FEISTY SOAP ICON’S BATTERSBY BITE IS BACK
SHE first stepped out on Coronation Street’s famous cobbles more than two decades ago as gobby teenager Toyah Battersby. And now, five years after reviving the iconic character, actress Georgia Taylor says she is glad to see some of the old Battersby bite making a comeback.
“Toyah came back to the street grown up and a very different woman from the one who left all those years ago,” says Georgia. “She’s much more mellow now than she used to be.
“But there are flashes of the old Battersby in her coming out. I’ve missed playing that fiery side to her – and I’m really happy we’re getting a bit of it back.”
Viewers will be glad to see it too, particularly after watching this week as Imran Habeeb, played by Charlie de Melo, confessed to playing away behind Toyah’s back with a drunken one-night stand.
What the love cheat did not reveal was he had slept with grieving mum Abi Franklin, played by actress Sally Carman.
“I feel like Toyah has been there for everyone else over the past couple of years and it’s time for her to stand up for herself,” says Georgia, 41.
“I’ve been desperate for this revelation to come out, the bit Toyah knows. It looks like she’s finally reaching the end of her tether.
“That Battersby fire is very much still in there. She’s never going to be that 16-year-old again, the one who would have trashed The Kabin, but I think a bit more Battersby attitude from her is definitely a good thing.”
After signing up with the ITV soap in 1997 aged 17, Georgia was catapulted to stardom as the youngest member of the unruly Battersby clan before she left five years later.
During 13 successful years away from the soap she made appearances in everything from Life on Mars to Midsomer Murders and had long-term roles on Casualty and Law & Order: UK.
A return to the full-on life of a soap star was not something she was holding out for. “Not at all,” says Georgia,
who met actor partner Mark Letheren, 50, during her time on Casualty.
“When my agent told me that the call had come in Mark was in New York for work so the first person I spoke to was Jane Danson.
“Ever since we started together as Toyah and Leanne we’ve been best friends. She was in Center Parcs with her family, bless her, but she was amazing and after dealing with the thing over Skype with Mark, I said yes.
“And I’m so glad I did. It’s amazing being back and working with Jane has been brilliant. We film scenes together all day and then we get home and speak to each other on the phone. She’s just the best person in the world.”
Now approaching the five-year mark back on the Street – almost the same length of time she spent first time round – Georgia reveals she recently signed up to the show for another year.
“I feel like there’s still a huge amount to do with the character, I’m very happy to be sticking around,” says Georgia, who grew up in Wigan.
“The first five-anda-half years felt like a lifetime. It was my first job, pretty much straight out of school. It made such a big mark on my life.
“I can’t believe how much we took it all in our stride, Jane and I, given how young we were.
“I don’t know if it happened to me in the same way now I would be able to do it. In some ways I’m more introverted as an adult.
She continues: “It’s that sense of walking into a shopping centre and feeling like everyone is looking at you. “At 17 I thought of it as a novelty. It didn’t bother me. If people wanted me to sign their magazine, that was fine. But back then there was no social media, there were no camera phones.”
While lots of soap stars are used to answering to their on-screen alter egos’ names, for Georgia, who grew up as Claire Jackson, things are one step trickier. “It’s not that I planned this,” she laughs. “When I started on Coronation Street I had to register with Equity, the actors’ union, and there seemed to be a hell of a lot of Claires.
“I couldn’t tell you where Georgia came from, other than I liked it.
“My grandad passed away not long before I got the part, his surname was Taylor.
“As a teenager I didn’t really think about the consequences but there’s been a bit of confusion over the years. I’ll pretty much answer to anything!”
She is still Claire on her passport and to her mum Caroline Jackson, and the actress reveals about half the cast and crew at Corrie call her Claire, while the rest know her as Georgia. “When I left in 2003 I went out into the world as a jobbing actress, and everyone called me Georgia. “That was the case for years and years, some of my very best friends call me Georgia. I met Mark as Georgia. “Back to Coronation Street and there were still loads of the cast and crew who had known me as Claire, so I was back to Claire again for them. “It’s pretty funny when I introduce myself. Anyone who recognises me from Corrie thinks of me as Toyah, then I say ‘I’m Georgia, but I’m also Claire, so call me whatever you like’.” Georgia is excited to find out what happens next for the character. The drama is set to dial up a notch next week when viewers will see both Battersby sisters fighting for their lives when gangster Harvey Gaskell escapes prison out for revenge. “Harvey’s looking for Leanne and Toyah,” reveals Georgia. “Leanne put him behind bars and Toyah blew his appeal. He wants payback.” Here’s hoping we’ll see even more of that famous Battersby fire. Watch Coronation Street’s Super Soap Week next week on ITV on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
I don’t know if it happened in the same way now I’d be able to do it. I’m more introverted GEORGIA TAYLOR ON OVERNIGHT RISE TO FAME AS A TEENAGER