HAS RYAN RUINED HIS CHANCES?

Ryan Prescott on whether his Corrie character’s romance with fragile Bethany will survive his blackmail attempt

He lef t Coronation Street five years ago to work as a DJ on the island of Ibiza. But troublemaker Ryan Connor has finally called time on his party lifestyle and decided to settle down in Weatherfield.

‘Ryan was into all sorts of trouble when he was last on the Street, including pushing drugs, but he’s grown up while living away,’ explains Ryan Prescott, who plays him. ‘His hedonistic lifestyle meant he’d been missing out on meaningful relationships, family, home and stability, so he’s come back to pursue them.’

Ryan’s return for his mum Michelle’s wedding appeared to have finally brought joy for Bethany Platt who, after her grooming ordeal at the hands of evil Nathan Curtis, agreed to go on a date with Ryan. ‘Initially he found her attractive, then he saw this innocence in her and became besotted,’ says Prescott. ‘Ryan is interested in getting to know her and having a proper relationship rather than a fling.’

However, their fledgling romance could be over before it’s begun after Bethany panicked when Ryan tried to kiss her and her mum Sarah attacked him and knocked him out.

After coming around, Ryan mistakenly believed he’d heard Michelle saying she wanted him out of her life, so to pay for a flight back to Ibiza he tried to blackmail Sarah.

‘He was convinced his mum didn’t want him around,’ says Prescott, who’s 29 and from Southport. ‘So when a chance to make money to get back to Ibiza presented itself, he took it.’

Hardly the actions of someone who wants to date Sarah’s daughter but, says Prescott, ‘Regardless of how he feels for Bethany, he thinks it won’t matter as he’s set on going back.’

However, this week Michelle and

Ryan have a heart-to-heart and she convinces him to stay. But will he and Bethany still have a chance? ‘Wait and see’ is all Prescott will say.

Meanwhile, the Connors’ complicated family life will cause Ryan problems. Viewers will recall how Michelle Connor was the victim of a hospital blunder when her biological son was swapped at birth and she ended up raising Ryan instead. With her real son Ali back in Weatherfield too, the siblings will vie for her affections. ‘Both Ali and Ryan feel

they don’t belong to the family, which inspires competition, jealousy and sometimes hate,’ says Prescott.

The third actor to take on the role of Ryan Connor, Prescott is a soap veteran having played Flynn Buchanan in Emmerdale in 2011 and Liam Slade in Doctors for five years.

But he says he’s now settled in at Corrie and having the time of his life. ‘I’m loving it. It sounds like a cliché but it’s true; everyone’s so friendly and we really enjoy working together.’