had a Granger (right). It bid in August 2010. immediately after two years later one-night stand). Steve then took Steve and It did at least look for bound to have being dumped by – but, typical threw the volatile Karen Becky two tries a while as if their split hairdresser Fiona of this out on Christmas Day before they became could be amicable, with another before Middleton (Angela couple’s crazy 2004, having feared for husband and wife – a Becky remaining hopeful too long. Monday’s Griffin). The marriage relationship, Steve a few terrifying nervous Becky getting of a reconciliation. ended in divorce proposed to her again moments that she’d too drunk for the first But Tracy Barlow had CREDITS

will be his fifth! REX FEATURES PHOTOS: ITV; two years later. on the same day. taken Amy’s life. ceremony to go ahead. other ideas . . .

6 SATURDAY MAGAZINE SATURDAY MAGAZINE 7