Leanne Battersby
Encyclopedia
Leanne Anika Barlow is a fictional character
on the soap opera
Coronation Street
. Portrayed by actress Jane Danson
, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 4 July 1997.
The character has been involved in many high-profile storylines - she got married while still a teenager, become addicted to cocaine
, worked as a lap-dancer and prostitute, dated a father and son, been involved in an arson insurance scam, been kidnapped, stolen lottery money, and suffering a miscarriage
after falling down the stairs.
The mid 1990s were a time of big change behind-the-scenes at Coronation Street. The long-running serial was being regularly beaten in the ratings by rival soap EastEnders
. A new producer, Brian Park, was brought in to revitalise the soap in 1997. Dubbed "the axeman", Park was responsible for culling 8 long-running and established characters, as well as giving the go-ahead for more controversial and sensationalist storylines, aimed at attracting a younger audience. He also introduced various new characters, among them were the Battersby family. Dubbed the "family from hell", the Battersbys were father Les, his wife Janice, Les's daughter Leanne, and Janice's daughter Toyah.
When Leanne and her family were introduced in the summer of 1997 as the new "common" family. Leanne was, at that time, portrayed as a mischievous troublemaker. She was 16 at the time and fresh out of school with no GCSEs. As Leanne refused to go to college, Janice insisted she get a job and got Leanne a job as a cleaner at the factory she worked but this did not last as Leanne was lazy and rude to those around her.
Danson left Coronation Street in March 2009 to go on maternity leave. She returned on 11 September 2009 when she was spotted by Peter
and Simon Barlow
working in an Italian restaurant in Leeds.
(Adam Rickett). Nick's mother Gail
(Helen Worth
) disapproves but this does not stop them telling their parents that they are going to a concert, when in fact they going to Scotland to get married in January 1998.
In an effort to become more responsible, Leanne quits her hairdressing course and starts working with Rita Sullivan
(Barbara Knox
) in the Kabin. Nick, however, continues at college and they move into number 4 Coronation Street with Ashley Peacock
(Steven Arnold
), his girlfriend, Zoe Tattersall (Joanne Froggatt
), and Zoe's daughter, Shannon. Nick and Leanne's relationship becomes strained when Leanne gets pregnant. Insisting they are not ready for a baby, Nick persuades Leanne to have an abortion and tell people that she miscarried. Leanne reluctantly agrees but this proves to be the beginning of the end for the couple.
Nick learns that his father's killer, Darren Whateley, will soon be released from prison on parole and persuades Leanne to befriend him, intending to send Darren back to prison. Things do not go according to plan, and Leanne's safety is threatened when Darren breaks into her house. Leanne is so scared that she tells Gail what has happened and they report Darren to the police for stalking her. He returns to prison for breaking his parole conditions, regardless of the fact that Nick was responsible for the situation.
Their relationship does not survive such trauma and they separate. Nick returns to Canada and Gail offers Leanne a reasonable divorce settlement as Leanne supported Nick during their marriage. Now single, Leanne begins dating Vikram Desai (Christopher Bisson
) who works at the corner shop. Excessive partying and late nights take their toll and Leanne resigns from the Kabin following a row with Rita's foster daughter, Sharon (Tracie Bennett), over missing money and starts work as barmaid at the Rovers for Natalie Horrocks (Denise Welch
).
Leanne goes on to become addicted to cocaine
. She ends up deeply in debt to drug dealer Jez Quigley (Lee Boardman
), and is occasionally forced to sleep with him. Not having anywhere to go for the money, she gets desperate. She was going to help him rob the Rovers but changes her mind at the last minute and ends up in hospital after a fight with one of Jez's thugs. Leanne is scared, and decides to leave Weatherfield. Knowing Jez is capable of extreme violence, she leaves Weatherfield for Amsterdam with her friend, Mark Redman
(Paul Fox
), in 2000.
). She quickly causes trouble for ex-husband Nick and his girlfriend, Maria Sutherland
(Samia Smith
). Toyah (Georgia Taylor
) told her about Maria's one night stand with Toyah's ex-boyfriend, John Lynley, and she takes revenge on Maria and Nick. Leanne and Maria’s sparring culminates in a brawl in the Rovers Return. Eventually, Leanne's scheming pays off as Nick leaves Weatherfield alone.
Not long after her return, Leanne starts dating Jamie Baldwin
(Rupert Hill
). Jamie's stepmother, Frankie Baldwin (Debra Stephenson
), hates Leanne and makes it very clear. Despite her feud with Frankie, Leanne and Jamie become engaged. However, Leanne has an affair with Jamie's dad, Danny Baldwin
(Bradley Walsh), which Frankie discovers. When Jamie learns the truth, he calls off the engagement and Leanne leaves temporarily. Leanne and Danny get together.
When Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs
), begins suffering Alzheimer's symptoms, Leanne and Danny look after him. However, Danny is more concerned about Mike's estate. Shortly before Mike's death, Danny manipulated Mike into leaving everything to him. Following Mike's death, Leanne finds a later will, leaving Adam his fair share. Despite getting engaged to Leanne, Danny loves former wife Frankie and ends things with Leanne in a bid for reconciliation. She is devastated and gets revenge by blackmailing him with Mike's latest will. Leanne double-crosses her ex by giving Adam Mike's second will, despite Danny giving her the money she demanded. Having totally wrecked Danny's life, Leanne leaves for Spain
in July 2006.
Leanne returns to Weatherfield in March 2007, harbouring a secret - she is now an escort
. Janice is horrified by this and makes her disapproval very clear. When Leanne begins dating Liam Connor
(Rob-James Collier), Janice makes her realise that she has to choose between Liam and prostitution. Initially, Leanne chooses escorting but decides she should allow her heart to rule her head and gives it up. In the last days of her career as a prostitute, Leanne gets a new client - Liam's brother, Paul Connor (Sean Gallagher).
Leanne opens a restaurant called Valandro's. She borrows £10,000 from Janice‘s boyfriend, Roger Stiles (Andrew Dunn
), but initially struggles with the business. She takes on Paul Clayton
(Tom Hudson
) as chef and feels hopeful when business improves. Paul also invests in the restaurant but in March 2008, as business isn't great, Leanne and Paul set fire to the restaurant for the insurance money. Leanne's boyfriend, Dan Mason, gives her an alibi, leaving Paul to face charges alone - he leaves the country rather than face imprisonment. Leanne gets involved in a lottery scam with stepmother Janice; again, she escapes without charge but Dan breaks up with her over it.
In November 2008, Peter Barlow
(Chris Gascoyne) returns to the Street with his son, Simon
(Alex Bain
), and Leanne takes a shine to both. On 17 December, a drunken Peter goes to kiss Leanne. She rejects him but he grabs her and in self-defence, Leanne pushes him away. He falls into the decorated Christmas tree with Simon waking up and Leanne walking out. However, she forgives him when he promises to give up the booze and the pair start dating. Early in 2009, Peter struggles to stay off alcohol and enters a rehabilitation programme which Leanne supports, running the bookies in his absence. Upon his return in March 2009, Leanne discovers he has cheated on her while away. Broken-hearted, she moves to Leeds to manage a restaurant for a friend.
She keeps in contact with Janice and after Simon's rabbit dies in September 2009 (who he had named Leanne after her departure), Peter and Simon go to the restaurant to see Leanne. She reluctantly serves them and tells Peter she has a new boyfriend so they leave without her. However, Leanne returns to Weatherfield that evening. She rekindles her relationship with Peter but is furious to discover that he has lied about not dating anyone while she was away as he had a brief fling with Michelle Connor. The couple put their differences aside and continue dating.
In October 2009, Leanne quits her job, declaring that she is frustrated and needs a new challenge. Seeing how frustrated she is, Peter spots a business opportunity in the vacant unit Turner's Joinery at the end of the Street. He shows it to her and suggests they open a bar there, an idea to which she agrees. However, Ken (William Roache
) opposes the idea as Peter is a recovering alcoholic.
When an old friend of Peter's, Ciaran McCarthy
(Keith Duffy
), returns in February 2010, Peter once again turns to alcohol. During a party at the new bar, Peter gets drunk, embarrassing everyone. Devastated at his downfall, a tearful Leanne realises that her dream venture cannot go ahead with Peter being a recovering alcoholic. However, she promises to stand by Peter as he re-enters treatment for his addiction. She also supports him when Simon's maternal grandfather, George, tries to claim custody of the little boy.
In April 2010, Leanne becomes suspicious of Peter's behaviour and mistakenly believes that he is seeing old flame Michelle. She angrily confronts him at Ken and Deirdre
(Anne Kirkbride
)'s wedding anniversary party in the Rovers. However, she is mortified to realise that Peter was in fact planning to propose to her. She is determined to make amends for her mistake and subsequently gets down on one knee and proposes to him, to which he accepts.
The reappearance of Leanne's ex, Nick (now played by Ben Price
), poses a further challenge to her relationship with Peter. In August 2010, Peter is furious with Leanne after Lewis Archer
(Nigel Havers
) steals £4,000 from the bookies. Nick comforts Leanne, making his feelings for her clear as he thinks that Peter does not appreciate her. She insists that she loves Peter but is upset when Nick's girlfriend, Natasha Blakeman
(Rachel Leskovac
), tells Leanne that she is pregnant; serving as a painful reminder of her marriage to Nick and the baby that they aborted. Nick, celebrating the news in the pub, and Leanne after rowing with Peter, catch each other's eyes across the pub to which Leanne raises her glass in a silent toast and a private toast between them, as they are both moving on. Nick mouths "thank you," full of meaning in his eyes, which proves too much for Leanne and she runs out of the pub in tears. Natasha notices and follows Leanne outside, paranoid about Nick's feelings towards his ex-wife, warning her to back off.
When Natasha attempts suicide, after Nick's discovery that she had aborted the baby and was faking her pregnancy, Leanne comforts Nick at the hospital. They speak candidly about their marriage and Leanne's abortion. It is clear that Leanne has strong feelings towards her ex-husband, despite being engaged to Peter.
Leanne is not happy when Nick takes over 'The Joinery' Bar, seeing him taking on her dream venture. After some persuasion by Peter, Leanne agrees to work for Nick, when he offers her the position of bar manager. Nick still has feelings for Leanne and eventually they begin an affair. Leanne feels guilty and tries avoid Nick but they are caught by Ken and Leanne explains to him and Deirdre that she loves Peter.
After an explosion at the bar and a tram derailment on 6 December, Nick, Peter and Ashley
are trapped in the office. Peter is seriously hurt and taken to hospital where he and Leanne marry but moments later, Peter has a heart attack and has to be resuscitated. To Leanne's relief, he survives and successfully comes through surgery to stop internal bleeding but it is later revealed that he has damaged his spine and it is likely to be some time before he is able to walk again. While Peter is recovering, Leanne becomes suspicious about Carla's response to his injuries and realises that she is in love with Peter. She angrily confronts her and Carla admits that Peter has been helping her with a drink problem and that she fell for him, but he turned her down because he is in love with Leanne. Leanne warns her to stay away from them.
When Peter leaves hospital, they move in with Ken and Deirdre for a while as Peter cannot manage the stairs at the flat, however, Leanne finds it difficult living at close quarters with her in-laws, especially when Deirdre's daughter Tracy
(Kate Ford
) is released from prison and joins the family at number 1. To escape from their cramped living conditions and also put distance between herself and Nick, who is now working with her at the bookies and has been putting pressure on her to leave Peter for him, Leanne takes Peter off on an impromptu honeymoon on New Year's Eve. On their return they move back to their flat, as Peter is sinking into depression over his injury and hates being treated like an invalid. Leanne finds herself under great stress, having to look after both Simon and Peter while also running the bookies alongside Nick, who continues to put pressure on her to leave Peter. Leanne's guilt and tension make it hard for her to cope with Peter's depression, as he is a very bad patient, while Nick takes every opportunity to present himself as her potential saviour, adding to her stress.
In February 2011, Leanne suspects that Peter has been having an affair with Carla, after he stays out all night and is seen leaving Carla's apartment in the morning. She furiously confronts Carla, who insists that they are not having an affair and that she should talk to Peter. When Leanne accuses him of sleeping with Carla, Peter breaks down and admits that he had been drinking and did not want her to find out, as he was afraid she would leave him; he spent the night on Carla's couch so that Leanne would not see him drunk. Leanne is furious when she realises that Nick deviously tempted Peter with alcohol, knowing that he was depressed and vulnerable, and was the cause of him falling off the wagon, as Nick had hoped that it would split them up - but she can't explain to Peter why she mistrusts Nick so much without revealing their affair.
Just as Leanne is starting to hope that things might start to get back to normal, with Peter's recovery proceeding apace, she is horrified to realise that Tracy heard her arguing with Carla and knows about her affair with Nick, sure that it is a matter of time before Tracy tells Peter. When the day of their wedding blessing arrives, Leanne allows herself to hope that everything might be all right after all - but is devastated when, at the blessing, Peter reveals in front of their friends and family at the church that he knows all about the affair and announces that he wants a divorce. Crushed, Leanne tries desperately to persuade him that the affair was a mistake and ended a long time ago, but Peter is too hurt and angry to listen. Leanne decides to leave Weatherfield and books a train to London Euston.
Ken tries to persuade Peter to forgive Leanne. At first he remains defiant, still deeply hurt, but at the last minute he changes his mind and asks Lloyd to take him to the train station. As Peter races to the platform he sees the train pulling away and thinks he is too late, but sees Leanne still standing on the platform. She exclaims "I just couldn't go" and they give each other a hug. After a weekend spent talking through their problems, the couple agree to give their marriage another try and head off, with Simon, on the honeymoon Peter had booked.
In March 2011, Leanne, Peter and Simon return to Weatherfield after their holiday. Leanne is surprised when stepmother Janice decides very suddenly to leave town to go travelling with her ex-lodger Trevor Dean
(Steve Jackson). An interview with the new headteacher at Bessie Street Primary leaves Leanne feeling very indignant after hearing that Simon is disruptive in class - and she is then jealous when Cheryl is told that her son Russ (Finton Flynn) is gifted and will receive special coaching. Overcompensating for her insecurity, as Simon's stepmother, Leanne pushes him to audition for the school play and is thrilled when he wins the lead role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat but then is dismayed to realise that she must make his costume herself. As sewing is not her strong suit, she gets Sean Tully
(Antony Cotton
) to make Simon's outfit using his machine at Underworld.
At the end of June 2011, the new manageress at The Rovers Stella Price
(Michelle Collins
) confesses to Peter that she is Leanne's biological mother, after Peter discovers a picture of Leanne in her purse that she has taken from their flat. On 1 July 2011, during Leanne's 30th birthday party arranged by Stella, Leanne finds out the truth about her birth mother and furiously storms out of the pub. Stella later turns up and wants Leanne to hear her out about why she abandoned her as a baby. Leanne insists that Janice is her mother and tells Stella to get back to her own family because she has all the family she could want already.
Peter finds a pregnancy test in Leanne's bag and she explains that she didn't want to tell him about her suspicions until she was sure. Leanne takes the test, and it is positive. Leanne is overjoyed, but although Peter also seems happy on the surface, he admits to Ken that he isn't sure they are ready. Peter and Leanne celebrate in the Rovers, until Carla Connor
(Alison King
) overhears Deirdre and Ken congratulating them and forces Peter to confirm her guess that Leanne must be pregnant. Leanne is furious when she realises Carla knows about her pregnancy, all the more so when Carla drops hints to Simon about it. She confronts Peter, and they have a heated row which ends with Leanne hurling quite vicious insults at Peter about his alcoholism. Rather than respond, he storms out of the flat. Feeling guilty, Leanne runs after him, but trips and falls down the stairs, where she is later found by Stella, who raises the alarm. At the hospital, a doctor confirms that Leanne has suffered a miscarriage. Peter feels guilty about the stress Leanne has been under lately and feels he may have jinxed the pregnancy with his reservations. Peter tells Stella about the miscarriage and Leanne allows her mother to comfort her. When Leanne realises that Peter had doubts about the pregnancy, she assumes it means that he hasn't fully forgiven her for the affair with Nick and orders him to leave, implying that their marriage is in crisis. Carla finds Peter in a highly agitated state and takes advantage of his vulnerability to try to seduce him again - he almost succumbs, but at the last minute pushes her away. After talking things through with Ken, Peter returns to the hospital and tells Leanne that he wants them to try for another baby after she is recovered.
.
In a 2005 interview with The Sunday Mirror Jane Danson expressed her delight with playing such a multi-faceted character, she stated; "Its quite hard to get inside her head because shes so strong in lots of ways, but when it comes to men, she's a hopeless cause. I do love playing her. She lets me do all the things I wouldn't dare do in real life..." Discussing Leanne's controversial prostitution comeback storyline in 2007, Danson said; "She (Leanne) likes to see herself as a high class lady of the night. Corries never dealt with that kind of thing before but as Corrie always does, it deals with it in a way that's really responsible, and there's always a message. As the storyline progresses, I think it's fair to say that Leanne, hopefully, will redeem herself. There'll be a moral in there somewhere..."
The Guardian
columnist Grace Dent
commented on Danson's decision to return to the show in 2007 saying; "so Leanne Battersby's back on Coronation Street, again. We knew Leanne would come back. She's played by Jane Danson, one of those rare thesps who knows which side her bread's buttered on. With excellent wages, regular hours and maximum TV exposure you'd imagine most actors would kill to be a soap opera staple." In the same article she spoke favourably of the prostitution storyline: "Corrie is dealing with this whole thing in an interesting, relevant way. Much differently to those Pat Butcher, Janine Evans on-the-game storylines filled with shame and desperation. How, the plot asks, do you stop young women from seeing sex work as a cool, empowering, money-making five year plan? How do you keep your daughter off the pole? How did things go so sadly tits-up with girl power? How did Leanne Battersby become another of the myriad of deluded post-feminists you find these days swinging round poles in their pants, doing headstands in front of webcams, or performing 20 "happy finishes" a day while somehow still thinking they're channeling Emmeline Pankhurst. (Hint: they're not)."
In December 2010, following the show's critically acclaimed live episode, Jane Danson's performance was singled out by many Digital Spy
forum members.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
. Portrayed by actress Jane Danson
Jane Danson
Jane Danson is an English actress, most famous for playing the role of Leanne Battersby in Coronation Street.-Acting:...
, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 4 July 1997.
The character has been involved in many high-profile storylines - she got married while still a teenager, become addicted to cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, worked as a lap-dancer and prostitute, dated a father and son, been involved in an arson insurance scam, been kidnapped, stolen lottery money, and suffering a miscarriage
Miscarriage
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving independently, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation...
after falling down the stairs.
Background
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
. A new producer, Brian Park, was brought in to revitalise the soap in 1997. Dubbed "the axeman", Park was responsible for culling 8 long-running and established characters, as well as giving the go-ahead for more controversial and sensationalist storylines, aimed at attracting a younger audience. He also introduced various new characters, among them were the Battersby family. Dubbed the "family from hell", the Battersbys were father Les, his wife Janice, Les's daughter Leanne, and Janice's daughter Toyah.
When Leanne and her family were introduced in the summer of 1997 as the new "common" family. Leanne was, at that time, portrayed as a mischievous troublemaker. She was 16 at the time and fresh out of school with no GCSEs. As Leanne refused to go to college, Janice insisted she get a job and got Leanne a job as a cleaner at the factory she worked but this did not last as Leanne was lazy and rude to those around her.
Casting
After three years in the role of Leanne, Jane Danson announced her decision to quit in February 2000 after a number of gritty storylines stating; "I feel I've taken Leanne Battersby as far as I can. I've had tremendous storylines, which have stretched me as an actress and prepared me for the challenges to come. I'm very excited about the future." In June 2004, the character reappeared, this time working as a pole dancer in a lap dancing club.Danson left Coronation Street in March 2009 to go on maternity leave. She returned on 11 September 2009 when she was spotted by Peter
Peter Barlow (Coronation Street)
Peter Francis Barlow is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode aired on 15 April 1965...
and Simon Barlow
Simon Barlow
Simon Barlow is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, and has been played by Alex Bain since 2008. The character was played by twins Jake and Oscar Hartley on his birth in 2003.-Character development:...
working in an Italian restaurant in Leeds.
1997–2000
One of Leanne's early storylines sees her date and later marry Nick TilsleyNick Tilsley
Nicholas Paul "Nick" Tilsley is a fictional character in the British soap opera Coronation Street. Originally known as "Nicky", he was the first-born child of Brian Tilsley and Gail Platt , and has been portrayed by three different actors. Warren Jackson from 1981 to 1996, then by Adam Rickitt...
(Adam Rickett). Nick's mother Gail
Gail Platt
Gail McIntyre is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Helen Worth, the character first appeared on screen on 12 July 1974...
(Helen Worth
Helen Worth
Helen Worth is an English actress, best known for her portrayal of the Coronation Street character Gail McIntyre- Early life :...
) disapproves but this does not stop them telling their parents that they are going to a concert, when in fact they going to Scotland to get married in January 1998.
In an effort to become more responsible, Leanne quits her hairdressing course and starts working with Rita Sullivan
Rita Sullivan
Rita Sullivan is a long-standing character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street...
(Barbara Knox
Barbara Knox
Barbara Knox, MBE , is an English actress, best known for playing Rita Sullivan in the television soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:Knox was born in Oldham, Lancashire...
) in the Kabin. Nick, however, continues at college and they move into number 4 Coronation Street with Ashley Peacock
Ashley Peacock
Ashley Sibelius Peacock is a fictional character from the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Steven Arnold, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 1 February 1995.On 23 April 2010, it was announced that the character had been axed along...
(Steven Arnold
Steven Arnold
Steven Arnold is an English actor best known for his role as Ashley Peacock in the long running hit show Coronation Street.- Early life :...
), his girlfriend, Zoe Tattersall (Joanne Froggatt
Joanne Froggatt
- Early life, education and early career :Born and raised in the village of Littlebeck, Froggatt left her family home at the age of 13 to attend the Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead, Berkshire. In 1996, she made her TV début in the long-running ITV drama, The Bill, and shortly afterwards...
), and Zoe's daughter, Shannon. Nick and Leanne's relationship becomes strained when Leanne gets pregnant. Insisting they are not ready for a baby, Nick persuades Leanne to have an abortion and tell people that she miscarried. Leanne reluctantly agrees but this proves to be the beginning of the end for the couple.
Nick learns that his father's killer, Darren Whateley, will soon be released from prison on parole and persuades Leanne to befriend him, intending to send Darren back to prison. Things do not go according to plan, and Leanne's safety is threatened when Darren breaks into her house. Leanne is so scared that she tells Gail what has happened and they report Darren to the police for stalking her. He returns to prison for breaking his parole conditions, regardless of the fact that Nick was responsible for the situation.
Their relationship does not survive such trauma and they separate. Nick returns to Canada and Gail offers Leanne a reasonable divorce settlement as Leanne supported Nick during their marriage. Now single, Leanne begins dating Vikram Desai (Christopher Bisson
Chris Bisson
Christopher Paul "Chris" Bisson is a British actor.-Career:Born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, Chris Bisson first appeared on television as J.J. in Children's Ward in 1990...
) who works at the corner shop. Excessive partying and late nights take their toll and Leanne resigns from the Kabin following a row with Rita's foster daughter, Sharon (Tracie Bennett), over missing money and starts work as barmaid at the Rovers for Natalie Horrocks (Denise Welch
Denise Welch
Jacqueline Denise Healy is an English actress, dancer and television presenter.-Early life:Denise Welch was born in Ebchester, County Durham, to father Vin and mother Ann and has a younger sister Debbie...
).
Leanne goes on to become addicted to cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. She ends up deeply in debt to drug dealer Jez Quigley (Lee Boardman
Lee Boardman
Lee Boardman is an English actor and narrator.-Television:He is best known for playing Murray Priestman in Drop Dead Gorgeous as well as the drug dealer Jez Quigley in Coronation Street...
), and is occasionally forced to sleep with him. Not having anywhere to go for the money, she gets desperate. She was going to help him rob the Rovers but changes her mind at the last minute and ends up in hospital after a fight with one of Jez's thugs. Leanne is scared, and decides to leave Weatherfield. Knowing Jez is capable of extreme violence, she leaves Weatherfield for Amsterdam with her friend, Mark Redman
Mark Redman (Coronation Street)
Mark Redman is Mike Baldwin's son by Maggie Dunlop. He was played by Christopher Oakswood from 1983 till 1992 and then by Christopher Cook from 1992 till 1994 and then most recently Paul Fox from 1999 till 2006...
(Paul Fox
Paul Fox (actor)
Paul Fox is an English actor, known for portraying Mark Redman in Coronation Street and Dr Jeff Goodwin in The Royal.-Background:Born in Truro, Cornwall, Fox moved to Birkenhead whilst still a baby. He has one older brother, Christian...
), in 2000.
2004—
In June 2004, Les (Bruce Jones) finds Leanne dressed as a belly dancer in a local bar. She returns to the Street and moves in with Janice (Vicky EntwistleVicky Entwistle
Vicky Entwistle is an English actress who is most famous for playing the role of "loudmouth" factory worker Janice Battersby in ITV1's long-running soap opera Coronation Street....
). She quickly causes trouble for ex-husband Nick and his girlfriend, Maria Sutherland
Maria Sutherland
Maria Jane Connor , is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, portrayed by actress Samia Smith. The character first appeared on-screen on 19 May 2000...
(Samia Smith
Samia Smith
Samia Maxine Ghadie , is an English actress best known for playing Maria Connor in the ITV Soap Coronation Street.-Early life:...
). Toyah (Georgia Taylor
Georgia Taylor
Georgia Taylor is an English actress, known for her role as Toyah Battersby in Coronation Street and currently for playing Ruth Winters on Casualty. She was born in Wigan, Greater Manchester....
) told her about Maria's one night stand with Toyah's ex-boyfriend, John Lynley, and she takes revenge on Maria and Nick. Leanne and Maria’s sparring culminates in a brawl in the Rovers Return. Eventually, Leanne's scheming pays off as Nick leaves Weatherfield alone.
Not long after her return, Leanne starts dating Jamie Baldwin
Jamie Baldwin
James Andrew "Jamie" Baldwin is a fictional character in the British soap opera ITV Coronation Street, played by Rupert Hill. He first appeared in 2004 and left in 2008. In March 2011 it was announced that Jamie would return for one episode on 24 April 2011....
(Rupert Hill
Rupert Hill
Rupert Sinclair Hill is an English actor known for several former roles in UK soap operas.Rupert Hill started with small roles on television...
). Jamie's stepmother, Frankie Baldwin (Debra Stephenson
Debra Stephenson
Debra Stephenson is an English actress, comedian, impressionist and singer.-Career:At the age of fourteen Stephenson appeared on BBC TV's Opportunity Knocks, winning her way through to the All-Winners' Final, broadcast live from the London Palladium...
), hates Leanne and makes it very clear. Despite her feud with Frankie, Leanne and Jamie become engaged. However, Leanne has an affair with Jamie's dad, Danny Baldwin
Danny Baldwin
Daniel "Danny" Baldwin, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Bradley Walsh, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 28 May 2004 and remained until his departure on 31 December 2006.-Creation and...
(Bradley Walsh), which Frankie discovers. When Jamie learns the truth, he calls off the engagement and Leanne leaves temporarily. Leanne and Danny get together.
When Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs
Johnny Briggs (actor)
Johnny Briggs, MBE is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Mike Baldwin in the soap opera Coronation Street, in which he appeared from 1976 to 2006...
), begins suffering Alzheimer's symptoms, Leanne and Danny look after him. However, Danny is more concerned about Mike's estate. Shortly before Mike's death, Danny manipulated Mike into leaving everything to him. Following Mike's death, Leanne finds a later will, leaving Adam his fair share. Despite getting engaged to Leanne, Danny loves former wife Frankie and ends things with Leanne in a bid for reconciliation. She is devastated and gets revenge by blackmailing him with Mike's latest will. Leanne double-crosses her ex by giving Adam Mike's second will, despite Danny giving her the money she demanded. Having totally wrecked Danny's life, Leanne leaves for Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in July 2006.
Leanne returns to Weatherfield in March 2007, harbouring a secret - she is now an escort
Call girl
A call girl or female escort is a sex worker who is not visible to the general public; nor does she usually work in an institution like a brothel, although she may be employed by an escort agency...
. Janice is horrified by this and makes her disapproval very clear. When Leanne begins dating Liam Connor
Liam Connor
Liam Barrington Connor is a fictional character from the British ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street, played by Rob James-Collier from 2006 to 2008.-Creation:...
(Rob-James Collier), Janice makes her realise that she has to choose between Liam and prostitution. Initially, Leanne chooses escorting but decides she should allow her heart to rule her head and gives it up. In the last days of her career as a prostitute, Leanne gets a new client - Liam's brother, Paul Connor (Sean Gallagher).
Leanne opens a restaurant called Valandro's. She borrows £10,000 from Janice‘s boyfriend, Roger Stiles (Andrew Dunn
Andrew Dunn (actor)
Andrew Dunn is an English actor, best known for the role of Tony in the BBC sitcom Dinnerladies between 1998 and 2000. He was born in Leeds, but was raised in North Shields, eight miles east of Newcastle upon Tyne, before leaving for London at the age of 20. He trained as a teacher but decided he...
), but initially struggles with the business. She takes on Paul Clayton
Paul Clayton (Coronation Street)
Paul Clayton is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by Lee Booth, the character first appeared on-screen during an episode that aired on 29 November 2000...
(Tom Hudson
Tom Hudson
Tom Hudson is an English Actor who can also be credited as Thomas Hudson.Hudson is best known for his roles as Baz Wainwright in Grange Hill between 2003 and 2007 and as Paul Clayton in Coronation Street between 2007 and 2008.In February 2008, ten months after landing the role of Terry Duckworth's...
) as chef and feels hopeful when business improves. Paul also invests in the restaurant but in March 2008, as business isn't great, Leanne and Paul set fire to the restaurant for the insurance money. Leanne's boyfriend, Dan Mason, gives her an alibi, leaving Paul to face charges alone - he leaves the country rather than face imprisonment. Leanne gets involved in a lottery scam with stepmother Janice; again, she escapes without charge but Dan breaks up with her over it.
In November 2008, Peter Barlow
Peter Barlow (Coronation Street)
Peter Francis Barlow is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode aired on 15 April 1965...
(Chris Gascoyne) returns to the Street with his son, Simon
Simon Barlow
Simon Barlow is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, and has been played by Alex Bain since 2008. The character was played by twins Jake and Oscar Hartley on his birth in 2003.-Character development:...
(Alex Bain
Alexander Bain
Alexander Bain was a Scottish philosopher and educationalist in the British school of empiricism who was a prominent and innovative figure in the fields of psychology, linguistics, logic, moral philosophy and education reform...
), and Leanne takes a shine to both. On 17 December, a drunken Peter goes to kiss Leanne. She rejects him but he grabs her and in self-defence, Leanne pushes him away. He falls into the decorated Christmas tree with Simon waking up and Leanne walking out. However, she forgives him when he promises to give up the booze and the pair start dating. Early in 2009, Peter struggles to stay off alcohol and enters a rehabilitation programme which Leanne supports, running the bookies in his absence. Upon his return in March 2009, Leanne discovers he has cheated on her while away. Broken-hearted, she moves to Leeds to manage a restaurant for a friend.
She keeps in contact with Janice and after Simon's rabbit dies in September 2009 (who he had named Leanne after her departure), Peter and Simon go to the restaurant to see Leanne. She reluctantly serves them and tells Peter she has a new boyfriend so they leave without her. However, Leanne returns to Weatherfield that evening. She rekindles her relationship with Peter but is furious to discover that he has lied about not dating anyone while she was away as he had a brief fling with Michelle Connor. The couple put their differences aside and continue dating.
In October 2009, Leanne quits her job, declaring that she is frustrated and needs a new challenge. Seeing how frustrated she is, Peter spots a business opportunity in the vacant unit Turner's Joinery at the end of the Street. He shows it to her and suggests they open a bar there, an idea to which she agrees. However, Ken (William Roache
William Roache
William Patrick Harry Roache MBE is a British actor, best known for his role as Ken Barlow in the soap opera Coronation Street...
) opposes the idea as Peter is a recovering alcoholic.
When an old friend of Peter's, Ciaran McCarthy
Ciaran McCarthy
Ciaran McCarthy is a fictional character from the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street portrayed by Keith Duffy. He made his first on-screen appearance on 7 August 2002, before departing in 2005. He returned in 2010 until Duffy temporary departed in January 2011 to go on Boyzone Tour,...
(Keith Duffy
Keith Duffy
Keith Peter Thomas Francis John Duffy is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor, drummer, dancer and television presenter. He began his career as part of Boyzone in the 1990s. In the 2000s, he achieved critical acclaim for his acting roles, particularly in soap operas such as Coronation Street and Fair...
), returns in February 2010, Peter once again turns to alcohol. During a party at the new bar, Peter gets drunk, embarrassing everyone. Devastated at his downfall, a tearful Leanne realises that her dream venture cannot go ahead with Peter being a recovering alcoholic. However, she promises to stand by Peter as he re-enters treatment for his addiction. She also supports him when Simon's maternal grandfather, George, tries to claim custody of the little boy.
In April 2010, Leanne becomes suspicious of Peter's behaviour and mistakenly believes that he is seeing old flame Michelle. She angrily confronts him at Ken and Deirdre
Deirdre Barlow
Deirdre Anne Barlow is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV Granada soap opera, Coronation Street...
(Anne Kirkbride
Anne Kirkbride
Anne Kirkbride is an English actress, best known for her long-running role as Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street which she has played for thirty-nine years.-Coronation Street:...
)'s wedding anniversary party in the Rovers. However, she is mortified to realise that Peter was in fact planning to propose to her. She is determined to make amends for her mistake and subsequently gets down on one knee and proposes to him, to which he accepts.
The reappearance of Leanne's ex, Nick (now played by Ben Price
Ben Price
Ben Price is a British actor, best known for playing the third incarnation of Nick Tilsley in the ITV soap opera, Coronation Street...
), poses a further challenge to her relationship with Peter. In August 2010, Peter is furious with Leanne after Lewis Archer
Lewis Archer
Lewis Archer is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, played by Nigel Havers. He made his first on-screen appearance on 18 December 2009. Lewis is a male escort hired by Audrey Roberts, after she sees him accompanying her rival, Claudia Colby, to a Christmas party...
(Nigel Havers
Nigel Havers
Nigel Allan Havers is an English actor. He is probably best known for his BAFTA-nominated role as Lord Andrew Lindsay in the 1981 British film Chariots of Fire, and for his role as Dr. Tom Latimer in the British TV comedy series Don't Wait Up...
) steals £4,000 from the bookies. Nick comforts Leanne, making his feelings for her clear as he thinks that Peter does not appreciate her. She insists that she loves Peter but is upset when Nick's girlfriend, Natasha Blakeman
Natasha Blakeman
Natasha Blakeman is a fictional character from the British ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street, played by Rachel Leskovac. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 12 May 2008...
(Rachel Leskovac
Rachel Leskovac
Rachel Leskovac is an Olivier award-nominated British actress best known for playing hairdresser Natasha Blakeman in the British soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:...
), tells Leanne that she is pregnant; serving as a painful reminder of her marriage to Nick and the baby that they aborted. Nick, celebrating the news in the pub, and Leanne after rowing with Peter, catch each other's eyes across the pub to which Leanne raises her glass in a silent toast and a private toast between them, as they are both moving on. Nick mouths "thank you," full of meaning in his eyes, which proves too much for Leanne and she runs out of the pub in tears. Natasha notices and follows Leanne outside, paranoid about Nick's feelings towards his ex-wife, warning her to back off.
When Natasha attempts suicide, after Nick's discovery that she had aborted the baby and was faking her pregnancy, Leanne comforts Nick at the hospital. They speak candidly about their marriage and Leanne's abortion. It is clear that Leanne has strong feelings towards her ex-husband, despite being engaged to Peter.
Leanne is not happy when Nick takes over 'The Joinery' Bar, seeing him taking on her dream venture. After some persuasion by Peter, Leanne agrees to work for Nick, when he offers her the position of bar manager. Nick still has feelings for Leanne and eventually they begin an affair. Leanne feels guilty and tries avoid Nick but they are caught by Ken and Leanne explains to him and Deirdre that she loves Peter.
After an explosion at the bar and a tram derailment on 6 December, Nick, Peter and Ashley
are trapped in the office. Peter is seriously hurt and taken to hospital where he and Leanne marry but moments later, Peter has a heart attack and has to be resuscitated. To Leanne's relief, he survives and successfully comes through surgery to stop internal bleeding but it is later revealed that he has damaged his spine and it is likely to be some time before he is able to walk again. While Peter is recovering, Leanne becomes suspicious about Carla's response to his injuries and realises that she is in love with Peter. She angrily confronts her and Carla admits that Peter has been helping her with a drink problem and that she fell for him, but he turned her down because he is in love with Leanne. Leanne warns her to stay away from them.
When Peter leaves hospital, they move in with Ken and Deirdre for a while as Peter cannot manage the stairs at the flat, however, Leanne finds it difficult living at close quarters with her in-laws, especially when Deirdre's daughter Tracy
Tracy Barlow
Tracy Lynette Barlow is a fictional character in the British television soap opera Coronation Street. She is currently portrayed, since 2002, by Kate Ford, the latest in a series of actresses who have played Tracy at various ages...
(Kate Ford
Kate Ford
Kate Connerty is a British actress best known for playing the role of Tracy Barlow in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2002 to 2007. Kate returned to Coronation Street on Christmas Eve 2010....
) is released from prison and joins the family at number 1. To escape from their cramped living conditions and also put distance between herself and Nick, who is now working with her at the bookies and has been putting pressure on her to leave Peter for him, Leanne takes Peter off on an impromptu honeymoon on New Year's Eve. On their return they move back to their flat, as Peter is sinking into depression over his injury and hates being treated like an invalid. Leanne finds herself under great stress, having to look after both Simon and Peter while also running the bookies alongside Nick, who continues to put pressure on her to leave Peter. Leanne's guilt and tension make it hard for her to cope with Peter's depression, as he is a very bad patient, while Nick takes every opportunity to present himself as her potential saviour, adding to her stress.
In February 2011, Leanne suspects that Peter has been having an affair with Carla, after he stays out all night and is seen leaving Carla's apartment in the morning. She furiously confronts Carla, who insists that they are not having an affair and that she should talk to Peter. When Leanne accuses him of sleeping with Carla, Peter breaks down and admits that he had been drinking and did not want her to find out, as he was afraid she would leave him; he spent the night on Carla's couch so that Leanne would not see him drunk. Leanne is furious when she realises that Nick deviously tempted Peter with alcohol, knowing that he was depressed and vulnerable, and was the cause of him falling off the wagon, as Nick had hoped that it would split them up - but she can't explain to Peter why she mistrusts Nick so much without revealing their affair.
Just as Leanne is starting to hope that things might start to get back to normal, with Peter's recovery proceeding apace, she is horrified to realise that Tracy heard her arguing with Carla and knows about her affair with Nick, sure that it is a matter of time before Tracy tells Peter. When the day of their wedding blessing arrives, Leanne allows herself to hope that everything might be all right after all - but is devastated when, at the blessing, Peter reveals in front of their friends and family at the church that he knows all about the affair and announces that he wants a divorce. Crushed, Leanne tries desperately to persuade him that the affair was a mistake and ended a long time ago, but Peter is too hurt and angry to listen. Leanne decides to leave Weatherfield and books a train to London Euston.
Ken tries to persuade Peter to forgive Leanne. At first he remains defiant, still deeply hurt, but at the last minute he changes his mind and asks Lloyd to take him to the train station. As Peter races to the platform he sees the train pulling away and thinks he is too late, but sees Leanne still standing on the platform. She exclaims "I just couldn't go" and they give each other a hug. After a weekend spent talking through their problems, the couple agree to give their marriage another try and head off, with Simon, on the honeymoon Peter had booked.
In March 2011, Leanne, Peter and Simon return to Weatherfield after their holiday. Leanne is surprised when stepmother Janice decides very suddenly to leave town to go travelling with her ex-lodger Trevor Dean
Trevor Dean
Trevor Dean is a fictional character in the British soap opera Coronation Street, played by actor Steve Jackson. He first appears during the episode airing on 28 January 2010 as a lodger for Janice Battersby ....
(Steve Jackson). An interview with the new headteacher at Bessie Street Primary leaves Leanne feeling very indignant after hearing that Simon is disruptive in class - and she is then jealous when Cheryl is told that her son Russ (Finton Flynn) is gifted and will receive special coaching. Overcompensating for her insecurity, as Simon's stepmother, Leanne pushes him to audition for the school play and is thrilled when he wins the lead role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat but then is dismayed to realise that she must make his costume herself. As sewing is not her strong suit, she gets Sean Tully
Sean Tully
Sean Tully, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Antony Cotton, the character first appeared on screen during the episode airing on 13 July 2003. Sean works as a factory machinist, and as a part-time barman in the Rovers Return...
(Antony Cotton
Antony Cotton
Antony Cotton is an English actor and singer best known for his roles in Coronation Street and the original UK version of Queer as Folk.-Early and personal life:...
) to make Simon's outfit using his machine at Underworld.
At the end of June 2011, the new manageress at The Rovers Stella Price
Stella Price
Stella Price is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Michelle Collins. Collins' casting was announced in April 2011 and she began filming her scenes in May. The actress commutes from north London to Manchester for filming. Collins joined the show in...
(Michelle Collins
Michelle Collins
Michelle Danielle Collins is a British actress best known for her roles on television in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, as Cindy Beale, Coronation Street as Stella Price, and BBC dramas Sunburn and Two Thousand Acres of Sky...
) confesses to Peter that she is Leanne's biological mother, after Peter discovers a picture of Leanne in her purse that she has taken from their flat. On 1 July 2011, during Leanne's 30th birthday party arranged by Stella, Leanne finds out the truth about her birth mother and furiously storms out of the pub. Stella later turns up and wants Leanne to hear her out about why she abandoned her as a baby. Leanne insists that Janice is her mother and tells Stella to get back to her own family because she has all the family she could want already.
Peter finds a pregnancy test in Leanne's bag and she explains that she didn't want to tell him about her suspicions until she was sure. Leanne takes the test, and it is positive. Leanne is overjoyed, but although Peter also seems happy on the surface, he admits to Ken that he isn't sure they are ready. Peter and Leanne celebrate in the Rovers, until Carla Connor
Carla Connor
Carla Connor is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional town of Weatherfield. She is portrayed by actress Alison King. Carla was created by producer Steve Frost as part of the new Connor family....
(Alison King
Alison King
Alison King is an English actress. She has had major television roles as Lynda Block in the Sky One television series Dream Team, and as Carla Connor in Coronation Street since 2006.- Early life and education :...
) overhears Deirdre and Ken congratulating them and forces Peter to confirm her guess that Leanne must be pregnant. Leanne is furious when she realises Carla knows about her pregnancy, all the more so when Carla drops hints to Simon about it. She confronts Peter, and they have a heated row which ends with Leanne hurling quite vicious insults at Peter about his alcoholism. Rather than respond, he storms out of the flat. Feeling guilty, Leanne runs after him, but trips and falls down the stairs, where she is later found by Stella, who raises the alarm. At the hospital, a doctor confirms that Leanne has suffered a miscarriage. Peter feels guilty about the stress Leanne has been under lately and feels he may have jinxed the pregnancy with his reservations. Peter tells Stella about the miscarriage and Leanne allows her mother to comfort her. When Leanne realises that Peter had doubts about the pregnancy, she assumes it means that he hasn't fully forgiven her for the affair with Nick and orders him to leave, implying that their marriage is in crisis. Carla finds Peter in a highly agitated state and takes advantage of his vulnerability to try to seduce him again - he almost succumbs, but at the last minute pushes her away. After talking things through with Ken, Peter returns to the hospital and tells Leanne that he wants them to try for another baby after she is recovered.
Reception
Danson was nominated in the category of "Best Actress" at the 2011 British Soap AwardsBritish Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to...
.
In a 2005 interview with The Sunday Mirror Jane Danson expressed her delight with playing such a multi-faceted character, she stated; "Its quite hard to get inside her head because shes so strong in lots of ways, but when it comes to men, she's a hopeless cause. I do love playing her. She lets me do all the things I wouldn't dare do in real life..." Discussing Leanne's controversial prostitution comeback storyline in 2007, Danson said; "She (Leanne) likes to see herself as a high class lady of the night. Corries never dealt with that kind of thing before but as Corrie always does, it deals with it in a way that's really responsible, and there's always a message. As the storyline progresses, I think it's fair to say that Leanne, hopefully, will redeem herself. There'll be a moral in there somewhere..."
The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
columnist Grace Dent
Grace Dent
Grace Dent is an English journalist, author, and broadcaster. Dent writes mainly for The Guardian, where she has a weekly column on television, 'Grace Dent's TV-OD'. She also writes for magazines such as Tatler and Marie Claire. She writes a restaurant review column for the London Evening...
commented on Danson's decision to return to the show in 2007 saying; "so Leanne Battersby's back on Coronation Street, again. We knew Leanne would come back. She's played by Jane Danson, one of those rare thesps who knows which side her bread's buttered on. With excellent wages, regular hours and maximum TV exposure you'd imagine most actors would kill to be a soap opera staple." In the same article she spoke favourably of the prostitution storyline: "Corrie is dealing with this whole thing in an interesting, relevant way. Much differently to those Pat Butcher, Janine Evans on-the-game storylines filled with shame and desperation. How, the plot asks, do you stop young women from seeing sex work as a cool, empowering, money-making five year plan? How do you keep your daughter off the pole? How did things go so sadly tits-up with girl power? How did Leanne Battersby become another of the myriad of deluded post-feminists you find these days swinging round poles in their pants, doing headstands in front of webcams, or performing 20 "happy finishes" a day while somehow still thinking they're channeling Emmeline Pankhurst. (Hint: they're not)."
In December 2010, following the show's critically acclaimed live episode, Jane Danson's performance was singled out by many Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
forum members.