“Abi could fall in love with Peter Barlow!”
As Corrie’s reformed bad girl endures a week of big drama, Street star Sally Carman tells us why she thinks it’s a turning point in the life of her alter ego…
There’s nothing we enjoy more than having an underdog soap heroine to really root for – and in
Corrie’s Abi Franklin, we’ve found just that. We first met Abi at her lowest ebb, consumed by drug addiction and failing her children. The only way was up. And although she’s stumbled at every step on her path to sobriety and self-belief, she’s made remarkable progress – and we love her for it.
Now, she’s poised to embark on a romance with Peter, which will surely bring its own dramas and challenges. But according to actress Sally Carman, who plays Abi, this new partnership has proved to be a highlight of her life on Coronation Street so far…
“Chris Gascoyne [aka Peter] is just a dreamboat – pardon the pun!” chuckles the star. “All the early scenes we filmed were inside Peter’s boat, and there were only five people allowed in there at one time. The cameramen were all bunched up in the corner, but it lent a kind of intimacy that you just don’t get in the studio. Plus, Chris is an amazing actor and we really connected on this story.”
The decision to push Peter and Abi together is genius, not least because, as reformed addicts, they have so much in common. Yes, we enjoyed Abi’s brief flirtation with Steve, but it would be a shame to break up the fun partnership of him and Tracy right now. Plus, while we know that Peter and Carla are one of Corrie’s most perfect pairings, we also love to see Carla’s feathers ruffled – and Abi is set to do just that!
“Peter tells Abi that he and Carla are just friends, but she’s very aware that someone who says they are ‘just friends’ with a person who bought them a boat isn’t telling the whole truth!” laughs Sally. “Especially when that person keeps lurking about! But Abi is enjoying herself, and she’s just going with it to see what happens. She could definitely fall in love with Peter, though.”
It’s incredible that in just under 18 months, Abi has gone from being a troubled addict to a serious contender in a love triangle with ultra-glam Carla – but that’s the magic of soap! For her part, Sally always hoped that she could make Coronation Street her home, and worked tirelessly to get on the show.
“I acted with Julie Hesmondhalgh [Hayley Cropper] on a radio play a while back, and I didn’t know I’d be in Corrie four years after that!” says 37-year-old Sally. “I’d been trying since I was 23. I had 10 screen tests and about a million auditions, but I finally got here. Julie was delighted for me when I told her.”
“Abi is enjoying herself – she’s just going with it to see what happens…”
Back in 2017, Sally’s first day was on location with Harry Visinoni
(aka Seb) and Debbie Rush (Anna Windass) – and she immediately felt that she was in the right role.
“We were in this dodgy house that was being readied to be ripped down,” she recalls. “I have to say that it was the weirdest feeling as I walked into the Coronation Street building and was on set – I felt at home straight away. I’ve never been so comfortable in a job. I wasn’t nervous, that’s the weird thing. As soon as I walked in, I just thought to myself, ‘I’m all right here’.”
Corrie viewers have certainly taken Abi into their hearts, and even when she messes up, we forgive her. That’s much like how many people feel about Peter too, who has spent his life doing terrible things while remaining loveable. What sort of reaction does Sally get when she’s out and about?
“I’m left alone, because I look different from Abi,” she explains. “I have no vanity on screen, I never have, so I like to play a character and keep it real. Abi is scruffy, while I like to look nice off screen – I cake myself in all kinds of stuff.
“It’s my voice that is recognised more than anything,” adds Sally. “I get a couple of double takes, and then I start speaking, and people are like, ‘Ah, you are her!’ People are lovely, and I don’t mind being recognised. Who else in any other job gets praise and people being happy to see you? It’s ace!”
We doubt Carla will be pleased to see Abi getting up close and personal with her ex, and we can’t wait for the fireworks if the girls go head-to-head. Does Sally fancy Abi’s chances in a fight for Peter?
“Abi would win,” she grins. “Carla has a sophistication that Abi lacks, which gives Abi the edge as she’s an alley cat! She has nothing to lose, and Carla has, which is the difference. If it were a war of words or to do with making some kind of plan then no, Abi wouldn’t win. But in a fight? Abi would kill her!”