{"id":17773,"date":"2022-07-01T01:01:35","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T23:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1669707"},"modified":"2022-07-01T01:27:11","modified_gmt":"2022-06-30T23:27:11","slug":"coronation-streets-sue-nicholls-hints-at-stephens-real-motive-behind-return","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/coronation-streets-sue-nicholls-hints-at-stephens-real-motive-behind-return\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronation Street\u2019s Sue Nicholls hints at Stephen\u2019s real motive behind return"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Laura Denby\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 01 July 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Coronation Street icon Sue Nicholls has revealed an insight into the return of her alter ego Audrey Roberts\u2019s son Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce).<\/p>\n

Stephen recently arrived back in Weatherfield for the first time in 15 years<\/a> \u2013 although his extended family have visited him at his home in Italy in the interim. His comeback has tied in with mum Audrey\u2019s heavy drinking<\/a>, which caused her to have an accident which landed her in hospital<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now, star Nicholls, who has played Audrey for over 40 years, says that her character has her son \u201con a pedestal\u201d.<\/p>\n

Asked about Audrey\u2019s relationship with Stephen, the actress explains: \u201cAs far as she is concerned Stephen can do no wrong, he is the golden child. He is a very successful businessman and whether the family like it or not he is \u2018her Stephen\u2019 and she has him on a pedestal.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is something that Audrey\u2019s daughter Gail Rodwell (Helen Worth) has recently voiced on-screen. And Nicholls adds that Audrey is thrilled to have her son home with her.<\/p>\n

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Stephen came to his mum\u2019s rescue<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\u201cShe has not seen him for years,\u201d Nicholls continued. \u201cHe was her first born and her parents made her give her son away. She had no idea that family had contacted him because they were worried about her. She is thrilled that he has arrived and he is in Grasmere Drive with her when she comes out of hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n

With members of Audrey\u2019s clan feeling suspicious as Stephen helps her with her will, does she have any reason not to trust him?<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t read scripts or find out storylines so ignorance is bliss,\u201d Nicholls admits. \u201cShe trusts him implicitly. He can do no wrong. They have done things which have been fraudulent, and disloyal, so she isn\u2019t really interested in how they feel about it.<\/p>

\u201cShe is just doing it her way and having some control over it. Stephen is the one person who has given her no reason to believe he has anything but her best interests at heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

It remains to be seen whether the Platts are right to doubt Stephen, but the star goes on to reveal her thoughts on Coronation Street\u2019s current exploration of Audrey.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am really pleased that they are taking that up,\u201d she says. \u201cIt isn\u2019t about whether or not Audrey is drinking too much, it is about her trying to keep her independence. I am only a couple of years younger than Audrey and I am also a lady on her own. It is interesting, there are a lot of people out there who will identify with what is happening to Audrey and will identify with the family\u2019s side of things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nicholls concludes by teasing what\u2019s to come for Audrey. \u201cShe is going to continue to struggle, she has always worked and it was a big part of her life and she misses seeing different people and being out and about.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow the family are fighting over her will, which gives her a real sense of her own mortality and that is not a nice thing to have to think about. Stephen is there supporting her but he has other things happening his life and she doesn\u2019t want to keep him from his businesses.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a lot more to come in this storyline and I really hope it will resonate and make people have a chat about their own circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n