Jack P. Shepherd on David and Max’s pain over Kylie’s Corrie death
a year after Kylie’s death, our cover star Jack P shepherd talks to TV Times about why there’s more trouble ahead this summer…
How do David and the rest of the Platt family mark the anniversary of Kylie’s passing this week?
They have a picnic in the garden. David has banished Shona from Weatherfield by this point but, lo and behold, she returns to the street that very day. He really loses his temper and says: ‘What are you doing? This isn’t fair!’ and then he finds out that Sarah’s the one who asked her to come back! She thinks that Shona is the only person who can really help Bethany.
Is David’s anger towards Shona less about who her son is and more about the fact that she deceived him when he was falling for her?
I think it’s both. If she wasn’t who she was, everything would be hunky dory and they’d be at it like rabbits now! But because she’s Clayton’s mum, he just feels like he’s betraying Kylie. He hates himself for having fancied her. He’s not in a good place, so he lashes out and gets angry.
One year on, is David more at peace with Kylie’s death?
He’s quite tetchy. If anyone suggests doing something, he has to have it done a certain way. Also, Sarah’s not there, and David doesn’t know where she is. He’s like ‘She knows how important today is.’ Shona’s arrival is the straw that breaks the camel’s back. In terms of grief, he’s still very much in the middle of that. Or rather, he hasn’t grieved – that’s the thing. He has the kids and he’s had to be solid for them, so I don’t think he’s ever been in a position to grieve.
How do you think Kylie’s death has changed David?
He’s not had much opportunity to get into a relationship other than with Shona, and he has always sort of put it off because of Kylie – he feels he’s betraying her. As far as being less trusting, David’s never trusted anyone, so I don’t think that has changed. There’s probably more darkness to come from him…
Will Kylie’s death change him forever? Yes, Kylie’s death affected David more than any of the other things that have happened in his life and, lets face it, he has packed a lot in to his life so far! She was the love of his life and they went through a lot together, but David is one of those people who can compartmentalise things and get on with his life despite everything that has happened.
David’s now a single dad to Max and Lily.
Is he a good parent?
Yes, I think he is, ultimately, because he does everything with them – he’s always playing with them and takes them to school.
But I think he may be a bit over-protective of them as they grow up, as a result of what has happened to Kylie – especially with Lily.
How would David cope if Clayton was released? It would be interesting to see, depending on where his relationship is with Shona at that stage and how much she had to do with him, whether that would be a stumbling block too many for their relationship. How can you be a stepdad to someone who killed someone you loved?
What’s on the horizon for David? Are there happier times ahead? He deserves some happiness, but whether he gets it or not is a different
matter. Obviously, there’s a lot going on at the Platts’ at the moment, with Shona knocking about, and everything that has happened with Bethany and Nathan. And Nick has left, so there isn’t that sane person to bring the family together. It doesn’t look good for the next few weeks.
Do you think David would ever be able to get over his bitterness and find love with Shona? Possibly, but he’s going to have to come to terms with the fact that she is Clayton’s mum and that’s not going to change. If he wants a relationship, he’s going to have to be able to look past it, so that every time he looks at her, he doesn’t think of Clayton.
David’s not only had Kylie’s death to deal with, but also the departure of Nick, who was always his sounding board. Would you like him to find a friend?
He doesn’t have any mates, does he? He’s got no-one who he goes for a beer with. There was Nick, but now he has gone – I suppose that’s why he’s been chatting to Maria so much, because there literally is no one else. But he’s got two kids to bring up on his own, so it’s not like he can just nip off to the pub with his mates even if he had any. I think that’s the difficult spot that he’s in, he’s going to have to find time to get out there and meet people.
Is there anyone you would like to do more scenes with, or any new non-romantic relationships that you think would be good for David?
I’ve always said I want more scenes with Dev. Maybe David could be put in a position where he needs more money, and he gets an evening job at Dev’s shop. I imagine it opens from 7am till 11pm, but you don’t see anyone in it at night time. David could be working there at nights, to make ends meet, and he’d be in there with Dev – that’d be interesting! It wouldn’t last long, though, because David would be sacked or he’d quit, because Dev is too much!