TWISTED SISTER!

Corrie’s Jade will go to any length – even murder – to lure Hope from her mother, says Lottie Henshall

Sinister new Corrie character Jade Rowan has finally been revealed to viewers as the daughter of serial killer John Stape – but her reasons for coming to Weatherfield remain a mystery.

Jade’s been living with John’s exwife Fiz as her daughter Hope’s tutor, while using Hope to plot against Fiz and partner Tyrone. Events took a shocking turn last week when Jade was seen whispering, ‘I love you Dad,’ while laying flowers at the grave of Stape, who killed two people and covered up the death of another before dying in a car crash in 2011.

The revelation that Jade is Hope’s half-sister has led fans to wonder whether the lives of Fiz and Tyrone might be in danger.

Lottie Henshall, the actress who plays Jade, can’t rule that out. ‘No one knows what Jade’s intentions are, people presume she’s a psycho. But she genuinely believes Hope will be better with her as she’s family. I’d say Jade would go to any length to get Hope. Would she kill? Anything’s possible – it’s Coronation Street!’

Jade realised Hope was her sister while working at the referral unit that misbehaving Hope had been sent to. Employed by Fiz to home-school the wayward child, Jade has orchestrated situations that make it seem like Hope’s up to her old tricks. Last week Jade looked pleased that a fire she started was blamed on the youngster, and she also applied fake bruises to Hope’s arm. However, Hope has been accepted back into school and Jade’s services are no longer required, so she has given Hope, who doesn’t yet know Jade is her sister, a secret phone to keep in touch with her.

Explaining why Jade’s behaving as she is towards a child she’s supposed to love, Lottie says, ‘She’s manipulating

Hope because she loves her so much; she’s trying to help her see that she’s a good person who wants to take care of her. It’s hard to do that without actually saying, “By the way, I’m your sister!” So, she’s using strategies to get her onside. But she’s going about it the wrong way and hurting people, including Hope.’

Lottie, 25, says it will be a while until Fiz and Tyrone find out who Jade really is, and teases there will be more twists, as Tyrone’s gran Evelyn is increasingly suspicious. ‘Jade has

to use her manipulative skills when things get in the way – especially with Evelyn onto her.’

This is Lottie’s first major TV role, and she couldn’t be more excited about coming between such a popular couple. ‘Viewers will think Jade’s crazy,’ she says. ‘But in the long run they might be able to see her intentions are pure. As for what she’s doing to Fiz and Tyrone, I love it! It’s an amazing storyline to be given straight away.’ ■