A roofless killer Corrie horror as factory roof collapses ... but who dies and who’s responsible?
Corrie favourite Sally Metcalfe lies in dust and rubble after the roof of the Underworld factory collapses, leaving one soap character dead and injuring many more.
Sally, played by Sally Dynevor, 55, is on the roof of the factory hanging protest banners and rowing with her sister Gina when the disaster happens.
Viewers will see the carnage unfold next Monday as the roof falls on staff who are inside the factory protesting about boss Carla Connor’s decision to outsource packing work.
A shadowy figure is first seen sabotaging the roof of the plant, believing it will be empty the following day after Carla had announced she was closing to attend Kate and Rana’s wedding.
But staff, plus pals, decide to hold a protest – meaning they start the day fighting for their jobs, but end it fighting for their lives. Along with Sally and Gina, other casualties include Gemma Winter and Emma Brooker. Walking wounded Sean Tully, Kirk Sutherland and Paul Foreman set about trying to drag the survivors from the building, helped by those who rush to help, including Sally’s husband Tim and Tyrone Dobbs.
The scenes took 21 days to film and involved up to 80 crew, plus cast and extras.
A stunt double was brought in for Sally’s fall with most of the scenes shot on a replica Underworld set using CGI.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Carla’s world comes crashing down as she blames herself for not having the roof repaired properly – little realising someone had sabotaged the factory.
Actress Alison King, 46, who plays Carla, says the factory boss struggles to cope as she becomes public enemy No1 among some Weatherfield residents.
Alison says: “It’s just too much, she goes into meltdown. It is the final thing
for her, the straw that finally breaks the camel’s back after everything she has gone through.
“She has a complete breakdown, it is cumulative of all the life trauma that has happened to her. She is that strong person who has carried on for too long and not asked for help or dealt with anything properly. “She is at snapping point.” Carla’s decision to outsource packing has been made to prevent the business from going bust. Alison says: “If the factory goes under everyone is going to be out of a job. Carla is thinking about the bigger picture – she cares about her staff. They are her family and she is trying to do the best thing, but the worst thing happens.
“It will be interesting to see what sort of woman she is when she eventually comes out the other side.”
Prior to the collapse, in a rare show of vulnerability, Carla admits to Peter Barlow that she still loves him, and tells Nick Tilsley she is in financial trouble and cannot afford to fund the roof repairs to keep the building open.
Ben Price, 47, who plays Nick, says his character has been going over to the dark side since stealing from his own grandmother, Audrey.
He says: “I don’t know whether he’s an out-and-out archetypal villain, but has he had enough of being pushed around and being the nice guy? Yes. Does he think he’s smarter than most people on that street? Yes.
“Does he think he can get away with most things? Yes.
“Nick’s come back to the street thinking, ‘I’m going to get something for myself, I’ve looked after everyone else over the years and all they’ve done is take from me’.”
Tristan Gemmill, 51, says his character Robert Preston is convinced Carla persuaded Michelle not to have his baby, effectively ending their relationship.
He says: “Robert hits the bottle quite hard and in his drunken haze decides that Carla must have had something to do with persuading Michelle to break up with him.
“He decides Carla has messed up his world – so he’s going to mess up hers.”