Daddy’s little lıar

Corrie’s new girl Kayla will stop at nothing to get her father out of jail, says actress Mollie Winnard

She looks as though butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, but Coronation Street new girl Kayla Westbrook is on a secret mission that could destroy Craig Tinker and Bethany Platt. Kayla is actually the daughter of PC Neil Clifton, who – due to trainee cop Craig’s ace detective work – is currently in jail for grooming Bethany.

Kayla is going to great lengths to get close to Craig and Bethany, taking a job at Speed Daal in a bid to find evidence. However, according to Mollie Winnard, the 21-year- old who plays her, Kayla’s deceit could have catastrophic consequences.

‘Kayla believes her dad is innocent, that Bethany had consensual sex with him and then made up the grooming and rape claims,’ says Mollie. ‘She wants to find out the truth and help her dad appeal, so she’s getting close to Craig, driving a wedge between him and Bethany in order to prove this theory of hers.

‘Considering the trauma Bethany’s been through, if she were to find out what Kayla’s really up to, it would threaten to send her back to the dark place she was in for so long after her ordeal. As for Craig, it would be yet more heartbreak, because he seems to really like Kayla. Plus, it could jeopardise his chances of becoming a fully-fledged police officer.’

This week Kayla ramps up her plan by going on a date with Craig, during which the oblivious special constable spills all about Bethany’s relationship with her former lover and pimp, Nathan Curtis.

‘It’s like when you go to the gym, see results and get more committed,’ says Mollie. ‘That’s what happens with Kayla. Her scheme starts coming together so she ups the ante.’

Mollie adds that Kayla thinks she’s doing the right thing, and says she too is a victim of her despicable dad. ‘As Kayla believes Bethany consented, she feels she’s not doing anything wrong. But she’s been manipulated by her dad, and it would crush her to find out the truth. But there are loads of twists before we get close to that!’

Mollie lives with her mother, stepfather and two of her three brothers in Chorley, Lancashire. This is her first major acting role, and follows a small

part in BBC1 drama series Love, Lies And Records last year.

‘I burst into tears when I heard I’d got the job on Corrie,’ says Mollie, who’s dreamed of being an actor since primary school. ‘Then I rang my mum and we were both crying happy tears. I’m welling up just thinking about it! Meeting everybody has been the best thing, especially when you’ve watched the show growing up. I’ve absolutely loved it; everybody is so nice and helpful.’