Coronation Street's Maggie Driscoll Embraces Dark Side in Explosive Feud
Pauline McLynn, who portrays the formidable Maggie Driscoll on Coronation Street, has provided new insights into her character's increasingly extreme behavior. The actress detailed how Maggie will stop at nothing to protect her family from perceived threats, particularly targeting Megan Walsh in upcoming dramatic episodes.
A Character Driven to Extreme Measures
Maggie Driscoll, who resides at the Rovers Return pub, has been hiding a dark secret since late last year: she pushed her husband down the stairs, resulting in his death. This violent past, combined with her fierce protective instincts toward her family, creates what McLynn describes as "a recipe for disaster" on a street where residents frequently face danger.
The Driscoll family's world was recently upended when they discovered that young Will Driscoll (played by Lucas Hodgson-Wale) was being groomed by Megan Walsh (Beth Nixon). Despite their suspicions, the family has been unable to gather concrete evidence of inappropriate behavior between the pair. Will remains in denial about the situation, and Megan has refused to take a DNA test to confirm whether she's carrying the teenager's baby.
Taking Matters Into Her Own Hands
Frustrated by the slow pace of legal proceedings and what she perceives as inadequate protection from authorities, Maggie decides to take direct action. "She completely believes she can sort the situation out," McLynn explained about her character's mindset. "Maggie feels that the law moves at a very slow pace and for rules that she does not have to play by."
Describing Maggie as "more of a blunt instrument" compared to others who must be careful in their approach, McLynn revealed that her character employs "splendidly devious" methods to locate Megan after she goes into hiding. "She does what nobody else would do," the actress said. "She goes to all kinds of lengths to find out wherever Megan is and then she goes to confront her because nothing else is working."
An Escalating Conflict with Physical Consequences
The confrontation between the two women escalates dramatically, with McLynn confirming that physical altercations occur. "Oh, yes, she's not above getting her hands dirty at all," the actress stated, adding that there will be "splendid rows" and "splendid fighting" in upcoming episodes.
McLynn sees Megan as a worthy adversary for Maggie, noting that both women are "brilliant liar[s]" or "concealer[s] of the truth." "They're quite well matched like that," she observed. "It's really wonderful to see two women from opposite sides of an argument having a proper go at one another."
The situation becomes so volatile that Megan eventually reports Maggie to the police for assault. However, this legal intervention does little to deter the Driscoll matriarch, who dismisses the complaint as "nonsense" and "a waste of everyone's time."
Unwavering Determination and Family Loyalty
Despite police involvement, Maggie remains undeterred in her mission. "She's not a woman who backs down easily," McLynn emphasized. "She'll just go again and keep going until it happens."
The actress explained that viewers would likely be disappointed if Maggie didn't continue her pursuit after failing to initially "run the woman out of town." Maggie's determination stems from what McLynn describes as "absolute total loyalty to family" and a willingness to do "pretty much anything to keep it intact or safe."
McLynn hinted that Maggie possesses unique methods for tracking people down, comparing her skills to "a mini dark web for herself, without the technical expertise." This resourcefulness ensures that even if Megan attempts to disappear, Maggie will likely find her.
The escalating conflict between these two formidable women promises to deliver some of Coronation Street's most dramatic moments in the coming weeks, showcasing the extremes to which a protective family member will go when conventional methods fail.
