Mikey North has revealed that the emotions that will be seen in upcoming Coronation Street scenes won’t be all acting as it marks the end of his working relationship with Millie Gibson. The actor, who plays Gary Windass in the ITV soap, has been teasing what is to come for the pair on-screen as they find themselves at the centre of some major September drama on the cobbles.
It has already been confirmed that Millie, who has played Kelly Neelan for three years, will be bowing out of the show this month in spectacular fashion. It was previously teased that Kelly could finally uncover the truth about killer Gary, and the fact he allowed her dying mother Laura Neelan to take the blame for killing her dad, Rick Neelan. Earlier this month, the soap’s producer Iain MacLeod has revealed that the pair will enter into a ‘Corriewood’ showdown as part of a ‘super September’ week this month which is usually saved for ITV’s ‘Super Soap Week’ in October.
It will all begin to unfold when Kelly’s dad’s former sidekick Sharon is horrified when she hears that Gary will be the one to give Kelly away on her wedding day to Aadi Alahan after the pair seemingly change the minds of their loved ones and get their approval after planning to elope to Gretna Green.
Meanwhile, Kelly finds dated photos on her mum’s old camera that prove she couldn’t have been the one that murdered Rick after all, despite her confession in her dying days to cover for Gary. Corrie viewers will see Kelly confront Gary with no success, and soon it is Sharon who breaks the news to Kelly that Gary was the one who killed her dad.
Furious to find out her dad’s killer has been right under her nose, and that he let her mum take the blame leading her to miss out on a chance to say a final goodbye, Kelly dreams of revenge. Drawn into his dodgy underworld following her own kidnap, Kelly seizes the opportunity to pay a hitman to kill Gary - and chooses Kieron, the man who just a few months ago had her held captive in a cellar.
Gary will be forced to retrace those fatal steps that led to murder before he and Kelly both face danger on a rooftop above the Manchester skylines. Speaking about the scenes, which will see the use of special, Hollywood technology on a soap for the first time, Mikey said: "For me personally, there are a lot of stunts in there which I always enjoy doing,” he told the Manchester Evening News and other press.
“There’s a little bit of fighting and anger but there’s also a lot of sad. It’s showing every side to all of the characters." Teasing the upcoming scenes, he added: "It felt more like doing live theatre than TV. I loved it. We had stunts in the woods. There’s a fight with a shovel that ties in with all the Rick stuff. It’s not one that I’ll forget in a hurry, I’ve loved every bit of it."
But did Gary really think he could keep his killer secret forever? “No, I think it was inevitable that this is the way it would end,” Mikey admitted. “I’m just really happy that its come full circle and we’re ending up where we began. I can still remember Kelly coming into the loan shark’s office three years ago as a little schoolgirl. Now, three years on, here we are back to where it all started. It’s been a real pleasure.”
Millie Gibson’s exit as Kelly has already been confirmed but whether it is her or Gary - or both - who survives remains to be seen. Mikey, however, was quick to recall his first scenes with Millie. “I remember her coming into the loan shark’s office and her saying, ‘Where’s my dad?’ I think that was her first line. It feels like yesterday. Four years on, I can’t believe it.”
And as they filmed Gary and Kelly’s last moments together, Mikey and Millie both felt the emotion as they edged closer to working together for the last time. When asked if it was emotional knowing Millie was leaving, Mikey said: “Fake life and real life blends into one. You’re aware that’s the last time you’re working with someone.”
He then teased: “And the last scene of this block, it’s emotional to even think about. That was my last seen with her [Millie] so it was certainly emotional and hopefully, you’ll get to see that when it comes out.”
On the best thing about working with Millie over the years, Mikey was quick to gush: “She's an amazing girl. I’m so proud of what she’s become and I’m proud to say I was there at the start of her career. This girl will go on to have an amazing career, I’m sure of it, and she’ll be sorely missed here. I rate her so highly.”
And he has a new favourite moment for the acting pair following their dramatic final moments on set together. “The last scene that we shot will definiely be the one. It wasn’t the easiest thing to film but it was good. And I think of the lighter moments, like when she caught Gary dancing in Maria’s lycra and even her first scene. She’s going to be a start whatever she does.”
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