Coronation Street actress Vicky Myers has spoken out about her character Lisa Swain's harrowing experience of coercive control and emotional abuse, as the storyline intensifies ahead of the landmark 'Corriedale' crossover episode.
Lisa's World Shattered by Becky's Return
The character's life was thrown into chaos earlier this year when her late wife, Becky Swain, played by Amy Cudden, suddenly reappeared. Fans had believed Becky died in a hit-and-run accident years ago, but she revealed she had been living in Spain under a new identity.
Becky returned to Weatherfield upon learning of Lisa's engagement to Carla Connor, portrayed by Alison King. Carla immediately suspected Becky's motives, but her warnings fell on deaf ears as Lisa, grappling with years of grief and watching daughter Betsy struggle, desperately wanted to see the good in her former partner.
This emotional vulnerability has cost Lisa her relationship with Carla, who recently moved out after refusing to tolerate Becky's interference. In a cruel twist, when Carla later reconsidered, it was Lisa who shut her out, a decision rooted in two decades of manipulation.
Two Decades of Manipulation Takes Its Toll
Speaking to Metro.co.uk at the Corriedale premiere this week, Vicky Myers delved into the psychological complexity of Lisa's situation. She explained that the coercive control and 'drip-feeding' manipulation from Becky is a dynamic Lisa endured for twenty years, making her question her stable relationship with Carla.
'She's grappled with fear because she's lost Becky once and knows that pain,' Myers stated. 'She also feels she has to protect Betsy, who is her entire world. Lisa is profoundly confused, emotionally fraught, and totally distraught right now. The question is whether she will eventually see through it all.'
The actress emphasised the importance of soaps reflecting real societal issues. 'They hold a mirror up to society,' she said. 'If someone can see themselves in that situation and recognise how manipulative and destructive it can be, that's really important. We've seen a totally different character in Lisa lately.'
Festive Intimacy and a Historic Soap Crossover
The drama is set to escalate over Christmas, with Becky capitalising on Carla's holiday to Lanzarote to deepen intimacy with Lisa. Becky's suggestive advances, including kissing Lisa's neck and suggesting they rekindle their old life, will leave Lisa facing an impossible choice.
This storyline will converge with the unprecedented 'Corriedale' episode, a first-ever crossover between ITV's Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Lisa, Becky, Carla, and Betsy are all confirmed to be involved in the special, which features an apocalyptic car smash and promises fatalities.
Vicky Myers expressed her excitement about the groundbreaking event: 'To work with different people and to have their talent championed in the way this episode will do is phenomenal. It's absolutely right that their talent should be showcased like this. I'm really looking forward to watching it myself to find out what happens—because I don't know!'
The full cast list for Corriedale includes major stars from both soaps, ensuring a dramatic and unmissable television event that is poised to change the worlds of both Weatherfield and Emmerdale forever.
