Will becomes more sinister
PLAYING MICHELLE’S SINISTER STALKER WILL IS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR LEON OCKENDEN…
We love how Corrie has delivered some epic shocks this year – not least the revelation that Michelle and Robert’s tormentor is her ex-boyfriend, Will. So when we were given the chance to quiz actor Leon Ockenden about Will’s freshly unveiled dark side, we were very excited. Just as excited as Leon is about being at the centre of one of the Street’s big dramas…
“It is delicious to be the baddy!” enthuses the star, as we catch up at the Corrie studios for a proper gossip. “There was some flirting that went on between
Corrie and me when they were pitching this story via my agent. They’d ask, ‘Are you interested in coming back?’, and I’d say, ‘Have you got something interesting for me?’, and they’d say, ‘Potentially, and very dark!’ and I’d go, ‘That sounds good!’. When I left,
I had no idea that Will would be back.”
During his first stint in the show, Will was a sympathetic character, despite being Steve Mcdonald’s love rival. We knew he deeply loved Michelle, and that he wanted to give her the happiness missing from her marriage. But that devotion has been twisted into a brutal campaign of terror.
“There was always that intensity to him,” reveals Leon. “I was talking to one of the fathers at my daughter’s school who is a forensic psychologist, and he explained that a stalker you’ve been romantically involved with is the most dangerous type. They feel they have some ownership over the person who they’re fixated on.
“What provoked this for Will, in my mind, is that he understood Michelle’s decision to go back to Steve, but she didn’t get in touch with him when all the bad things happened, and now she’s gone off with Robert. Will has been leading a solitary life since he split from his fiancée, and has been coming up with far too many ideas!”
In Will’s mind, he just needs to get rid of Robert and win back Michelle – and he doesn’t care how far he has to go to do it. He ups the ante again this week when he plants drugs in the Bistro, in a bid to get Robert behind bars (see p24). What’s more disturbing, though, is he thinks everything he’s doing is in Michelle’s best interests.
“Will wants to give Michelle a nice life!” insists Leon. “He’s absolutely convinced she’d be better off with him. He’s just working through obstacles to make this happen. He’s an architect, so he can build Michelle a palace, unlike Steve or Robert. I know two architects very well and they both have a similar side to them – never trust anyone who can draw too good of a straight line!”
The climax of this story promises to be pretty spectacular, and Leon reveals he’s been working in a cool location to film it.
“Will’s house is even more impressive than the last one – there’s a swimming pool in the basement!” he says. “Everything will come to a head there, and I’ve been able to fulfil some childhood dreams of doing action fantasy sequences and stunts. There’s no coming back from this for Will – but I don’t want to be James Bond, I want to be the villain! It’s more fun to play.”
Leon is in good company, too, as he reveals that he’s great pals with Connor Mcintyre, who plays wicked Phelan.
“Connor is the walking cliché of the nicest actor playing the villain,” grins the star. “We have big teddy bear hugs when we see each other, and tell each other what devilry we’re getting up to!”
I’ve been able to fulfil my childhood dreams of doing stunts!