Michelle Connor
Encyclopedia
Michelle Sinéad Connor is a fictional character
in the UK television ITV
soap opera
, Coronation Street
. Portrayed by actress Kym Marsh
, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 3 April 2006. Marsh took maternity leave in January 2011, and the character returned on 3 November 2011.
(Ian Reddington
)'s band. She is hired but Vernon takes a shine to her and makes a move, prompting her to leave the band. Michelle returns in August 2006 when she becomes the new barmaid at the Rovers. She is soon joined by her son Ryan Connor
(Ben Thompson
) and brothers Liam Connor
(Rob James-Collier
) and Paul Connor (Sean Gallagher). Steve McDonald falls for Michelle instantly when she begins working at the Rovers. Unfortunately his mother, Liz
(Beverley Callard
), does not like Michelle as Vernon clearly has a crush on her. He flirts with her but she is disgusted by his behaviour. As he blatantly propositions her, Michelle tricks him by falsely claiming to feel the same. Michelle humiliates Vernon in public but he twists the situation to make her seem the guilty party and Liz sacks Michelle. When the truth is exposed, Liz throws him out, although they eventually reconcile. Liz offers Michelle her job back and she returns to the Rovers. When Michelle's sister-in-law Carla Connor
(Alison King
) hint that Paul and Liam are hiding something from her, she confronts them both. Paul denies it but Liam eventually confesses to Michelle that on the night Dean died, Paul was driving, not Dean. She lashes out violently at her brothers on discovering their attempts to cover up Paul's crime. Michelle struggles to forgive her brothers and never tells Ryan the truth. When Paul is seriously injured in a car accident a few months later after kidnapping Leanne Battersby, Michelle doesn't know how to react. She is still unable to forgive him for killing Dean and refuses to visit him in hospital, but eventually is persuaded by Steve to visit her dying brother. Unfortunately Paul has just died as she enters the hospital ward.
After a brief relationship with Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson
), Michelle begins dating the manipulative Sonny Dhillon (Pal Aron
), and they even get engaged. Steve loves her and tries to split them up but Michelle's loyalties lie with Sonny. When Steve discovers that Sonny is bisexual, having seen him kiss Sean Tully
(Antony Cotton
), he tells Michelle but she refuses to believe him. Sonny and Sean deny their affair but when Michelle eventually discovers the truth, she is devastated. She confronts Sonny and calls off the engagement. Michelle ends her friendship with Sean following his betrayal, but they repair their friendship a few months later. Following a brief kiss months before, Michelle is propositioned again by Steve when she confides in him about the true circumstances of Dean's death. Although she has feelings for Steve, his timing isn't good and Michelle rejects his advances. However, they eventually start dating properly and finally become a couple. Steve suggests that Michelle and Ryan move into the Rovers, which they do.
During December 2007, Ryan is followed repeatedly by Robert Horwell
in a blue car. He appears constantly and scares Ryan. He wonders why the man is following him. He tells Michelle, who tells Steve and Liam, but at first the claims fall on deaf ears. On 9 December 2007, the car pulls up beside him and the driver begins to talk to him, using his name. Ryan runs into the Rovers and tells his mother and uncle. Liam runs outside but he escapes. He reappears on 17 December and is followed to a house in the suburbs. The Connors follow, determined to find out why this man is following Ryan. Michelle rings the doorbell and the door is answered by another 15-year-old, Alex Neeson (Dario Coates). She takes one look at Alex and bursts into tears. The teenager standing before her is the image of her deceased partner, Dean. Her worst fears are confirmed - Alex and Ryan were swapped accidentally just after birth. This means that Alex is Michelle's biological son, not Ryan. Alex later appears in The Kabin and tells Norris Cole
(Malcolm Hebden
) that his mother would pay for the sweets he had bought. Norris asks who his mother is and Alex tells him his mother's name is Michelle Connor. Later that day, the news spreads about Ryan not being Michelle's son and Ryan is not amused when Amber Kalirai
(Nikki Patel
) comments on the news. The police later arrive at the Rovers with Alex. He has been shoplifting and tells them Michelle is his mother. They ask her if this is true and Michelle tells them it is and that it is okay for him to stay at the Rovers. When Michelle and Alex are talking, she goes to get something from the kitchen but Alex calls her back, calling her "Mum". Michelle is shocked. Alex stays with Michelle for a couple of weeks, causing problems for everyone and making Ryan feel he has to move in with Liam and Maria Connor (Samia Smith
). He 'loses' Steve's daughter Amy Barlow (Amber Chadwick) and barricades himself in the pub, but Michelle cannot not bring herself to tell him to move back in with Wendy Neeson (Jane Slavin
). She meets Alex again and has taken him to Ireland to meet his grandparents. She later tells Alex and his family, that she cannot have Alex in her life because she feels Ryan is her son.
On 17 October 2008, Michelle's remaining brother, Liam, dies in a hit-and-run accident arranged by Tony Gordon
(Gray O'Brien
). Michelle is distraught, especially as her brother, Paul, had died just over a year before. She has the awful task of telling Ryan, as he and Liam were very close. However, when she is about to tell him, she is reminded of Dean and cannot do it so Steve, sensing this, breaks the news to Ryan, who breaks down in his mother's arms. At Liam's funeral, she helps Ryan get through his speech by telling him to tell the story of what Liam said to him. Ryan breaks down towards the end and they both cry. On 3 December 2008, Michelle attends Tony and Carla's wedding. Later on, she discovers that Liam had an affair with Carla as Sally Webster
(Sally Dynevor) drunkenly reveals the truth to Maria. This infuriates her and she confides in Michelle and Tom Kerrigan (Philip McGinley
). This confuses Michelle and Tom as they thought she might have got the wrong idea about the situation.
Steve has a drunken one-night stand
with Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly
), following a row with Michelle. He doesn't tell Michelle but she becomes suspicious when Steve and his best friend Lloyd
(Craig Charles
) acts nervously around her. When Liz McDonald
(Beverley Callard
) tells Michelle that Steve gets on very well with Leanne Battersby
(Jane Danson
), she blames her, as she knows that Steve has had a one-night-stand. Michelle confronts Lloyd when Steve goes to Spain to visit his twin brother Andy (Nicholas Cochrane
). Michelle fires Leanne, despite not having the authority to do so. Leanne's boyfriend Dan Mason insists that she go with him when he confronts Michelle in the Rovers. Dan tells Michelle that the night Steve had his one-night-stand, Leanne was with him and his father at the hospital. Horrified at her behaviour, Michelle tries making amends but Leanne isn't interested.
Under pressure from Michelle, Lloyd tells her that Steve is planning a surprise proposal. When Steve comes home, Lloyd persuades Michelle not to say anything but when he and Steve argue, Steve proposes for real. Eileen Grimshaw
(Sue Cleaver
) objects when Lloyd tells her what has happened and she insists he tell Michelle the truth, unaware of Steve's proposal. He tells Michelle the truth and on 16 July 2008, Michelle chooses a very expensive engagement ring and when Steve proposes again with the ring, Michelle refuses and hits him. She also throws the ring into a skip, forcing Steve to climb in to retrieve it. The next day, Michelle demands the truth about the night he was out. Steve said he had stayed at a girl's house but slept on her sofa. He asks Michelle to play happy families in front of Amy (Amber Chadwick), attempting to worm his way back into her affections. Michelle later met an old boyfriend, JD. Planning to wind up Steve about his infidelity, she invites JD back to the Rovers but Steve gives Michelle an ultimatum - either they get back together or she and Ryan would have to move out. Steve and Michelle later reconcile. Steve decides to play the 'bad boyfriend' so that Michelle will dump him so he won't have to finish with her. He has now decided that he is in love with Becky Granger.
In January 2009, Steve finally confesses to his affair with Becky McDonald
(Katherine Kelly
) and they split up. After the break-up Michelle quits her job at the Rovers, as she and Ryan move in with Maria. Leanne encourages Michelle to take a job at the bookies. Michelle agrees in order to anger Steve. However, she then starts flirting with Peter Barlow
(Chris Gascoyne) and Luke Strong
(Craig Kelly
). In May 2009, Luke and Michelle enjoy a "summer romance", with Luke even arranging a beach scene in Maria's garden. Michelle goes back to Luke's flat and they kiss. Later, Ryan is accused of raping Sian Powers
(Sacha Parkinson
), his girlfriend, by Sian's father. He is pinned against the wall but Peter intervenes and saves Ryan. Sian explains that her father had jumped to conclusions after finding condoms in her bag. When Michelle learns of this, she visits Peter at his flat and they talk. Peter then suggests they take things further, and they kiss passionately on the sofa.
In June 2009, Michelle leaves to do another tour with JD for six months. The night before Michelle leaves, she sleeps with Peter. Unfortunately Luke spots her leaving Peter's flat, wearing the same clothes as the previous day, and guesses what had happened. However, in July, it is confirmed Michelle will return early to Street due to a drummer injuring his wrist during a gig. Her return to the Street sparks the interest of both Luke and Peter, she makes it clear to Peter that she just wants to be friends; she seems more fond of Luke but in the end insists that she doesn't want commitment. Michelle and Ryan walk in on Maria and Tony kissing on the sofa and furiously storm out, however, she later apologises to Maria and helps her announce her relationship to Michelle's parents Helen Connor (Dearbhla Molloy
) and Barry Connor (Frank Grimes
). She returns to the tour and tells Luke that she'll be gone for a couple of more weeks.
She returns in early September and moves into the flat above the kebab shop and gets her old job back as barmaid at the Rovers. She starts up her flirtation with Luke again even though he is seeing the much younger, Rosie Webster
(Helen Flanagan
). This really annoys Rosie and her possessive ways to force Luke to dump her. At Jason Grimshaw
(Ryan Thomas
) and Tina McIntyre's
(Michelle Keegan
) house-warming party a day later, Rosie becomes extremely angry after seeing Michelle and Luke kissing. They proceed to have a catfight in the street, which causes Rosie to run home crying. Following Luke's departure, Michelle has a fling with builder Jake Harman (Kenny Doughty
) before he leaves Weatherfield due to work commitments.
In 2010, Michelle catches the eye of Rovers colleague Ciaran McCarthy
(Keith Duffy
) who rentlessly pursues her, despite Michelle giving him the cold shoulder in an attempt to mask her true feelings towards him. When Ciaran announces his intentions to move to Scotland in search of a new job, Liz urges Michelle to tell Ciaran how she really feels about him. Although she is deeply upset that he is going, she fails to find the courage to tell him that she is in love with him. Ciaran subsequently departs, knowing that something deeper lies between the two of them, but is disappointed that Michelle will not acknowledge it. After Ryan departs for university in Glasgow, a lonely Michelle finally admits her true feelings and kisses Ciaran. After falling out with Liz McDonald, Michelle quits her job at the Rovers and is given a job as trainee assistant manager at Underworld by sister-in-law Carla. In January 2011 when Ciaran is leaving for a cruise, he persuades her to come with her, she later accepts. They drive off into the distance together.
After 10 months away, Michelle and Ciaran return to Weatherfield and are shocked when a shaken Carla tells her that while she'd been away, she was raped by her partner Frank Foster
(Andrew Lancel
). Michelle and Ciaran help Carla cope throughout the ordeal, and persuade her not to give up working in the factory because of Frank's lies. Carla eventually begins working again, much to the relief of Ciaran and Michelle. However, Underworld begins to suffer as Carla struggles, and Michelle gratefully accepts the help of ex-worker Nick Tilsley
(Ben Price
). Michelle and Ciaran's relationship soon begins to suffer as they both realise that they want different things in life, and Ciaran secretly has doughts about his and Michelle's relationship. Ciaran later tells Michelle that he wishes to go to Spain
on a cruise, but Michelle says she doesn't want to go and Ciaran realises that he and Michelle have nothing in common except their love for one another. Michelle later discovers that Ciaran didn't pay for the wedding venue and is left furious. During her hen do in the Rovers, Ciaran tells Michelle he is going back to the cruise ships and Michelle decides to go with him. However, Michelle changes her mind and realises she cant leave the street. Michelle tells Ciaran she will always love him, and tearfully watches on as Ciaran leaves in a taxi.
In June 2008, Marsh signed a contract for £100,000 after keen producers nearly doubled her salary in order to keep her as part of the show. Marsh stated she wanted to be on the show for a long time.
On 5 December 2008, Marsh announced that she and boyfriend Jamie Lomas
were expecting a baby. She was due to go on maternity leave in June 2009 and return at the beginning of 2010. On 12 February 2009, Marsh's son was born 18 weeks early and died shortly after birth. On 27 February 2009, it was revealed that Marsh had returned to filming earlier in the week.
Later in Inside Soap
Magazine, it was announced that a Coronation Street spokesperson had denied reports that Kym Marsh is leaving the show to go to Hollywood. Despite confirmation that her boyfriend Jamie Lomas
is heading to LA, Kym will be staying put. With Kym confirming herself that she had just signed another one year contract. Of the decision to stay, Marsh said: "I am absolutely delighted about it. It's not necessarily always my decision. I mean, if the producers don't want you, you're out. I'm lucky the writers feel that they can still write for my character, Michelle Connor, after doing so for three years."
Marsh's second pregnancy was announced in 2010 and took maternity leave in January 2011. It was confirmed in July 2011 that she would return to filming in September 2011. Upon her return in November 2011 Michelle announced that she engaged to Ciaran, learns of Carla's rape ordeal culminating in confronting Frank and taking charge of Underworld while Carla headed of to the US.
During a magazine interview Marsh spoke about the effect her relationship with Steve had on her character stating: "I'd like to see a lot more of the old, feisty Michelle. She became a bit too dependent on Steve and now she is an independent woman again I think she needs a bit of a challenge."
Of her character's relationship with Peter, Marsh stated that: "I think it might be interesting to see where things might go with Peter Barlow. Peter's quite a deep character. He's got a lot of layers, some good and some bad." Going on to comment about wanting her character to be more feisty unlike when she was with Steve explaining: "I think she is suited to Peter because there's bound to be drama. He's not exactly got the best track record."
said of the plot; "...It feels like something ripped from a copy of Pick Me Up magazine and read to me laboriously over 22 weeks". In September 2008, the Kym Marsh won the award for 'Best Dressed Soap Star' at the Inside Soap Awards.
In 2009 Ruth Deller of entertainment website Lowculture
who runs a monthly feature of the most popular and unpopular soap opera characters, profiled Michelle, criticising her personality stating: "She’s continuing to get more and more entitled and unbearable, but we’re not sure the Coronation Street writers have noticed how much we all hate her yet…" Later that year Deller criticised Michelle again stating: "It really is the month for all our old hate figures to resurface. Michelle’s still apparently irresistible, and her hatefulness was amplified when the show paired her up with the equally detestable Jake. Do the writers realise we hate her? Are they deliberately torturing us? It’s beginning to look more and more the case…"
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...
in the UK television ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
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 Kym Marsh
Kym Marsh
Kimberley Gail Marsh is an English actress and singer.- Early life :Marsh was born in Wigan, Greater Manchester and raised in Garswood, in the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, Merseyside...
, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 3 April 2006. Marsh took maternity leave in January 2011, and the character returned on 3 November 2011.
2006––
The background to her character is complex and controversial including her teenage pregnancy and her problematic relationship with boyfriend, Dean. Michelle first appears in April 2006 when she auditions as a background singer for Vernon TomlinVernon Tomlin
Vernon Tomlin was a fictional character of the ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by Ian Reddington. he originally appeared from December 2005 till September 2008.-Background:...
(Ian Reddington
Ian Reddington
- Early life :Ian Reddington was born in Sheffield. He was educated at Frecheville Comprehensive. He had no formal drama training, but became a leading figure in the Meatwhistle youth theatre project run by youth workers in the city. This gave him his first appearance as The Herald in Peter...
)'s band. She is hired but Vernon takes a shine to her and makes a move, prompting her to leave the band. Michelle returns in August 2006 when she becomes the new barmaid at the Rovers. She is soon joined by her son Ryan Connor
Ryan Connor
Ryan Connor is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Ben Thompson, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 30 August 2006...
(Ben Thompson
Ben Thompson
Ben Thompson was a gunman, gambler, and sometime lawman of the Old West. He was a contemporary of Wyatt Earp, Buffalo Bill Cody, Doc Holliday, John Wesley Hardin and James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickock, some of whom considered him a trusted friend, others an enemy.Ben Thompson had a colorful career,...
) and brothers 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
Rob James-Collier
Robert James-Collier is a British actor and model. He is known for his roles as Liam Connor in Coronation Street and as Thomas on Downton Abbey.- Background :James-Collier was born in Stockport, Greater Manchester...
) and Paul Connor (Sean Gallagher). Steve McDonald falls for Michelle instantly when she begins working at the Rovers. Unfortunately his mother, Liz
Liz McDonald
Elizabeth "Liz" Jayne McDonald is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Beverley Callard, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 27 October 1989 and remained on the series until Callard opted to leave in 1998...
(Beverley Callard
Beverley Callard
Beverley Jane McEwan is an English actress, best known for her role as Liz McDonald in ITV's Coronation Street, and Flo Henshaw in BBC Three's Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.-Early life:Beverley Jane Moxon was born in Leeds on 28 March 1957 to Clive and Mavis Moxon...
), does not like Michelle as Vernon clearly has a crush on her. He flirts with her but she is disgusted by his behaviour. As he blatantly propositions her, Michelle tricks him by falsely claiming to feel the same. Michelle humiliates Vernon in public but he twists the situation to make her seem the guilty party and Liz sacks Michelle. When the truth is exposed, Liz throws him out, although they eventually reconcile. Liz offers Michelle her job back and she returns to the Rovers. When Michelle's sister-in-law 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 :...
) hint that Paul and Liam are hiding something from her, she confronts them both. Paul denies it but Liam eventually confesses to Michelle that on the night Dean died, Paul was driving, not Dean. She lashes out violently at her brothers on discovering their attempts to cover up Paul's crime. Michelle struggles to forgive her brothers and never tells Ryan the truth. When Paul is seriously injured in a car accident a few months later after kidnapping Leanne Battersby, Michelle doesn't know how to react. She is still unable to forgive him for killing Dean and refuses to visit him in hospital, but eventually is persuaded by Steve to visit her dying brother. Unfortunately Paul has just died as she enters the hospital ward.
After a brief relationship with Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson
Simon Gregson
Simon Gregson is an English actor. He is known for being a cast member of the British soap opera Coronation Street in which he has played Steve McDonald since 1989....
), Michelle begins dating the manipulative Sonny Dhillon (Pal Aron
Pal Aron
Pal Aron is a British actor, best known for playing Adam Osman in Casualty, Brandon Kane in The Bill, Jayesh Parekh and Sonny Dhillon in Coronation Street. Before turning professional he performed with the Theatre of the Unemployed in Birmingham...
), and they even get engaged. Steve loves her and tries to split them up but Michelle's loyalties lie with Sonny. When Steve discovers that Sonny is bisexual, having seen him kiss 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:...
), he tells Michelle but she refuses to believe him. Sonny and Sean deny their affair but when Michelle eventually discovers the truth, she is devastated. She confronts Sonny and calls off the engagement. Michelle ends her friendship with Sean following his betrayal, but they repair their friendship a few months later. Following a brief kiss months before, Michelle is propositioned again by Steve when she confides in him about the true circumstances of Dean's death. Although she has feelings for Steve, his timing isn't good and Michelle rejects his advances. However, they eventually start dating properly and finally become a couple. Steve suggests that Michelle and Ryan move into the Rovers, which they do.
During December 2007, Ryan is followed repeatedly by Robert Horwell
Robert Horwell
Robert 'Bob' Horwell is a British actor who was born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. His father, whom he was named after, was a coal merchant and Audrey, his mother, was also a successful small businesswoman. His sisters Angela and Sue run a small designer clothing outlet in his hometown...
in a blue car. He appears constantly and scares Ryan. He wonders why the man is following him. He tells Michelle, who tells Steve and Liam, but at first the claims fall on deaf ears. On 9 December 2007, the car pulls up beside him and the driver begins to talk to him, using his name. Ryan runs into the Rovers and tells his mother and uncle. Liam runs outside but he escapes. He reappears on 17 December and is followed to a house in the suburbs. The Connors follow, determined to find out why this man is following Ryan. Michelle rings the doorbell and the door is answered by another 15-year-old, Alex Neeson (Dario Coates). She takes one look at Alex and bursts into tears. The teenager standing before her is the image of her deceased partner, Dean. Her worst fears are confirmed - Alex and Ryan were swapped accidentally just after birth. This means that Alex is Michelle's biological son, not Ryan. Alex later appears in The Kabin and tells Norris Cole
Norris Cole
Norris Benjamin Cole is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Malcolm Hebden, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 11 March 1994 and remained until his departure on 14 April 1997, only to return on 1 December...
(Malcolm Hebden
Malcolm Hebden
Malcolm Hebden is an English television and stage actor best known for his role as Norris Cole in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:...
) that his mother would pay for the sweets he had bought. Norris asks who his mother is and Alex tells him his mother's name is Michelle Connor. Later that day, the news spreads about Ryan not being Michelle's son and Ryan is not amused when Amber Kalirai
Amber Kalirai
Amber Kalirai is a fictional character from the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Nikki Patel, the character first appeared on-screen during the episode airing on 9 November 2005. In May 2011 it was announced that Patel had returned to filming and Amber appeared again from 11 July...
(Nikki Patel
Nikki Patel
Nikki Patel is a British actress. She is best known as the character Amber Kalirai in Coronation Street. Some may also recognise her from the BBC hit drama Waterloo Road, where she played Shazia...
) comments on the news. The police later arrive at the Rovers with Alex. He has been shoplifting and tells them Michelle is his mother. They ask her if this is true and Michelle tells them it is and that it is okay for him to stay at the Rovers. When Michelle and Alex are talking, she goes to get something from the kitchen but Alex calls her back, calling her "Mum". Michelle is shocked. Alex stays with Michelle for a couple of weeks, causing problems for everyone and making Ryan feel he has to move in with Liam and Maria Connor (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:...
). He 'loses' Steve's daughter Amy Barlow (Amber Chadwick) and barricades himself in the pub, but Michelle cannot not bring herself to tell him to move back in with Wendy Neeson (Jane Slavin
Jane Slavin
Jane Slavin is a British actress and author.Slavin was the winner of the 1989 Carleton Hobbs award.Appearances include Peak Practice...
). She meets Alex again and has taken him to Ireland to meet his grandparents. She later tells Alex and his family, that she cannot have Alex in her life because she feels Ryan is her son.
On 17 October 2008, Michelle's remaining brother, Liam, dies in a hit-and-run accident arranged by Tony Gordon
Tony Gordon
Anthony "Tony" Gordon was a fictional character in the itv soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by actor Gray O'Brien. The character first appeared on screen on 16 September 2007 and making his final appearance on 9 June 2010 after deciding to sacrifice himself in the Underworld fire. He is a...
(Gray O'Brien
Gray O'Brien
Gray O'Brien is a Scottish television and film actor, best known for his portrayal of the villainous Weatherfield businessman Tony Gordon in the popular British soap opera Coronation Street from 2007 to 2010, and as Dr Richard McCaig on Casualty from 1996 to 1998.O'Brien was born in Stewarton,...
). Michelle is distraught, especially as her brother, Paul, had died just over a year before. She has the awful task of telling Ryan, as he and Liam were very close. However, when she is about to tell him, she is reminded of Dean and cannot do it so Steve, sensing this, breaks the news to Ryan, who breaks down in his mother's arms. At Liam's funeral, she helps Ryan get through his speech by telling him to tell the story of what Liam said to him. Ryan breaks down towards the end and they both cry. On 3 December 2008, Michelle attends Tony and Carla's wedding. Later on, she discovers that Liam had an affair with Carla as Sally Webster
Sally Webster
Sally Webster is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Sally Dynevor, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 27 January 1986.-Casting:...
(Sally Dynevor) drunkenly reveals the truth to Maria. This infuriates her and she confides in Michelle and Tom Kerrigan (Philip McGinley
Philip McGinley
Philip McGinley is an English actor, best known for playing the role Tom Kerrigan in Coronation Street.- Biography :...
). This confuses Michelle and Tom as they thought she might have got the wrong idea about the situation.
Steve has a drunken one-night stand
One-night stand
Originally, a one-night stand was a single theatre performance, usually by a guest performer on tour, as opposed to an ongoing engagement. Today, however, the term is more commonly defined as a single sexual encounter, in which neither participant has any intention or expectation of a relationship...
with Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly
Katherine Kelly (actress)
Katherine Kelly, is a British actress and recording artist who is most well known for playing Becky McDonald in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She has also starred in the film Mischief Night.-Early life and career:...
), following a row with Michelle. He doesn't tell Michelle but she becomes suspicious when Steve and his best friend Lloyd
Lloyd Mullaney
Lloyd Mullaney is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Craig Charles, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 20 June 2005 and remained on screen until 23 July 2006 when Craig Charles was suspended but he...
(Craig Charles
Craig Charles
Craig Joseph Charles is an English actor, stand-up comedian, author, poet, radio and television presenter, best known for playing Dave Lister in the British cult-favourite science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf...
) acts nervously around her. When Liz McDonald
Liz McDonald
Elizabeth "Liz" Jayne McDonald is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Beverley Callard, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 27 October 1989 and remained on the series until Callard opted to leave in 1998...
(Beverley Callard
Beverley Callard
Beverley Jane McEwan is an English actress, best known for her role as Liz McDonald in ITV's Coronation Street, and Flo Henshaw in BBC Three's Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.-Early life:Beverley Jane Moxon was born in Leeds on 28 March 1957 to Clive and Mavis Moxon...
) tells Michelle that Steve gets on very well with Leanne Battersby
Leanne Battersby
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....
(Jane Danson
Jane Danson
Jane Danson is an English actress, most famous for playing the role of Leanne Battersby in Coronation Street.-Acting:...
), she blames her, as she knows that Steve has had a one-night-stand. Michelle confronts Lloyd when Steve goes to Spain to visit his twin brother Andy (Nicholas Cochrane
Nicholas Cochrane
Nicholas Cochrane is an English actor, best known for his role as Andy McDonald in long-running soap opera Coronation Street....
). Michelle fires Leanne, despite not having the authority to do so. Leanne's boyfriend Dan Mason insists that she go with him when he confronts Michelle in the Rovers. Dan tells Michelle that the night Steve had his one-night-stand, Leanne was with him and his father at the hospital. Horrified at her behaviour, Michelle tries making amends but Leanne isn't interested.
Under pressure from Michelle, Lloyd tells her that Steve is planning a surprise proposal. When Steve comes home, Lloyd persuades Michelle not to say anything but when he and Steve argue, Steve proposes for real. Eileen Grimshaw
Eileen Grimshaw
Eileen Grimshaw, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by Sue Cleaver, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 3 May 2000....
(Sue Cleaver
Sue Cleaver
Sue Cleaver is an English actress. She is best known for her regular role in Coronation Street.She studied at the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre and her first television appearance was a small part in an episode of A Touch of Frost...
) objects when Lloyd tells her what has happened and she insists he tell Michelle the truth, unaware of Steve's proposal. He tells Michelle the truth and on 16 July 2008, Michelle chooses a very expensive engagement ring and when Steve proposes again with the ring, Michelle refuses and hits him. She also throws the ring into a skip, forcing Steve to climb in to retrieve it. The next day, Michelle demands the truth about the night he was out. Steve said he had stayed at a girl's house but slept on her sofa. He asks Michelle to play happy families in front of Amy (Amber Chadwick), attempting to worm his way back into her affections. Michelle later met an old boyfriend, JD. Planning to wind up Steve about his infidelity, she invites JD back to the Rovers but Steve gives Michelle an ultimatum - either they get back together or she and Ryan would have to move out. Steve and Michelle later reconcile. Steve decides to play the 'bad boyfriend' so that Michelle will dump him so he won't have to finish with her. He has now decided that he is in love with Becky Granger.
In January 2009, Steve finally confesses to his affair with Becky McDonald
Becky McDonald
Rebecca "Becky" McDonald 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 played by actress Katherine Kelly. Becky was created by producer Steve Frost as a recurring...
(Katherine Kelly
Katherine Kelly (actress)
Katherine Kelly, is a British actress and recording artist who is most well known for playing Becky McDonald in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She has also starred in the film Mischief Night.-Early life and career:...
) and they split up. After the break-up Michelle quits her job at the Rovers, as she and Ryan move in with Maria. Leanne encourages Michelle to take a job at the bookies. Michelle agrees in order to anger Steve. However, she then starts flirting with 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) and Luke Strong
Luke Strong
Luke Strong is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Craig Kelly, the character appeared throughout 2009. Luke took over Carla Gordon's share of the Underworld factory with Tony Gordon...
(Craig Kelly
Craig Kelly (actor)
Craig Kelly is a British actor, best known for his role as Vince Tyler in the Channel 4 television series Queer as Folk and as Luke Strong in Coronation Street.-Biography:...
). In May 2009, Luke and Michelle enjoy a "summer romance", with Luke even arranging a beach scene in Maria's garden. Michelle goes back to Luke's flat and they kiss. Later, Ryan is accused of raping Sian Powers
Sian Powers
Sian Powers is a fictional character on the UK soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by actress Sacha Parkinson. Sian was introduced as a love interest for Sophie Webster . Sian joined the cast of Coronation Street alongside Ben Richardson in early 2009 as Sophie's schoolmates...
(Sacha Parkinson
Sacha Parkinson
Sacha Louise Parkinson is a British actress best known for playing Sian Powers in the ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street from January 2009 onwards. Her character will leave the show in January 2012.-Career:...
), his girlfriend, by Sian's father. He is pinned against the wall but Peter intervenes and saves Ryan. Sian explains that her father had jumped to conclusions after finding condoms in her bag. When Michelle learns of this, she visits Peter at his flat and they talk. Peter then suggests they take things further, and they kiss passionately on the sofa.
In June 2009, Michelle leaves to do another tour with JD for six months. The night before Michelle leaves, she sleeps with Peter. Unfortunately Luke spots her leaving Peter's flat, wearing the same clothes as the previous day, and guesses what had happened. However, in July, it is confirmed Michelle will return early to Street due to a drummer injuring his wrist during a gig. Her return to the Street sparks the interest of both Luke and Peter, she makes it clear to Peter that she just wants to be friends; she seems more fond of Luke but in the end insists that she doesn't want commitment. Michelle and Ryan walk in on Maria and Tony kissing on the sofa and furiously storm out, however, she later apologises to Maria and helps her announce her relationship to Michelle's parents Helen Connor (Dearbhla Molloy
Dearbhla Molloy
Dearbhla Molloy is an Irish actress of the stage and screen from Dublin.Molloy consolidated her stage reputation at both the Abbey and the Gate theatres, coming to England to tour with an Abbey production. She was invited to join the Royal Shakespeare Company and has played Gertrude to Kenneth...
) and Barry Connor (Frank Grimes
Frank Grimes
Frank Grimes , is an Irish actor.Frank Grimes may also refer to:*Frank Grimes, character in The Simpsons episode "Homer's Enemy"*Frank Grimes' son, Frank Grimes, Jr., in the The Simpsons episode "The Great Louse Detective"...
). She returns to the tour and tells Luke that she'll be gone for a couple of more weeks.
She returns in early September and moves into the flat above the kebab shop and gets her old job back as barmaid at the Rovers. She starts up her flirtation with Luke again even though he is seeing the much younger, Rosie Webster
Rosie Webster
Rosie Webster is a fictional character in the British television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 24 December 1990. Originally portrayed by actress Emma Collinge from her birth until December 1999, the character has since been...
(Helen Flanagan
Helen Flanagan
Helen Joyce Flanagan is a British actress best known for playing Rosie Webster in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.Flanagan has played Rosie Webster in Coronation Street since 2000, when she was ten years old....
). This really annoys Rosie and her possessive ways to force Luke to dump her. At Jason Grimshaw
Jason Grimshaw
Jason Grimshaw, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Ryan Thomas, the character first appeared during the episode airing on 25 December 2000, when he comes looking for mother Eileen at the Battersbys' home.Jason is very much the...
(Ryan Thomas
Ryan Thomas
Ryan James Thomas and is an English actor who is currently starring as the character, Jason Grimshaw on ITV's Coronation Street.-Career:...
) and Tina McIntyre's
Tina McIntyre
Tina McIntyre is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Michelle Keegan, the character first appeared on screen during the episode airing on 7 January 2008...
(Michelle Keegan
Michelle Keegan
Michelle Elizabeth Keegan is an English actress who currently plays Tina McIntyre in the soap opera Coronation Street.-Biography:...
) house-warming party a day later, Rosie becomes extremely angry after seeing Michelle and Luke kissing. They proceed to have a catfight in the street, which causes Rosie to run home crying. Following Luke's departure, Michelle has a fling with builder Jake Harman (Kenny Doughty
Kenny Doughty
Kenny Doughty is an English actor who trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Married to the actress Caroline Carver.-Filmography as Director:-Filmography as Actor:...
) before he leaves Weatherfield due to work commitments.
In 2010, Michelle catches the eye of Rovers colleague 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...
) who rentlessly pursues her, despite Michelle giving him the cold shoulder in an attempt to mask her true feelings towards him. When Ciaran announces his intentions to move to Scotland in search of a new job, Liz urges Michelle to tell Ciaran how she really feels about him. Although she is deeply upset that he is going, she fails to find the courage to tell him that she is in love with him. Ciaran subsequently departs, knowing that something deeper lies between the two of them, but is disappointed that Michelle will not acknowledge it. After Ryan departs for university in Glasgow, a lonely Michelle finally admits her true feelings and kisses Ciaran. After falling out with Liz McDonald, Michelle quits her job at the Rovers and is given a job as trainee assistant manager at Underworld by sister-in-law Carla. In January 2011 when Ciaran is leaving for a cruise, he persuades her to come with her, she later accepts. They drive off into the distance together.
After 10 months away, Michelle and Ciaran return to Weatherfield and are shocked when a shaken Carla tells her that while she'd been away, she was raped by her partner Frank Foster
Frank Foster (Coronation Street)
Frank John Foster is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional town of Weatherfield. Frank is played by Andrew Lancel and was introduced as a business associate of Carla Connor...
(Andrew Lancel
Andrew Lancel
Andrew Lancel is an English actor. He is best known for his current role as Frank Foster in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street, and formerly in his role as DI Neil Manson in The Bill.-Biography:...
). Michelle and Ciaran help Carla cope throughout the ordeal, and persuade her not to give up working in the factory because of Frank's lies. Carla eventually begins working again, much to the relief of Ciaran and Michelle. However, Underworld begins to suffer as Carla struggles, and Michelle gratefully accepts the help of ex-worker Nick Tilsley
Nick 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...
(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...
). Michelle and Ciaran's relationship soon begins to suffer as they both realise that they want different things in life, and Ciaran secretly has doughts about his and Michelle's relationship. Ciaran later tells Michelle that he wishes to go to 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...
on a cruise, but Michelle says she doesn't want to go and Ciaran realises that he and Michelle have nothing in common except their love for one another. Michelle later discovers that Ciaran didn't pay for the wedding venue and is left furious. During her hen do in the Rovers, Ciaran tells Michelle he is going back to the cruise ships and Michelle decides to go with him. However, Michelle changes her mind and realises she cant leave the street. Michelle tells Ciaran she will always love him, and tearfully watches on as Ciaran leaves in a taxi.
Casting
The character of Michelle was first created as a cameo appearance for singer/actress Kym Marsh with the possibility of returning. She was later signed up to return on a more permanent basis. Of the decision to become a regular on the show, Marsh said: "If anybody had told me I'd end up starring in Coronation Street one day, I'd have laughed and told them to shut up. I've always said this would be my dream job. My mum has watched the show for years so I've grown up with it."In June 2008, Marsh signed a contract for £100,000 after keen producers nearly doubled her salary in order to keep her as part of the show. Marsh stated she wanted to be on the show for a long time.
On 5 December 2008, Marsh announced that she and boyfriend Jamie Lomas
Jamie Lomas
Jamie Lomas is an English actor best known for his role as bad boy Warren Fox on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks....
were expecting a baby. She was due to go on maternity leave in June 2009 and return at the beginning of 2010. On 12 February 2009, Marsh's son was born 18 weeks early and died shortly after birth. On 27 February 2009, it was revealed that Marsh had returned to filming earlier in the week.
Later in Inside Soap
Inside Soap
Inside Soap is a weekly UK magazine, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas shown in the United Kingdom....
Magazine, it was announced that a Coronation Street spokesperson had denied reports that Kym Marsh is leaving the show to go to Hollywood. Despite confirmation that her boyfriend Jamie Lomas
Jamie Lomas
Jamie Lomas is an English actor best known for his role as bad boy Warren Fox on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks....
is heading to LA, Kym will be staying put. With Kym confirming herself that she had just signed another one year contract. Of the decision to stay, Marsh said: "I am absolutely delighted about it. It's not necessarily always my decision. I mean, if the producers don't want you, you're out. I'm lucky the writers feel that they can still write for my character, Michelle Connor, after doing so for three years."
Marsh's second pregnancy was announced in 2010 and took maternity leave in January 2011. It was confirmed in July 2011 that she would return to filming in September 2011. Upon her return in November 2011 Michelle announced that she engaged to Ciaran, learns of Carla's rape ordeal culminating in confronting Frank and taking charge of Underworld while Carla headed of to the US.
Character development
Michelle's character has a multi-faceted personality. of this actress Kim Marsh said: "The good thing about playing a character like her, she's got so many sides. She can be a bitch, she can be sensitive and she can be feisty too. She's just so well-rounded - there's plenty more mileage left in her." Marsh also discussed her character's personality during an interview with Inside Soap magazine stating that she thinks her character has a more devious side because she is part of the Connor family. Going on to say that her character has got quite a temper on her and that she enjoys portraying her tough side.During a magazine interview Marsh spoke about the effect her relationship with Steve had on her character stating: "I'd like to see a lot more of the old, feisty Michelle. She became a bit too dependent on Steve and now she is an independent woman again I think she needs a bit of a challenge."
Of her character's relationship with Peter, Marsh stated that: "I think it might be interesting to see where things might go with Peter Barlow. Peter's quite a deep character. He's got a lot of layers, some good and some bad." Going on to comment about wanting her character to be more feisty unlike when she was with Steve explaining: "I think she is suited to Peter because there's bound to be drama. He's not exactly got the best track record."
Reception
As Michelle settled into the canvas, she became an increasingly large focus of storylines as well as airtime. In 2007, Kym Marsh won a number of awards for her work as Michelle. At the 2007 TV Quick and TV Choice Awards, she won the Best Soap Newcomer award for her portrayal of Michelle. She also won 'Best Newcomer' at The British Soap Awards. However, in 2008, as the character dominated more storylines, some fans began to tire of her as well as her behaviour. The baby-swap storyline, which Michelle was central to, was largely panned by both fans and critics, columnist Grace DentGrace 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...
said of the plot; "...It feels like something ripped from a copy of Pick Me Up magazine and read to me laboriously over 22 weeks". In September 2008, the Kym Marsh won the award for 'Best Dressed Soap Star' at the Inside Soap Awards.
In 2009 Ruth Deller of entertainment website Lowculture
Lowculture
lowculture.co.uk is a UK television website founded in January 2003 by Paul Lang, who currently works as the art director of Doctor Who Adventures.-Purpose:...
who runs a monthly feature of the most popular and unpopular soap opera characters, profiled Michelle, criticising her personality stating: "She’s continuing to get more and more entitled and unbearable, but we’re not sure the Coronation Street writers have noticed how much we all hate her yet…" Later that year Deller criticised Michelle again stating: "It really is the month for all our old hate figures to resurface. Michelle’s still apparently irresistible, and her hatefulness was amplified when the show paired her up with the equally detestable Jake. Do the writers realise we hate her? Are they deliberately torturing us? It’s beginning to look more and more the case…"