IMRAN’S LOVE CHILD SHOCK

Coronation Street’s Charlie De Melo on how this week’s revelation could see his character’s relationship implode

The one-night stand Imran had with Abi finally comes back to bite him in Coronation Street this week when he discovers he’s the father of the child she abandoned, shattering the domestic bliss he has with partner Toyah and their foster daughter.

Toyah forgave him for straying last year – though she didn’t know it was with Abi – and they have been happily bringing up Elsie as their own because Toyah is unable to have children. What neither of them knew was that Abi was pregnant with Imran’s son, and last week the recovering addict gave birth to baby Alfie before abandoning him and relapsing.

Toyah’s been helping Abi to get clean and look after Alfie, which leads Imran to realise he’s the father. The discovery will see him help Abi fight social services for custody of the baby, who needs a life-saving operation, and promise to stand by them – even if it wrecks his life with Toyah.

‘Imran and Toyah may not come back from a betrayal like this,’ admits Charlie De Melo, who plays the lawyer and is reportedly leaving the soap after five years. ‘Toyah’s been desperate for children of her own. That Imran’s mistake is the one thing she wants will be incredibly painful, and forgiving him might be a stretch.’

Imran and Toyah go into a big week of action as ‘the picture of domestic bliss’, says Charlie, 30. ‘Everything seems to be going well for them. They’ve been able to move beyond the craziness of 2021, including the revelation he was unfaithful and their previous foster child Kelly’s court case. That’s a dangerous place to be in a soap!’

Indeed, when Toyah tells Imran she’s supporting a former addict who recently gave birth, Imran guesses

she’s talking about Abi and so heads to hospital and demands the truth.

‘When Imran sees Alfie hooked up to machines, the consequences of his actions greet him,’ says Charlie. ‘He can’t lie his way out of this – he has no choice but to step up.

‘Alfie’s so helpless, Imran makes a snap decision that he’s the only thing that matters. He’s willing to risk it all for his son, and by extension Abi, so her previous mistakes aren’t used to keep her away from Alfie. Imran’s legal background

allows him to be with Abi in private on the ward for long periods. He’s there to fight Abi’s corner and make sure their son isn’t taken into care.’

Despite Imran taking responsibility for his actions, Charlie says it shows how selfish he is. ‘Imran wants to be seen as heroic, but it’s selfserving. His needs are more important than anything else.’ It’s perhaps the biggest plot yet for Charlie in his years on the show. ‘I just hope I’ve managed to do it justice,’ he says.