SUMMER’S HEALTH SHOCK!

Coronation Street actress Harriet Bibby reveals how her character’s diagnosis will alter her life forever

Summer’s anguish over Seb’s murder is compounded in Coronation Street this week when she collapses twice and is diagnosed with diabetes. The teenager has been losing weight while racked with guilt over her failure to stop her so-called ‘friends’ killing the likeable builder.

But after fainting on Father’s Day, Summer keels over again and is left stunned when medics tell her she has type 1 diabetes and may need insulin injections for life. ‘It’s a huge shock,’ says Harriet Bibby, who plays her. ‘She’ll have to come to terms with having this lifelong condition, but at first she doesn’t know what it is or how to control it. She’s scared.’

Corey and Kelly’s hate-crime attack on Seb and his goth girlfriend Nina last month has ‘had a lasting effect’ on Summer, who is blaming it for her recent weight loss.

Summer’s symptoms become apparent during a lunch with her two dads Billy and Todd, who fear she has an eating disorder.

After collapsing again due to low blood sugar she’s whisked off in an ambulance, given the diabetes diagnosis by doctors and told what it’ll take to keep her healthy.

Harriet says, ‘I’ve learned that people with diabetes struggle with the idea they’ll have to live with it, and Summer is the same.’

Harriet, 23, who joined Corrie late last year as a replacement for actress Matilda Freeman, is thrilled to be in the thick of a big storyline. ‘I want to do stories that create sometimes difficult conversations,’ she says. ‘If we can help our audience, I’ll be happy.’

Harriet, who has previously had small roles in Doctors and Sky comedy Brassic, adds, ‘It’s always hard taking over a character from another actor, but the response has been positive. Every day I have moments when I can’t believe I’m on Corrie! But it’s lovely being here, it feels like a family.’

Summer’s week ends on a high when her condition leads Billy to ask Todd if he wants to move back in. ‘I know Todd’s a swine, but I love the idea that he and Billy will get back together,’ says Harriet. ‘It would be fantastic to be a bridesmaid at a big soap wedding!’

It remains to be seen, though, who might add some romance to Summer’s life. ‘She hasn’t had any boy interest, but there’s now a strong group of young male characters — and maybe there’s one for her!’