Coronation Street actress Alison King has opened up about the dramatic fate of her character, Carla Connor, in the upcoming landmark crossover episode with rival soap Emmerdale. Dubbed 'Corriedale', the special episode airs in January 2025 and sees Carla caught in a terrifying hostage situation with Becky Swain.
Initial Shock and Survival Hopes
Speaking to the Mirror and other press outlets, King admitted her initial reaction to the scripts was one of sheer disbelief. She teased that the episode is a relentless, action-packed sequence that left her wondering how the production team would manage to film it. "I was just thinking what is this, what on Earth is this?" she shared. "There's no words it's just one thing after the other."
The actress confessed her primary hope was simply for Carla to emerge alive from the ordeal. "Obviously I hoped I'd still be alive at the end of it," King said, adding with relief, "I got to the end. I was like yes I'm not even maimed, but maybe a little bit."
Trust in Director Duncan Foster
King credited director Duncan Foster with being the calming force behind the chaotic shoot, describing him as "our best friend" and "as cool as a cucumber". She revealed that knowing he was in charge gave the cast immense confidence, as he had every detail meticulously planned to overcome any challenges, including unpredictable weather. "He just made every frame by frame work," she stated, joking that she spent the three-week filming period "literally stalk[ing] him".
Cast Struggles with Soap Secrets
The conversation naturally turned to the difficulty of keeping such a major plotline under wraps. King hinted she may have told a select few, carefully choosing confidants who wouldn't spread spoilers. "You obviously don't tell anybody who's going to tell anybody, do you?" she remarked.
Her co-star from the crossover, Emma Atkins (who plays Charity Dingle in Emmerdale), was more forthright about her inability to keep secrets, admitting she usually rings her mother immediately with news. Atkins joked, "We didn't sign an NDA anyway, so we're fine."
The excitement among the cast was palpable. Jack P Shepherd (David Platt) and Danny Miller (Aaron Dingle) revealed they messaged each other as soon as they heard about the episode, desperately seeking gossip. Shepherd recalled asking Miller, "What happens? Do you know what happens?! What have you heard?" King also hinted that Danny Miller had messaged her directly about the storyline.
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
