The Princess Royal paid a visit to the ITV Studios ahead of a powerful new Coronation Street plotline. Her Royal Highness met cast and members of the production team involved in the long-running soap's acid attack story involving bride Daisy Midgeley.
Princess Anne was welcomed to the Corrie cobbles, filmed at MediaCityUK on the Trafford waterside, as patron of The Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI), who have been advising the programme’s producers and writers. She viewed some upcoming scenes before meeting with producer Iain MacLeod and cast members Charlotte Jordan, who plays Daisy, Ryan Prescott who plays Ryan Connor, Andrew Still who plays Justin Rutherford, Rob Mallard who plays Daniel Osbourne and Sally Ann Matthews who plays Jenny Connor.
Script writers, members of the story team and make-up department were also on hand to speak to Princess Anne about working on the story. The royal party were also given a guided tour of the Coronation Street set lead by producer Iain MacLeod and John Whiston, the head of ITV in the north and managing director for continuing drama.
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John said: “Working with ASTI on this storyline has been invaluable to all of us. HRH's patronage of the charity is clearly of huge importance to both Her Royal Highness and the charity and it was an absolute honour to have them join us at Coronation Street today. The visit gave both cast and colleagues the chance to discuss how they have worked together to create and portray such a delicate and important storyline, an opportunity none of us will forget."
Also in attendance for the royal visit were acid attack survivor Sammear Hussein, Sharman Birtles the vice Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and Councillor Chris Boyes the Mayor of Trafford. Coronation Street has been working alongside ASTI on the storyline where Daisy has been pursued by stalker Justin.
The character is convinced that he is in a relationship with the Rovers Return barmaid after she was kind to him when they met in a hospital waiting room back in December. After constantly messaging her he turned up at a wedding fair, started dating her mum to get close to her and delivered her wedding cake samples.
Justin’s behaviour led him to be arrested for assault after he lunged at her, but he was released on bail. Next week Daisy becomes the target of an acid attack on her wedding day when Justin, in an act of revenge, goes to the Rovers to ruin her special day.
Ryan steps in as wedding chauffeur and they are both horrified to find Justin lurking in the shadows in the pub. Holding a glass full of clear liquid, he advances on Daisy and throws acid at her.
Actress Charlotte, who has played Daisy since November 2020, told the Manchester Evening News and other media about how she reacted when she were told about what was about to unfold. "Words I cannot say on camera. 'F*** me that's dark.'" The 27-year-old soap star added: "I really didn't see that coming."
And she said the ITV soap's decison to tackle the subject took her by surprise. "I didn't think they'd go that route with it. It's not something you see a lot on television so I was really caught by surprise by it," she said.
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