Old romantic
to those incredible people.” And she says Victoria’s rape has helped parents have conversations with their own children about how to keep themselves safe. “So many people have given us feedback on Twitter saying they’ve had chats with daughters about staying with friends on nights out, not getting separated. But if you Zoe and Kat Slater Hillman’s canal dive are drunk and you are chatting to someone, sharing a taxi with someone seems like the easiest thing to do.
“He seemed like such a nice boy, but then it ended so horrifically. It gave a lot of people food for thought. “Never go home with a stranger, never tell a stranger you live alone. “I hope it does raise awareness. If it does happen to someone then this storyline has shown that time is of the essence. Victoria left it too late to gather any evidence and she threw stuff away, so I hope that is educating people. If it just helps one person, then it is a job well done.”
Things are going to get tougher for Victoria over the months as she decides to keep her rapist’s baby.
As much as her character has wanted a child, real-life babies makes Isabel recoil in mock horror.
“It is absolutely not going to make me broody. I never realised how hard it is to bring up a baby. My sister has two under two, I’m like wow!
“I’m obsessed with my niece Poppy and nephew Lucas, but I’m also happy to hand them back and get back to my flat and chill.” She has bought her own place in Harrogate after sharing with co-stars Chelsea Halfpenny and Laura Norton.
The move means she has had to give up her beloved dance classes in Manchester, which she has been attending since the age of four.
But if she got a secret call from the Strictly bosses she would unpack her dancing shoes in a flash.
“Strictly is the dream,” she laughs. “I’d live for the glamour, the sequins, fake tan, everything.”