I WANT SOPHIE TO STAY SINGLE

Back in Corrie, Brooke Vincent says there’s more to her lesbian character than her sexuality

Brooke Vincent is back in Corrie after a threemonth stint on the stage, and although she feels the exper ience has improved her as an actress, the Weatherfield veteran insists she never considered leaving the soap for good.

‘This is like my home,’ says Brooke, 24, who’s been playing Sophie Webster since 2004. ‘I’ve done the same job since I was 11, so this strange environment feels normal to me. When the opportunity came up to go on tour with the play Be My Baby, which is set in the 60s, I thought it would be nice to do that, but also have the security to come back here.

‘I really enjoyed doing theatre. You have to really concentrate – unlike in Corrie there’s no opportunity for a second take if you mess up. I learned a lot. I’ve come back with a different mindset and it made me want to better my character here.’

The story was that Sophie had been in the US visiting her ditzy elder sister Rosie. The pair arrived back in Corrie last week but unfortunately for Sophie her appendix had burst while she was in America, requiring her mechanic dad Kevin to pay for treatment, and she now has to pay him back – leading the sisters to start up an unlikely business.

‘Initially we start window cleaning and we’re like the Chuckle

Brothers,’ laughs Brooke. ‘Sophie looks like she’s about to kill someone because while she’s doing all the work, Rosie just stands there wringing out a few cloths. I don’t think it’ll be a permanent job but it’s funny and I enjoyed playing it.’

Brooke’s known Helen Flanagan – who plays Rosie and returned with Brooke last week following a fouryear absence during which she became a mum – for 13 years and describes her as ‘like my big sister. We grew up together and I missed her, so it’s great to have her back. The chemistry between us is still there.’

Like Helen, whose boyfriend is Celtic player Scott Sinclair, Brooke’s also dating a footballer, Kean Bryan, who is on loan at Bury from Manchester City, although she’s reluctant to talk about it. ‘I suppose when you do this job for so long and grow up in the public eye, it’s hard to find the balance

of what you say and what you hold back. As I get older I’ve learned it’s nice to have something for myself.’

In terms of her love life on-screen, Brooke’s character Sophie, who’s a lesbian, is currently single and Brooke’s happy for it to stay that way. ‘I sometimes feel frustrated when they try to put Sophie with every other girl who’s lesbian,’ she explains. ‘There’s more to people than their sexuality so I’d prefer to do a storyline about my job or family. Thankfully our producer Kate Oates seems to get that.’

Back where she belongs on Corrie, Brooke says the only reason she can see herself leaving again would be to do more theatre. ‘I loved doing something different,’ she says. ‘This is an amazing job but I might be like a Peter Barlow and just try and dip in and out as and when.’