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Corrie star opens up about abuse plot

The relationship takes a horrifying turn this week...

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Coronation Street’s Nathan Curtis is set to become one of the most hated men in Soapland as he continues to groom vulnerable Bethany Platt.

The storyline has already shocked viewers and this week things go even further when Nathan lures Bethany to bed, before setting about grooming her to attend sex parties with other men.

Bethany has no idea the object of her affections is such a manipulative man.

She should get an inkling, though, when he gets arrested for abducting a girl. She does refuse to speak to him for a while after that, but Nathan’s sidekick Mel’s on hand to change Bethany’s mind about Nathan.

When Mel takes Bethany out and plies her with vodka, it can’t be a coincidence that Nathan happens to be driving past and offers drunk Bethany a lift.

Cobbles nurse Rana is out and about and has also spotted Bethany. She’s keen to get the teen home herself, but Nathan insists he’s her friend and he’ll take her.

Bethany gets in the car and they end up back at his flat.

He plays the gentleman and offers her the sofa, but when he goes to bed, he leaves his bedroom door open, and Bethany follows him to spend the night with him.

Speaking to The Sunday People, Chris Harper, who plays nasty Nathan revealed:

“He makes none of the first moves. He leaves her to do that every time and it’s very clever.

“Teenagers going through it themselves could be watching and we want them to start talking about it.”

Chris also told the paper that he’s worked hard to make sure he does real life victims justice throughout the storyline.

Read more: Julie Hesmondhalgh speaks about important Broadchurch role.

“It’s massively important I get this right for them. We want to reach out to people to let them know help is out there, and to tell abusers they can’t get away with it.

He’s spent a lot of time working with the NSPCC and has actually met survivors of abuse who’ve shared their stories with him.

“Nothing can desensitise you to what survivors of sexual exploitation have gone through. It’s the most important storyline I’ve ever had,” he revealed.

Speaking about one victim, who was just 10 when she met a predator pretending to be a 21-year old man online, Chris said:

“She was very intelligent but vulnerable. Her parents were abusive to each other.

“She was so lonely, so she struck up this friendship. The abuse lasted until she was 16.

“When the police investigated it was her word against his. Who would believe her against a 30-year old father?”

Read more: Corrie SPOILER: Simon to go missing

And Chris admitted he knows he’s not going to be popular as the storyline progresses. But he’s taking it in his stride.

“There nothing cute or lovable about Nathan.

“He’s a predator – malicious and vindictive through and through.

“I knew when I took this part it had a limited shelf life.”


Carena Crawford
Associate Editor (Soaps)