Sophie Webster
Encyclopedia
Sophie Lauren Webster is a fictional character
in the British television ITV
soap opera
Coronation Street
. She is currently portrayed by actress Brooke Vincent
, after previously being portrayed by both Ashleigh Middleton and Emma Woodward
. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 4 November 1994. In 2010 she became the show's first lesbian
character, having fallen for best friend Sian Powers
(Sacha Parkinson
).
(Helen Flanagan
), and was born Lauren in 1994 to parents Kevin
(Michael Le Vell
) and Sally Webster
(Sally Dynevor). However, Rosie keeps calling the baby "Sophie" after her doll. Kevin and Sally were persuaded to give her Lauren as a middle name . Although for the first five years of her life, Sophie’s parents are very much in love, Kevin’s affair with Natalie Horrocks (Denise Welch
) changes everything. With Sally struggling to bring up her girls on her own, she makes bad relationship decisions - most notably when she goes out with psychotic Greg Kelly (Stephen Billington
) who kidnaps Sophie. Later Kevin and Sally remarry and her family get back together. However, soon thereafter Sophie overheard her parents arguing about Sally's affair with her boss, Ian Davenport (Philip Bretherton
), whose daughter Gemma is friends with Rosie. She fears they will get a divorce but this never happens.
(Craig Gazey
).
storyline in 2010. This would be the first time Coronation Street has ever had a lesbian character. Producers had been on the lookout for a lesbian character since 2004. In response to the revelation that former character Violet Wilson
(Jenny Platt
) was originally intended to be the first lesbian character in the show, an ITV insider told the News of the World in July 2008: "Executives want to create a soap which is representative of society in 2008 and they are acutely aware they need more gay characters. They went on: "It does seem ridiculous it (lesbianism) has never been explored on Corrie but that's all about to change." In early 2009 it became apparent that the latter comment saying 'that's all about to change' was said because of the plans to transform the character of Sophie into the show's first lesbian character.
). For weeks, Sophie has to stay at home as the headteacher of the school will not let her in. Sally looks at other schools in the area but the only one she has any chance of joining has a bad reputation. The Head of Weatherfield High had given Sophie's place to his daughter, Jessica. When Sally is dropping Rosie off at Oakhill, she sees the Head of Weatherfield High taking his daughter in for her first day. Sally speaks to him and threatens to tell the local newspaper, which gets Sophie a place at Weatherfield High.
Sophie becomes friends with Nicolette Seddon (Natalie Richards), unaware that they are related. When Sally finds out, she is furious as Nicolette is so rude. She and Sophie start smoking and one night when Rosie and Craig Harris (Richard Fleeshman
) are babysitting, Sophie sneaks out after being told not to leave the house. When Sally finds that Sophie has gone missing, she is frantic. Sophie is later found and breaks off her friendship with Nicolette.
Sophie and Chesney Battersby-Brown (Sam Aston
) start hanging out with Chesney's friend Cameron McIntyre (Ryan Cook), in 2006. The trio start taking DVDs from Chesney's stepdad Les (Bruce Jones). The films have an 18 certificate, so Sally is annoyed when she finds them watching one in her living room. Cameron then steals cigarettes, and Sophie takes one. Sally later finds them in the alley behind the houses and smells tobacco. The finger of blame is pointed at Chesney, as Cameron and Sophie have passed the cigarettes to him. Later on, Sophie steals money from Sally, who suspects Chesney, as it is what his family are known for. Sophie feels guilty and tells her shocked parents everything. Later that year, Sophie and Chesney find an old diary in the attic of Number Five. It belonged to the late Ivy Brennan (Lynne Perrie
), and Sophie starts convincing people that she is psychic; Vera Duckworth
(Elizabeth Dawn
) even pays her to do a reading. When Rosie finds out, she tells David Platt
(Jack P. Shepherd
) who says it is his step-gran's diary. Sophie gives it to David, who is shocked to discover that his mother had almost had an abortion, which Ivy recorded in her diary. David confronts Gail
(Helen Worth
) about it on Christmas Day. On Valentine's Day 2007, Sophie gets her mother to write a Valentine's card, which Sally assumes was for Chesney (Sophie purposefully saying nothing to the contrary); however, she posts it through Norris Cole
(Malcolm Hebden
)'s door. Norris recognises Sally's writing from a cheque she wrote him and is convinced that Sally has a crush on him. The truth is soon revealed, and Sophie is made to apologise.
Sophie vents her anger on Fiz Brown
(Jennie McAlpine
)'s pink motor scooter after finding out Fiz is dating her drama teacher, John Stape
(Graeme Hawley
), whom she has a crush on. Rosie soon has an affair with John, and when this is announced, trouble emerges, as John is Rosie's teacher. Kevin attacks John on the Street and is later arrested. This heightens the differences between her and Rosie, and they get into a fight at school and they are sent home. Tension relax when Kevin is released from prison in early 2008.
Rosie mysteriously disappears in September 2008, three weeks later Kevin receives a postcard saying 'Sophie's next.' Sophie later reveals that she sent the postcards as she was tired of all the attention Rosie was getting. Even though Sophie and Rosie declare a truce, the division between them still lingers, as Rosie is her mother's daughter and Sophie is very much her father's.
(Ben Thompson
), and two new characters, Ben Richardson and Sian Powers. On 16 February 2009, Sophie reveals to a stunned Sally and Kevin, and a happy Ben, that she is adopting Christian values. Sophie becomes a more prominent character in 2009, with storylines including her relationship with boyfriend Ben and the focus on her religion. Sophie and Ben split up in December 2009, due to Ben trying to kiss Ryan's mother Michelle
(Kym Marsh
), shortly before Sophie is baptised.
On 11 April 2010, Sian and Sophie share the soap's first lesbian tender passionate kiss, after a very emotional conversation between the two girls.
Sian now realises that Ryan made a pass at Sophie, whom, she initially blamed for the kiss between them.
Sian is extremely confused by Sophie kissing her, and returns to her mother's home in Southport
, very upset.
The next day, Sophie travels to Southport and attempts to explain her feelings for Sian, and the kiss was an emotional response resulting from their conversation. Sian coldly tells her that there will never be anything between them, and they cannot even be friends anymore.
Sophie returns to Weatherfeild, emotionally devastated.
On 23 April 2010, Sian returns to the Street and sees Sophie on a date with a boy called Lee. She then confronts Sophie, admitting that she is now very confused, and she is not attracted to girls, but she has become attracted to Sophie; and she deeply missed not being with her. As Sian kisses her, Sophie responds and they decided to be together, " going out " as a secret couple.
In the Spring of 2010, Sian returns to Weatherfield for her exams, after being in Southport. Sian and Sophie decide to go to the school prom together. Sian begins getting stomach pains and Sophie, thinking she is trying to escape going to the prom with her, angrily falls out with Sian. Although they do make up, Sian, on her way to meet Sophie at the prom, collapses in pain and Ryan saves her life by getting help. She is rushed to the hospital with a ruptured appendix. Sophie thinks she's been stood up, until she gets a call saying that Sian has been rushed to hospital. Sophie runs to her side but gets jealous when Ryan is there first, and wonders what Sian was doing with her ex in the first place.
Later, Sophie lies to Sally about going out to Southport, when she goes to a festival with Sian instead. When Sally finds out, she grounds Sophie and forbids her from seeing or contacting Sian. They continue to see each other in secret. On one occasion, when Claire Peacock
(Julia Haworth
) is babysitting Sunita Alahan
(Shobna Gulati
)'s son Aadi, she is called to hospital for a family emergency, and asks Sophie to look after the children. Whilst Sophie is out of the room, Aadi is pushed by Simon Barlow
(Alexander Bain
) as they play and he bangs his head. Later that night, Sophie and Sian share a kiss, just as Claire returns home and witnesses it but she pretends that she didn't see.
Sophie and Sian join a Church choir so that they can see each other more often, and the choir ends up performing for Roy
(David Neilson
) and Hayley's wedding. Before the Webster family leave for the wedding, they receive a visit from social services, who are investigating Aadi's injury. The girls explain their innocence and Sophie's parents defend her, leading to confrontation with Claire. On the train to the wedding, openly gay character Sean Tully
(Antony Cotton
) tells Sophie he saw her doppelganger
at the Manchester Gay Pride event that weekend (this is possibly an in-joke, as Coronation Street had an official presence at the event. Many cast members were in attendance, including Brooke Vincent & Sacha Parkinson). Claire tells Sophie that she saw her kissing Sian, but that she will keep it a secret; when Sally confronts her again, Claire reveals that she saw the girls kissing, to a mostly disbelieving audience in the train carriage.
After the wedding, Sophie manages to explain her true feelings to Kevin, that she loves Sian, and that they are together. Kevin is accepting of their relationship. After Sally once again confronts Claire, Kevin tells Sally; Clairs statement that Sian and Sophie were kissing, is true. Sophie is a lesbian. Sophie and Sian are in love and together as a couple. Meanwhile, as Sian is terrified of her father finding out, the girls plan to run away together. As Sophie packs her things, Rosie returns home, and Sophie comes out to her, that she loves Sian.
Sophie is astonished to find that her sister is very supportive. Rosie gives her money and Sophie leaves, getting on a bus with Sian. Sally, now accepting but concerned, returns home to find Sophie is already gone, and has left her a goodbye note.
After the runaway couple squat in a student house in Sheffield for a number of weeks, it is clear that they cannot go on living penniless. Sophie is extremely homesick, and after one of the students living in the house makes a pass at her, she breaks down and confesses to Sian that she wants to return to Weatherfield. Rosie and Jason Grimshaw
(Ryan Thomas
) subsequently bring Sophie and Sian back home much to Kevin and Sally's relief.
In December 2010, Sophie is devastated following the revelation that Kevin is the father of Molly Dobbs
' baby son Jack, following a clandestine affair they had during the previous year. When Sally angrily orders Kevin to leave their home, Sophie stands by her mother and Rosie, and tearily admits that she also wants him to leave, although she still asks him to stay for Christmas. Sian helps Sophie through the difficult time and supports her as much as she can.
On New Year's Eve 2010, Sophie and Sian lie to Sally saying that they are going to meet up with a girl from church, instead they buy alcohol and get drunk to celebrate the New Year. When they return home Sally sends them up stairs as they have had too much to drink. Sophie tells Sian that she couldn't have made it though the last couple of months without her and Sian promises that they will be together forever. They sleep together for the first time, losing their virginity to each other.
The following day, the pair persuade Sally to go for lunch with Rosie, while they go shopping. When they return home, both girls end up in bed together for the second time. Sally finds them together; angry, she says that she cannot trust the girls to behave and that they should not be doing " hanky, panky " together. In the ensuing argument, Sophie tells Sally, that Sian, is the only good thing she has, and that if she had maybe 'loved [Kevin] a bit more, he wouldn't have cheated'. Sally tells Sophie to get out the house - both girls go to Eileen Grimshaw
house and disclose to Rosie, Jason, Sean Tully
, and Eileen Grimshaw that they have been caught "doing it", in bed together, by Sally. The girls stay as guests for a few days, to give Sally time to cool down.
In the months following Sophie begins to spiral out of control, frequently skipping college and not doing her assignments. She makes several attempts to open up to Sally but is generally overlooked in favour of Jeff, her new boyfriend. As a result of all the arguments getting to her, on 11 February 2011, Sian leaves Weatherfield to go on holiday to Tangiers with her mother and her boyfriend. She returns on 7th March but Sian refuses an offer to stay the night as she is moving back to her mum's, infuriating Sophie. Later, after suggesting the two move into a flat together, Sophie finds photos of Sian and a girl named Chloe. She wrongly assumes Sian is cheating, sparking an argument.
The next day, Sian returns and they argue once more: it is revealed that Sian is 'sick of feeling like a mum than a girlfriend' and storms out, telling Sophie she can't do it anymore. Sophie becomes depressed and starts drinking cider on the street, refusing Sunita's offers to talk. That night she ends up at the church she was rejected from previously, thinking that God hates her. Although the Pastor attempts to reason with her and ask her to come back to the choir, Sophie ends up falling from the roof and is sent immediately to hospital.
She escapes brain damage and reconciles with her family and Sian who begs Sophie to never leave her. However, the arguing does not stop for long as it is revealed Sunita told Kevin that Sophie was drunk but left to go take care of Jack; Sian finally blows up at Kevin and Sally for neglecting Sophie. They realise Sian is right.
Later in the year, Sophie and Sian meet Ken Barlow
's recently-discovered grandson James and become interested when he mentions his charity has opened a homeless hostel and needs volunteers. After being given a job in the soup kitchen, Sophie quickly started to enjoy herself helping the homeless to the point where she gave her wages from the Corner Shop to the charity. Kevin is angry that her daughter is giving away her own cash to them and orders her to leave, however Sophie refuses and when she is offered a full-time job at the kitchen quits at the Corner Shop. Later, James and the soup kitchen's owners tell Sophie that a loan of £20,000 they needed in order to purchase new premises in an auction hasn't come through in time. Sophie, eager to help, asks Kevin to lend her the money from his recent large lottery win but he refuses as he distrusts the charity. Sophie then opens an online account for Kevin and transfers the money to the charity herself believing she'll get it back when the loan money comes through. However, as soon as the money has been transferred Sophie finds herself unable to contact the charity's owners and is horrified to find that the hostel has disappeared. She quickly realises that the charity was a huge con and is forced to tell her Kevin and Sally what happened. Obviously, both are furious with their daughter for her naïvety but Kevin was so incensed that he quickly called the police intending to turn Sophie in for the theft. However, when the police called round Kevin couldn't bring himself to turn his obviously terrified daughter in and claimed that he transferred the money himself. As a result, the bank won't pay Kevin the insurance claiming that he technically wasn't stolen from. Kevin tells Sophie that he wants the money back from her, and this causes a rift between the two for a while although he eventually forgives her.
Sophie is furious when Tommy Duckworth
(Chris Fountain
) tries to kiss Sian whilst giving her a driving lesson, but gets her revenge when Rosie asks him to fix a tap for her, and pretends to be trying it on with him. She tells him to get ready for her, and when he comes down looking for her in only his underwear, he is greeted by Sophie and Sian. After a drunken kiss with Amber, feeling guilty Sophie decides to propose to Sian and she accepts, she tells her parents that her and Sian are engaged but Sally and Kevin are against them getting married.
, Vincent was nominated in the category "Best Young Actor". Grace Dent of The Guardian described Sophie's early rebellion phase as the best storyline of Coronation Street in 2005 and even said that she was 'chaving it up' with her friend Nicolette. She also said of the character "She has transformed virtually overnight from a small, cheeky scamp into a Kappa-tracksuited, crop-topped, top-knotted, gum-chomping gobby nightmare." The columnist gave further praise to the character in October 2008 stating that "Sophie is becoming one of the stars of the show right now. She's so lovable and backchatty. Sophie's role has always been as the invisible Webster. She's incredibly wise and loyal but no one listens to a word she ever says, aside from Rita (Sullivan)."
The Sophie and Sian romantic lesbian storyline has intrigued the viewing audience of Coronation Street. In a poll taken by Inside Soap in autumn 2010. These two girls came top of the poll with, 44% of the polls respondents, wanted Sophie Webster and Sian Powers married next year (2011) in a (white) wedding storyline. In April 2010, Sian's and Sophie's lesbian storyline received positive feedback from the After Ellen website, detailing news, reviews & commentary on lesbian and bisexual women in entertainment and the media. Praising the way the sensitive storyline was handled they stated, 'so far the storyline has been written positively and without titillation and the actresses have played the characters with conviction. Actress Brooke Vincent
’s sorrow over Sian’s initial rejection was particularly touching. Sources tell us that their relationship will be a long-term commitment by the programme, which already has a long term gay male and long-term transgendered male-to-female character.'.
, a slang term in England (see Charver for Northern England or ned
for Scotland) for a person whose lifestyle, branded casual clothing, speech and/or mannerisms are perceived to be common, proletarian and vulgar. Due to this affiliation, the character is named and quoted in the 2006 book The Chav Guide to Life by Lee Bok.
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 British 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...
. She is currently portrayed by actress Brooke Vincent
Brooke Vincent
Brooke Levi Vincent is an actress in the British soap opera Coronation Street. She joined the soap in 2004, taking over from Emma Woodward in the role of Sophie Webster.- Career :...
, after previously being portrayed by both Ashleigh Middleton and Emma Woodward
Emma Woodward
-Career:Woodward was born in Whitefield, in Bury, Greater Manchester. She played the part of Sophie Webster on the popular ITV soap Coronation Street from 1997 to April 2004. She took over from Ashleigh Middleton. In 2004 Brooke Vincent took over the role of Sophie.-Personal life:Emma was born...
. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 4 November 1994. In 2010 she became the show's first lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
character, having fallen for best friend 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:...
).
Creation
The character of Sophie was created as a sister for RosieRosie 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....
), and was born Lauren in 1994 to parents Kevin
Kevin Webster
Kevin John Webster is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Michael Le Vell, the character first appeared onscreen on 19 October 1983...
(Michael Le Vell
Michael Le Vell
Michael Le Vell is an English character actor, who since 1983 has played the role of garage mechanic, Kevin Webster, in the soap opera Coronation Street....
) and 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). However, Rosie keeps calling the baby "Sophie" after her doll. Kevin and Sally were persuaded to give her Lauren as a middle name . Although for the first five years of her life, Sophie’s parents are very much in love, Kevin’s affair with 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...
) changes everything. With Sally struggling to bring up her girls on her own, she makes bad relationship decisions - most notably when she goes out with psychotic Greg Kelly (Stephen Billington
Stephen Billington
Stephen Billington is a British actor, best known for playing Greg Kelly in Coronation Street . He has worked with many leading film directors, including Peter Greenaway, Franco Zeffirelli, and Mel Gibson...
) who kidnaps Sophie. Later Kevin and Sally remarry and her family get back together. However, soon thereafter Sophie overheard her parents arguing about Sally's affair with her boss, Ian Davenport (Philip Bretherton
Philip Bretherton
Philip Bretherton is an English actor best known for his role as Alistair Deacon in the British television series As Time Goes By....
), whose daughter Gemma is friends with Rosie. She fears they will get a divorce but this never happens.
Casting
Ashleigh Middleton played Sophie from her birth up until March 1997 when Emma Woodward who was just three years old at the time took over the role. In 2004 Emma quit the role of Sophie to concentrate on her school work. The show's bosses ran auditions upon the announcement which resulted in her being replaced with Brooke Vincent, a patron of the Manchester Kids charity. In an interview Brooke revealed that her role in Coronation Street is just part of her life, stating she doesn't see it as a job because she sees it as fun. She also works a Saturday job and attends school but manages to fit all three into her schedule. “I have a normal life and the Corrie stuff is my bonus life,” As the character grew older Coronation street bosses were impressed by Brooke's performance as Sophie and decided to give her more storylines and in order to do so they cast some classmates for her. They were cast in December. Coronation Street told the Daily Star that: "Brooke is an amazing actress and the introduction of two characters her own age will give the writers free rein to come up with some fantastic plots for her."Characterisation
ITV publicity describes Sophie as a girl who is determined to live her life her own way after being neglected by her parents in favour of elder sister Rosie. Also stating that even after her hardships she went through growing up she has turned out pretty well-adjusted with a good sense of humour. What's on TV magazine describes her as not being as bright as her sister Rosie, but always gets her own way as she is the apple of her father's eye. Fellow actor Craig Gazey describes the character as very gobby, with a face like a 1970s male glam rock singer and a perfect match for his character Graeme ProctorGraeme Proctor
Graeme Proctor is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Craig Gazey, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 18 April 2008....
(Craig Gazey
Craig Gazey
Craig Gazey is an award-winning English actor.He attended Eggbuckland Community College up until 1998, where he attended City College Plymouth, studying a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts. He then went on to attend Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and graduated in 2005...
).
Religion
In 2009 Sophie reveals to a stunned Sally and Kevin, and a happy Ben Richardson (Lucien Laviscount), that she is adopting Christian values, and that she would be wearing a purity necklace. During the storyline which saw Sophie's views change on life by turning to religion and taking a vow of chastity, Vincent praised the soap's producers for using the new plot to challenge stereotypes about religious people. She went on to state: "It's different, isn't it? We all have a stereotypical view of a Christian, but Lucien Laviscount, who plays Sophie's boyfriend Ben, is quite hot, and you don't really think of religious people like that, so maybe it'll make religion cool. Going on to say "It shows you don't have to be a geek or be all 'religion, religion, religion' to be a Christian." ITV series editor Louise Sutton commented on the storyline stating that: "The decision amongst teenagers to declare themselves chaste until marriage is hugely popular in the States. But it is also becoming more widespread in the UK." It was also noted that the storyline showed stark contrast to her sister Rosie and her sexual behaviour.Sexuality
Sophie's character became the focus of a lesbianLesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
storyline in 2010. This would be the first time Coronation Street has ever had a lesbian character. Producers had been on the lookout for a lesbian character since 2004. In response to the revelation that former character Violet Wilson
Violet Wilson
Violet Wilson is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street. She was portrayed by Jenny Platt making her first onscreen appearance on 8 October 2004 and remained until 29 February 2008. Platt returned for one episode on 24 April 2011.-2004–11:Violet first appeared on the...
(Jenny Platt
Jenny Platt
Jenny Platt is an English actress best known for her role as Violet Wilson in the long running television soap Coronation Street. Her first appearance was on 8 October 2004....
) was originally intended to be the first lesbian character in the show, an ITV insider told the News of the World in July 2008: "Executives want to create a soap which is representative of society in 2008 and they are acutely aware they need more gay characters. They went on: "It does seem ridiculous it (lesbianism) has never been explored on Corrie but that's all about to change." In early 2009 it became apparent that the latter comment saying 'that's all about to change' was said because of the plans to transform the character of Sophie into the show's first lesbian character.
1994–2008
Sophie's major storylines start when there are problems when she is due to start secondary school. Sophie goes in on her first day but is sent home because she isn't on the school's registers. When Sally finds out, she is furious. It turns out that Sally had failed to fill in the application forms properly. At that time, she is unsure if Sophie would attend Oakhill, like Rosie (Helen FlanaganHelen 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....
). For weeks, Sophie has to stay at home as the headteacher of the school will not let her in. Sally looks at other schools in the area but the only one she has any chance of joining has a bad reputation. The Head of Weatherfield High had given Sophie's place to his daughter, Jessica. When Sally is dropping Rosie off at Oakhill, she sees the Head of Weatherfield High taking his daughter in for her first day. Sally speaks to him and threatens to tell the local newspaper, which gets Sophie a place at Weatherfield High.
Sophie becomes friends with Nicolette Seddon (Natalie Richards), unaware that they are related. When Sally finds out, she is furious as Nicolette is so rude. She and Sophie start smoking and one night when Rosie and Craig Harris (Richard Fleeshman
Richard Fleeshman
Richard Jonathan Fleeshman is an English actor and singer-songwriter. His television career began as a twelve year old, playing Craig Harris for four years in Coronation Street and most recently "All The Small Things"...
) are babysitting, Sophie sneaks out after being told not to leave the house. When Sally finds that Sophie has gone missing, she is frantic. Sophie is later found and breaks off her friendship with Nicolette.
Sophie and Chesney Battersby-Brown (Sam Aston
Sam Aston
Samuel David "Sam" Aston is an English child actor, best known for having played, since 2003, the role of Chesney Battersby-Brown on Britain's longest running soap opera, Coronation Street...
) start hanging out with Chesney's friend Cameron McIntyre (Ryan Cook), in 2006. The trio start taking DVDs from Chesney's stepdad Les (Bruce Jones). The films have an 18 certificate, so Sally is annoyed when she finds them watching one in her living room. Cameron then steals cigarettes, and Sophie takes one. Sally later finds them in the alley behind the houses and smells tobacco. The finger of blame is pointed at Chesney, as Cameron and Sophie have passed the cigarettes to him. Later on, Sophie steals money from Sally, who suspects Chesney, as it is what his family are known for. Sophie feels guilty and tells her shocked parents everything. Later that year, Sophie and Chesney find an old diary in the attic of Number Five. It belonged to the late Ivy Brennan (Lynne Perrie
Lynne Perrie
Lynne Perrie was an English actress. She was born Jean Dudley in Rotherham, Yorkshire, and was the sister of comedian Duggie Brown. She was best known for her roles as Mrs. Casper in Ken Loach's 1969 film Kes, and as Ivy Tilsley in Coronation Street from 1971-1994.-Career:After Rotherham Grammar...
), and Sophie starts convincing people that she is psychic; Vera Duckworth
Vera Duckworth
Veronica "Vera" Duckworth , played by Elizabeth Dawn, is a fictional character on the British soap opera Coronation Street, first appearing in August 1974 and last appearing in episode 6,734 on 18 January 2008, where the character peacefully died in her sleep at the age of 70 from heart failure...
(Elizabeth Dawn
Elizabeth Dawn
Elizabeth 'Liz' Dawn MBE , is an English actress, best known for her role as Vera Duckworth in the long-running British soap opera, Coronation Street...
) even pays her to do a reading. When Rosie finds out, she tells David Platt
David Platt (Coronation Street)
David Daniel Platt is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 26 December 1990 and is portrayed by actor Jack P...
(Jack P. Shepherd
Jack P. Shepherd
Jack Peter Shepherd is an English actor. He plays David Platt in the ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street. He joined the show in April 2000, taking over the role from Thomas Ormson.Shepherd was born in Pudsey, Leeds, West Yorkshire....
) who says it is his step-gran's diary. Sophie gives it to David, who is shocked to discover that his mother had almost had an abortion, which Ivy recorded in her diary. David confronts 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 :...
) about it on Christmas Day. On Valentine's Day 2007, Sophie gets her mother to write a Valentine's card, which Sally assumes was for Chesney (Sophie purposefully saying nothing to the contrary); however, she posts it through 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:...
)'s door. Norris recognises Sally's writing from a cheque she wrote him and is convinced that Sally has a crush on him. The truth is soon revealed, and Sophie is made to apologise.
Sophie vents her anger on Fiz Brown
Fiz Brown
Fiona "Fiz" Stape is a fictional character from the British ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street, played by Jennie McAlpine. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 April 2001. Initially appearing for five episodes, McAlpine's contract was soon extended and Fiz became a regular character...
(Jennie McAlpine
Jennie McAlpine
Jennie Elizabeth McAlpine is a British television actress and comedienne. She is best known for her role as Fiz Stape in the well known British soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:...
)'s pink motor scooter after finding out Fiz is dating her drama teacher, John Stape
John Stape
John Stape is a fictional character from the British soap opera, Coronation Street, played by actor Graeme Hawley. He made his first on-screen appearance during the episode airing on 6 May 2007. The character departed on 3 June 2011 after four years on the show...
(Graeme Hawley
Graeme Hawley
Graeme Hawley is an English actor known for his role as John Stape in the British soap Coronation Street.-Career:He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1996 with a degree in Drama before beginning his acting career in the theatre.He started his career off by performing on stage at...
), whom she has a crush on. Rosie soon has an affair with John, and when this is announced, trouble emerges, as John is Rosie's teacher. Kevin attacks John on the Street and is later arrested. This heightens the differences between her and Rosie, and they get into a fight at school and they are sent home. Tension relax when Kevin is released from prison in early 2008.
Rosie mysteriously disappears in September 2008, three weeks later Kevin receives a postcard saying 'Sophie's next.' Sophie later reveals that she sent the postcards as she was tired of all the attention Rosie was getting. Even though Sophie and Rosie declare a truce, the division between them still lingers, as Rosie is her mother's daughter and Sophie is very much her father's.
2009—
In January 2009, Kevin finds a pregnancy testing kit box in the bin. Thinking it is Sally's, he asks her but she denies it, so they then suspect that it belongs to Rosie, only for her to deny that it's hers, leaving them to believe that it belonged to Sophie. She then reveals that she made the pregnancy up in a bid for attention. She then reveals everything to Sally after she presses her about going to the doctor. She became part of a new group of teenagers, along with fellow Coronation Street resident Ryan ConnorRyan 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 two new characters, Ben Richardson and Sian Powers. On 16 February 2009, Sophie reveals to a stunned Sally and Kevin, and a happy Ben, that she is adopting Christian values. Sophie becomes a more prominent character in 2009, with storylines including her relationship with boyfriend Ben and the focus on her religion. Sophie and Ben split up in December 2009, due to Ben trying to kiss Ryan's mother Michelle
Michelle Connor
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...
(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...
), shortly before Sophie is baptised.
On 11 April 2010, Sian and Sophie share the soap's first lesbian tender passionate kiss, after a very emotional conversation between the two girls.
Sian now realises that Ryan made a pass at Sophie, whom, she initially blamed for the kiss between them.
Sian is extremely confused by Sophie kissing her, and returns to her mother's home in Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
, very upset.
The next day, Sophie travels to Southport and attempts to explain her feelings for Sian, and the kiss was an emotional response resulting from their conversation. Sian coldly tells her that there will never be anything between them, and they cannot even be friends anymore.
Sophie returns to Weatherfeild, emotionally devastated.
On 23 April 2010, Sian returns to the Street and sees Sophie on a date with a boy called Lee. She then confronts Sophie, admitting that she is now very confused, and she is not attracted to girls, but she has become attracted to Sophie; and she deeply missed not being with her. As Sian kisses her, Sophie responds and they decided to be together, " going out " as a secret couple.
In the Spring of 2010, Sian returns to Weatherfield for her exams, after being in Southport. Sian and Sophie decide to go to the school prom together. Sian begins getting stomach pains and Sophie, thinking she is trying to escape going to the prom with her, angrily falls out with Sian. Although they do make up, Sian, on her way to meet Sophie at the prom, collapses in pain and Ryan saves her life by getting help. She is rushed to the hospital with a ruptured appendix. Sophie thinks she's been stood up, until she gets a call saying that Sian has been rushed to hospital. Sophie runs to her side but gets jealous when Ryan is there first, and wonders what Sian was doing with her ex in the first place.
Later, Sophie lies to Sally about going out to Southport, when she goes to a festival with Sian instead. When Sally finds out, she grounds Sophie and forbids her from seeing or contacting Sian. They continue to see each other in secret. On one occasion, when Claire Peacock
Claire Peacock
Claire Peacock , is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Julia Haworth, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 9 April 2003, as the new nanny of established character Ashley Peacock's son Joshua...
(Julia Haworth
Julia Haworth
Julia Louise Haworth is an English actress best known as Claire Peacock on ITV's Coronation Street, a role she has played since 2003...
) is babysitting Sunita Alahan
Sunita Alahan
Sunita Alahan is a fictional character from the British ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street, played by Shobna Gulati. She made her first on-screen appearance on 23 March 2001 and remained in the show until 2005, when the character was axed from the serial by producer Tony Wood...
(Shobna Gulati
Shobna Gulati
Shobna Gulati is an English actress, writer, and dancer of Indian origin, best known for playing Anita in Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies, and Sunita Alahan in the long-running soap opera Coronation Street from 2001 to 2006, a role to which she returned at the end of 2009...
)'s son Aadi, she is called to hospital for a family emergency, and asks Sophie to look after the children. Whilst Sophie is out of the room, Aadi is pushed by 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:...
(Alexander 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...
) as they play and he bangs his head. Later that night, Sophie and Sian share a kiss, just as Claire returns home and witnesses it but she pretends that she didn't see.
Sophie and Sian join a Church choir so that they can see each other more often, and the choir ends up performing for Roy
Roy Cropper
Royston "Roy" Cropper, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor David Neilson, the character was introduced during the episode airing on 19 July 1995. Originally a secondary character, he was given a more prominent role in 1997, by the...
(David Neilson
David Neilson
David Neilson is an English actor best known for portraying Roy Cropper in Coronation Street from 1995 onwards....
) and Hayley's wedding. Before the Webster family leave for the wedding, they receive a visit from social services, who are investigating Aadi's injury. The girls explain their innocence and Sophie's parents defend her, leading to confrontation with Claire. On the train to the wedding, openly gay character 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:...
) tells Sophie he saw her doppelganger
Doppelgänger
In fiction and folklore, a doppelgänger is a paranormal double of a living person, typically representing evil or misfortune...
at the Manchester Gay Pride event that weekend (this is possibly an in-joke, as Coronation Street had an official presence at the event. Many cast members were in attendance, including Brooke Vincent & Sacha Parkinson). Claire tells Sophie that she saw her kissing Sian, but that she will keep it a secret; when Sally confronts her again, Claire reveals that she saw the girls kissing, to a mostly disbelieving audience in the train carriage.
After the wedding, Sophie manages to explain her true feelings to Kevin, that she loves Sian, and that they are together. Kevin is accepting of their relationship. After Sally once again confronts Claire, Kevin tells Sally; Clairs statement that Sian and Sophie were kissing, is true. Sophie is a lesbian. Sophie and Sian are in love and together as a couple. Meanwhile, as Sian is terrified of her father finding out, the girls plan to run away together. As Sophie packs her things, Rosie returns home, and Sophie comes out to her, that she loves Sian.
Sophie is astonished to find that her sister is very supportive. Rosie gives her money and Sophie leaves, getting on a bus with Sian. Sally, now accepting but concerned, returns home to find Sophie is already gone, and has left her a goodbye note.
After the runaway couple squat in a student house in Sheffield for a number of weeks, it is clear that they cannot go on living penniless. Sophie is extremely homesick, and after one of the students living in the house makes a pass at her, she breaks down and confesses to Sian that she wants to return to Weatherfield. Rosie and 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:...
) subsequently bring Sophie and Sian back home much to Kevin and Sally's relief.
In December 2010, Sophie is devastated following the revelation that Kevin is the father of Molly Dobbs
Molly Dobbs
Molly Cosette Dobbs is a fictional character in the British television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Vicky Binns, the character first appeared on screen during the episode airing on 5 September 2005. On 7 May 2010, Binns announced she was quitting the soap...
' baby son Jack, following a clandestine affair they had during the previous year. When Sally angrily orders Kevin to leave their home, Sophie stands by her mother and Rosie, and tearily admits that she also wants him to leave, although she still asks him to stay for Christmas. Sian helps Sophie through the difficult time and supports her as much as she can.
On New Year's Eve 2010, Sophie and Sian lie to Sally saying that they are going to meet up with a girl from church, instead they buy alcohol and get drunk to celebrate the New Year. When they return home Sally sends them up stairs as they have had too much to drink. Sophie tells Sian that she couldn't have made it though the last couple of months without her and Sian promises that they will be together forever. They sleep together for the first time, losing their virginity to each other.
The following day, the pair persuade Sally to go for lunch with Rosie, while they go shopping. When they return home, both girls end up in bed together for the second time. Sally finds them together; angry, she says that she cannot trust the girls to behave and that they should not be doing " hanky, panky " together. In the ensuing argument, Sophie tells Sally, that Sian, is the only good thing she has, and that if she had maybe 'loved [Kevin] a bit more, he wouldn't have cheated'. Sally tells Sophie to get out the house - both girls go to 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....
house and disclose to Rosie, Jason, 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...
, and Eileen Grimshaw that they have been caught "doing it", in bed together, by Sally. The girls stay as guests for a few days, to give Sally time to cool down.
In the months following Sophie begins to spiral out of control, frequently skipping college and not doing her assignments. She makes several attempts to open up to Sally but is generally overlooked in favour of Jeff, her new boyfriend. As a result of all the arguments getting to her, on 11 February 2011, Sian leaves Weatherfield to go on holiday to Tangiers with her mother and her boyfriend. She returns on 7th March but Sian refuses an offer to stay the night as she is moving back to her mum's, infuriating Sophie. Later, after suggesting the two move into a flat together, Sophie finds photos of Sian and a girl named Chloe. She wrongly assumes Sian is cheating, sparking an argument.
The next day, Sian returns and they argue once more: it is revealed that Sian is 'sick of feeling like a mum than a girlfriend' and storms out, telling Sophie she can't do it anymore. Sophie becomes depressed and starts drinking cider on the street, refusing Sunita's offers to talk. That night she ends up at the church she was rejected from previously, thinking that God hates her. Although the Pastor attempts to reason with her and ask her to come back to the choir, Sophie ends up falling from the roof and is sent immediately to hospital.
She escapes brain damage and reconciles with her family and Sian who begs Sophie to never leave her. However, the arguing does not stop for long as it is revealed Sunita told Kevin that Sophie was drunk but left to go take care of Jack; Sian finally blows up at Kevin and Sally for neglecting Sophie. They realise Sian is right.
Later in the year, Sophie and Sian meet Ken Barlow
Ken Barlow
Kenneth "Ken" Barlow is a long-standing fictional character from the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by William Roache, and created by Tony Warren. He is currently the world's longest-serving soap opera character, having appeared continuously from the programme's inception in December...
's recently-discovered grandson James and become interested when he mentions his charity has opened a homeless hostel and needs volunteers. After being given a job in the soup kitchen, Sophie quickly started to enjoy herself helping the homeless to the point where she gave her wages from the Corner Shop to the charity. Kevin is angry that her daughter is giving away her own cash to them and orders her to leave, however Sophie refuses and when she is offered a full-time job at the kitchen quits at the Corner Shop. Later, James and the soup kitchen's owners tell Sophie that a loan of £20,000 they needed in order to purchase new premises in an auction hasn't come through in time. Sophie, eager to help, asks Kevin to lend her the money from his recent large lottery win but he refuses as he distrusts the charity. Sophie then opens an online account for Kevin and transfers the money to the charity herself believing she'll get it back when the loan money comes through. However, as soon as the money has been transferred Sophie finds herself unable to contact the charity's owners and is horrified to find that the hostel has disappeared. She quickly realises that the charity was a huge con and is forced to tell her Kevin and Sally what happened. Obviously, both are furious with their daughter for her naïvety but Kevin was so incensed that he quickly called the police intending to turn Sophie in for the theft. However, when the police called round Kevin couldn't bring himself to turn his obviously terrified daughter in and claimed that he transferred the money himself. As a result, the bank won't pay Kevin the insurance claiming that he technically wasn't stolen from. Kevin tells Sophie that he wants the money back from her, and this causes a rift between the two for a while although he eventually forgives her.
Sophie is furious when Tommy Duckworth
Tommy Duckworth
Thomas "Tommy" Duckworth is a fictional character in the British television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Currently portrayed by actor Chris Fountain. The character was born on-screen during the episode airing on 9 September 1992 and departed in December 1993, before returning for four short...
(Chris Fountain
Chris Fountain
Christopher Ryan Fountain is an English actor best known for his role as Justin Burton on the Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks, a role he played from 2003 until his departure in June 2009. He is also now known for playing Tommy Duckworth in Coronation Street. He played the role of PC Paul Tait in...
) tries to kiss Sian whilst giving her a driving lesson, but gets her revenge when Rosie asks him to fix a tap for her, and pretends to be trying it on with him. She tells him to get ready for her, and when he comes down looking for her in only his underwear, he is greeted by Sophie and Sian. After a drunken kiss with Amber, feeling guilty Sophie decides to propose to Sian and she accepts, she tells her parents that her and Sian are engaged but Sally and Kevin are against them getting married.
Reception
Brooke was nominated for Best Dramatic Performance From A Young Actor Or Actress award for her portrayal of Sophie at The British Soap awards 2008, she was put forward by the panel but lost out to Jamie Borthwick. At the 2008 Inside Soap AwardsInside Soap Awards
The Inside Soap Awards is a yearly award ceremony run by Inside Soap magazine since 1996. The awards celebrate the British and Australian soap operas and their actors. Until 2007, EastEnders had won the award for "Best Soap" on every occasion...
, Vincent was nominated in the category "Best Young Actor". Grace Dent of The Guardian described Sophie's early rebellion phase as the best storyline of Coronation Street in 2005 and even said that she was 'chaving it up' with her friend Nicolette. She also said of the character "She has transformed virtually overnight from a small, cheeky scamp into a Kappa-tracksuited, crop-topped, top-knotted, gum-chomping gobby nightmare." The columnist gave further praise to the character in October 2008 stating that "Sophie is becoming one of the stars of the show right now. She's so lovable and backchatty. Sophie's role has always been as the invisible Webster. She's incredibly wise and loyal but no one listens to a word she ever says, aside from Rita (Sullivan)."
The Sophie and Sian romantic lesbian storyline has intrigued the viewing audience of Coronation Street. In a poll taken by Inside Soap in autumn 2010. These two girls came top of the poll with, 44% of the polls respondents, wanted Sophie Webster and Sian Powers married next year (2011) in a (white) wedding storyline. In April 2010, Sian's and Sophie's lesbian storyline received positive feedback from the After Ellen website, detailing news, reviews & commentary on lesbian and bisexual women in entertainment and the media. Praising the way the sensitive storyline was handled they stated, 'so far the storyline has been written positively and without titillation and the actresses have played the characters with conviction. Actress Brooke Vincent
Brooke Vincent
Brooke Levi Vincent is an actress in the British soap opera Coronation Street. She joined the soap in 2004, taking over from Emma Woodward in the role of Sophie Webster.- Career :...
’s sorrow over Sian’s initial rejection was particularly touching. Sources tell us that their relationship will be a long-term commitment by the programme, which already has a long term gay male and long-term transgendered male-to-female character.'.
In popular culture
In scenes shown in 2005, Sophie referred to herself as a chavChav
A chav is a term that is used in the United Kingdom to describe a stereotype of teenagers and young adults from an underclass background.-Etymology:...
, a slang term in England (see Charver for Northern England or ned
Ned (Scottish)
Ned is a derogatory term applied in Scotland to hooligans, louts or petty criminals, latterly with the stereotypical implication that they wear casual sports clothes. Such usage in Glasgow dates back to the 1960s or earlier.-Early use of term:...
for Scotland) for a person whose lifestyle, branded casual clothing, speech and/or mannerisms are perceived to be common, proletarian and vulgar. Due to this affiliation, the character is named and quoted in the 2006 book The Chav Guide to Life by Lee Bok.
External links
- Sophie Webster at ITV soaps
- Sophie Webster at What's on TV