The seemingly perfect world of the Driscoll family in Coronation Street is about to be torn apart by the life-changing consequences of sports coach Megan Walsh's predatory actions. Portrayed by Beth Nixon, the character has systematically groomed teenage son Will Driscoll, played by Lucas Hodgson-Wale, while his entire family remains dangerously oblivious.
A Family Deceived
Since the Driscolls' move to Weatherfield, Will's determination to be with Megan has seen him run away multiple times, leaving his father, Ben Driscoll (Aaron McCusker), and stepmother, Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley), in a state of despair. In a desperate bid to keep Will at home, the family made a fateful decision: they agreed to pay Megan to travel from her base in Hull to Manchester to continue his training.
This move created a rare moment of unity between Eva and family matriarch Maggie Driscoll (Pauline McLynn). Actress Pauline McLynn, who plays Maggie, shed light on her character's motivations, stating she is a fiercely protective woman, especially of her family. She may like Eva, and if Ben wasn't around, I'm sure they'd get on really well, McLynn explained. But it's that thing of, you can approve of somebody until they're joining your family; then it's a whole other set of restrictions.
The Unseen Danger
Unbeknownst to the family, their solution has only enabled Megan's abuse, allowing her and Will to continue their clandestine meetings under the guise of coaching. Alarmingly, even the usually perceptive Maggie is in the dark. She has a particular blind spot when it comes to the youngest grandchild, Will, Pauline McLynn revealed. It's such an unexpected thing to happen... that's why nobody has found out.
The actress went on to describe the impending revelation as something that will leave the family completely blindsided, labelling Megan's actions as a wicked thing that you really don't expect. She credited Beth Nixon's portrayal of a dangerous narcissist who is very, very clever at manipulating people. Megan's innocent and youthful appearance makes her deception all the more effective, allowing her to operate without raising glaring suspicions, despite several near misses.
The Net Begins to Close
The walls are starting to close in on Megan, however. In a cunning move to cover her tracks, she accepts a date with Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard), a decision that sparks jealousy in Will. The situation escalates when Megan is offered a job at Weatherfield High and Daniel seals the deal with a celebratory kiss, further straining her secret relationship with the teenager.
The truth may be forced into the open through an unexpected source. After Will is made to apologise to Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton) for an unwanted advance, Lauren later spots him with Megan in the precinct, where he is again apologising for the kiss. This sighting leaves Lauren feeling distinctly uneasy, suggesting she may be the first to grow suspicious of the inappropriate dynamic between the coach and her pupil.
Should the truth emerge, Megan will have to face the full force of Maggie's wrath. Pauline McLynn has insisted that her character is paramount about protecting her boys. She's terrifying when she's like that, McLynn warned. You'd be a fool not to be terrified of her. Upcoming scenes promise a flashback exploring Maggie's past, shedding light on the events that forged her formidable protective nature.
