There could be a romance heading Kelly Neelan's way in Coronation Street, the actress who plays her has revealed. Millie Gibson has teased that a friendship could blossom into a romance for her character on the ITV soap when chatting about her latest storyline.
It's been a busy year and a bit for the 18-year-old, both on-screen and off. Kelly has not only found herself behind bars, but also on the streets. She was part of the shocking hate crime storyline, inspired by the tragic story of goth Sophie Lancaster who was killed in 2007, which saw Kelly finding herself charged with a murder she didn't commit before being cleared, only to end up homeless.
More recently, the character found out about her dad's death days before her mum, Laura Neelan played by Kel Allen, also died after taking the wrap for her husband Rick's murder. And last month, exclusive photos showed Kelly away from the cobbles with Aadi Alahan in tow.
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It was unclear what the pair may have been up to in the scenes, but Corrie spoilers for next week have given a bit more of a clue. During Monday's episode, on July 11, Kelly sees Aadi out of the barbers when a wad of cash falls out of her bag leaving her friend shocked. Kelly explains that the cash belonged to her dad and she’s trying to return it to the people he ripped off over the years. Aadi urges her to seek the advice of her guardian Gary.
As Corrie fans will remember, when the school girl was presented with a bag of cash Gary found while cleaning her dad's former house, Kelly disappeared and refused to put the heaps of cash into a bank account. It has led to many viewers to thinking she's trying to do right by the people her loan shark father took advantage of after one man showed up at his funeral and spat on his coffin.
And they are right! But Kelly is her parents' daughter and later, at the bus stop, Kelly reveals that she’s tracked down another of her loan shark dad's clients and she’s off to pay them back. Aadi says he’ll go with her and Kelly’s grateful, agreeing to go on a date later to Speed Daal.
Speaking about a possible romance brewing with Dev Alahan's son, Millie told the Manchester Evening News and other press: "She's got such a wall up and I think when it comes to men and boys, she's just been in the most awful look. With Corey [Brent], that predator in the hotel room and everything with her dad too.
"When it comes to Aadi, because he's such a sensitive and patient character, I think if he slowly broke down those walls and get round her I think he'd be a perfect match to fall for." She added: "He's so opposite to Kelly in a way so it's that great balance. I think she could fall for him."
But that's not the only relationship Kelly has formed since leaving prison. She has also formed a bond with Stu Carpenter with the pair meeting while sleeping rough. She then helped him get a place to stay, with Yazmeen, and a job at Speed Daal. "I love it," Millie said of the friendship Kelly and Stu have formed.
"I actually think he's kind of a father figure too. She has quite a few, ironically, and it's lovely because of how their relationship started - on the streets with mutual respect for one another and mutual problems of how they got here and how he didn't judge her when she opened up about the attack on Seb [Franklin]."
The teen soap star added: "I really loved doing scenes with Bill [Fellows - who plays Stu] because the chemistry between them two characters is lovely and you don't really see that relationship often."
As for the storyline she's involved in, later in the week Gary is furious to find out from Sharon what Kelly is up to but Kelly refuses to listen telling her he is not her dad. Kelly storms out and, alone, calls at a house and introduces herself as Rick Neelan’s daughter, hands Ross an envelope full of cash and explains that she’s trying to make up for her dad's wrongdoing.
But when he shuts the door in her face, Kelly feels awful but moves on to the next with 'many more' people to put things right with on her dad's behalf. But Ross calls mate and tells him about Kelly’s visit. Meanwhile, Aadi waits at Speed Daal but realises he has been stood up. However, is that the case? Millie said: "She's just so gullible sometimes."
She added; "She just thinks it's a close call and carries on with her day like she does. And this is the thing, she doesn't listen to anyone and you start to see... Gary tells her not to do it but also Aadi says it's not the best idea. But she's right, she's always right and she never learns really."
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