Leanne departs Weather eld!
WITH HARVEY OUT FOR HER BLOOD, SHE’S FORCED TO MAKE AN AGONISING CHOICE…
There’s heartbreak on the cobbles this week, as Leanne makes the life-changing decision to go into hiding with Simon – after evil drugs boss Harvey discovers that she has grassed him up to the police!
However, the crushing agony of Leanne’s decision is magni ed when Nick learns of his estranged partner’s plans, and declares his undying love in the hope it will prevent her from leaving. Will Leanne follow her heart and stay for Nick? Or does she have no choice but to run in order to save both herself and her son Simon from Harvey?
“Leanne faced the worst possible trauma when her young son Oliver passed away, so she can’t even think about losing Simon on top of that,” concedes actress Jane Danson, who plays the grieving mother. “Leanne will do absolutely anything to protect him, even if that means sacri cing her future happiness with Nick.”
In too deep
In the lead-up to her big decision, Leanne already knows that betraying Harvey will cost her dearly – and the reality of her decision hits home this week, as one of his associates, Ned, uses her at as a base to bag up drugs! Leanne is horri ed, though she takes the opportunity to quiz Ned before meeting up with her police contact and help of cers plan a sting.
However, when Leanne returns home, she discovers that a big drugs deal is about to take place – and after Harvey turns up, he insists that Simon goes with him on the job!
“Once Simon heads off, Leanne realises that she is in a very precarious position,” sighs Jane. “Her plan to sort out this Harvey problem through the police is diminishing, and Leanne is terri ed. It’s not just Harvey, either. He knows people who know other people in this really murky world that Leanne has found herself in.”
Leanne ghts back!
Worse still, after Simon ends up going on the job, Harvey realises that someone has grassed him up to the police. However, rather than exhausting her energy trying to divert his suspicions, Leanne nally fesses up – and reveals that she ratted him out! And Harvey’s in for a shock when the Battersby in Leanne comes out ghting…
“It’s all bravado, as really she is very frightened,” reveals Jane. “But Leanne always has some ght in her, even when there’s hardly anything left in the tank!”
Time to run
The trouble is, Harvey doesn’t take too kindly to people standing up to him, and leaves Leanne in absolutely no doubt that she’s a dead woman walking. With that, Leanne concedes that the only way to ensure Simon’s safety is for them to move away from
Weather eld, and it’s with a heavy heart that she tells Toyah why they must go.
Meanwhile, it’s after Nick hears about Leanne’s predicament that he calls round to the at and confesses his love. However, as much as Leanne yearns to fall back into Nick’s arms, staying in the area is simply not an option while Harvey is still roaming the streets, gunning for her blood.
“Leanne still loves Nick and wants to be with him, but he has Sam – a son that he needs to put rst – just as she has to with Simon,” concludes Jane. “Leanne is sacri cing her happiness for her child, which is the right choice.”
After tearful Leanne tells Nick it’s too late for them, he realises that he has to make a heartbreaking decision of his own: stand by the woman he loves, or be a proper father to little Sam. As Leanne makes good on her promise to leave, what will Nick do?