Coronation Street actress Sydney Martin has revealed that her close friends and fellow soap stars Cait Fitton and Isabelle Smith have been her 'rock' as she navigates the controversial and groundbreaking storyline that sees her character Betsy Swain suffer two strokes after a consensual strangulation during a sexual encounter with Dylan Wilson (Liam McCheyne).
Storyline sparks divided reactions
The long-teased coming-of-age plot, which has never been tackled before on the soap, has provoked strong reactions from viewers. Some have praised its topical authenticity, while others have criticised its dark nature for the early evening timeslot. Martin, 24, told Metro that she always expected the storyline to be divisive.
'I always knew it was going to be very divided, very contrasting,' she said. 'It seems to have been quite well-received, but also, for the older generations, it wasn't going to be as palatable. But I think that's exactly what we wanted. You just have to take one look at the reaction to understand why these topics stay taboo.'
Research and charity collaboration
Martin revealed she researched the issue extensively after being told about the storyline last November. The production worked with charities including Safeline, the Institute for Addressing Strangulation (IFAS), and the Stroke Association. She was particularly shocked by the statistics.
'When I first got told about it, I learnt that it takes more pressure to open a can of Coke than it does to cause brain damage,' Martin explained. 'There was a study where they did a blood test on 30 women, 15 who had partaken and 15 who hadn't, and the 15 who had all showed signs of brain damage. The statistics were shocking.'
Alarming statistics on non-fatal strangulation
A recent study by IFAS of over 4,100 young adults aged 16-34 found that more than 55% have either been strangled or strangled someone else during sex. The data highlights that non-fatal strangulation is a significant risk, especially among 16-20 year olds. Every year, around 85,000 people survive a stroke in the UK, with recovery often long and life-changing.
Martin noted that many older colleagues were shocked by the normalisation of the act among younger generations. 'I remember when I spoke to people slightly older than me, people in the make-up room, and they were so shocked by it, and that made me shocked because I realised how normalised it was for the younger generation,' she said.
Legal implications and empathy for characters
The storyline also explores the legal consequences: even though Dylan did not intend to harm Betsy, causing such injuries could lead to a prison sentence of up to five years. Martin expressed empathy for both characters, noting the pressure young people face to avoid being seen as 'vanilla' or 'frigid'.
'There's the added layer of her being in this really safe relationship where this awful thing has happened, and to see that play out, because there's no bad guy in it, how does that go?' she said. 'I really feel for both of them in this situation.'
Support from soap star friends
Martin, who trained with Smith and became close to Fitton when she joined Coronation Street, said the two actresses have been invaluable. Fitton portrayed Lauren Bolton's grooming and attack storyline, while Smith played Frankie Dean in Hollyoaks' sibling incest abuse plot.
'They are my biggest rocks throughout it all,' Martin said. 'Soap is such a unique world, and a very misunderstood world. To have those two girls in particular, I would not be able to do this without them. I told them as soon as I heard in November. They were nothing but supportive.'
Behind the scenes and future episodes
Martin praised the in-house prosthetics team, particularly Alex Hargreaves, for creating realistic effects after Betsy's second stroke. She also thanked directors Chantelle Kayll and Jordan Hogg. Moving forward, viewers will see Betsy undergo physio and recovery, while the legal implications for Dylan and the impact on her mothers, Lisa and Carla, play out.
Martin hopes the storyline will raise awareness and spark conversations, especially among young people and parents. 'Whether young people watch it, or parents of young people who watch it and then strike up these conversations, it can really make a difference,' she said.
