Sarah-Louise Platt

Sarah Platt
Tina O'Brien as Sarah Platt (2007).
Coronation Street character
Portrayed by	Leah King (1987) Lynsay King (1987–99) Tina O'Brien (1999–2007)
Introduced by	John G. Temple
Duration	1987–2007
First appearance	28 January 1987
Last appearance	30 December 2007
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Date of birth	28 January 1987
Home	Milan
Occupation	Hairdresser
Family Husband Jason Grimshaw (2007–10) Father Brian Tilsley Mother Gail McIntyre Adoptive father Martin Platt Brothers Nick Tilsley Half brothers David Platt Sons Billy Platt Daughters Bethany Platt Grandfathers Bert Tilsley Ted Page Grandmothers Ivy Brennan Audrey Roberts Uncles Stephen Reid

Sarah-Louise Platt (née Tilsley; previously Grimshaw) is a fictional character in the British soap opera Coronation Street.

Creation and development

The characters' teenage-pregnancy storyline was created to highlight the risks of teenage pregnancy. However, the storyline has been a highly controversial and discussed storyline because of the possibility that it glamorised the idea.^[1] Despite this, it has been praised for its message.^[2] Actress Tina O'Brien has revealed that she was "naive" over the plot at the time of filming, oblivious that it would create much controversy.^[3] The storyline has been discussed in Television and criticism published by Intellect Books, which talked about the character and the storyline's impact.^[4]

Casting

She was played by Lynsay King from 1987-1999. Lynsay's twin sister Leah, who died of cot death in 1987, alternated in the role of Sarah with Lynsay for a brief period until her death. Tina O'Brien was recast in the role in 1999. O'Brien was given the part when she was 16, playing the character who was still only 12 at the time. She left the role in 2007, but has said that she would consider returning to the role in the future.^[5]

Storylines

Sarah is the daughter of Brian Tilsley and Gail Tilsley. Questions are raised about whether Brian is Sarah's father due to Gail's affair with Brian's cousin. Brian rejects Sarah at birth in 1987, thinking she is not his daughter. Even after a blood-test reveals he is her father, it takes Brian time to bond with Sarah. Brian is murdered just two weeks after her second birthday, and Sarah is subsequently raised by Gail's second husband Martin Platt.

In February 2000, just after her 13th birthday, Sarah discovers she is pregnant. Her daughter Bethany is born four months later. The father, Neil Fearns, has no interest in Bethany. However, in late 2003, after Neil dies in a car crash, Bethany's paternal grandmother, Brenda Fearns, establishes contact with Sarah. This nearly leads to Bethany's death, when Brenda tries to commit suicide with Bethany, fearing Bethany is being brought up in a house of sin; Emily Bishop, however, finds them and stops Brenda before harm is done.

During autumn 2002, Sarah becomes rebellious. She dumps her boyfriend Todd Grimshaw and starts dating troublemaker, Aiden Critchley, who takes her out joyriding and crashes the car they are in, leaving Sarah comatose with severe head injuries. She survives and ends her relationship with Aiden, disgusted that he had left her to die in the wreckage.

Sarah rekindles her relationship with Todd in early 2003 and, to her mother's horror, becomes pregnant, aged 16. She is unsure whether to have the baby but is persuaded by Todd. Todd drops out of school to spend more time with his new family. Against the wishes of their families, they get engaged; however unbeknowst to Sarah, Todd is struggling against his homosexual feelings and starts an affair with nurse Karl Foster, behind Sarah's back. When Sarah finds out, she suffers a placental abruption, and is given an emergency caesarean. Her baby son, Billy, dies soon after birth. Sarah blames Todd and refuses to allow him to attend their son's funeral.

Sarah dates Asian skip man, Scooter Makuna, briefly in 2005 before having a more serious relationship with Todd's brother Jason Grimshaw, effectively stealing him from his girlfriend Violet Wilson. Sarah and Jason get engaged in March 2006, but once again, their families opposed the marriage. Jason gets cold feet on their wedding day, and jilts her at the altar; it takes Sarah time to forgive him, but the relationship survives and the wedding is reorganised.

Sarah's relationship with her brother David grows strained in 2007, when Bethany takes an ecstasy pill, David had hidden in one of her dolls, and nearly dies. David and Sarah continue to bicker continuously up until Sarah's wedding day, when he attempts to kill himself. The police interrupt the ceremony to inform the Platts of the attempted suicide; Sarah marries Jason regardless. Shortly after, Sarah's uncle Stephen Reid visits and offers David a job in Milan. Jealous, Sarah sabotages David's plans by planting drugs on him, which causes Stephen to withdraw the job offer. Stephen instead offers the job to Sarah. She accepts, and on 30 December 2007, she, Jason and Bethany leave for the airport to fly to Milan. However, at Piccadilly station, Sarah confesses to Jason that she planted the drugs on David. Disgusted he walks away, leaving Sarah to fly to Milan alone. Jason later visits her to reconcile, but Sarah declares their marriage is over; they divorce and Sarah begins dating an Italian man.

In November 2011, Gail proudly mentions to Sally Webster (Sally Dynevor) that Sarah is engaged to her boyfriend and is expecting his child.

Reception

For her portrayal of Sarah, O'Brien was nominated in the category of "Best Actress" at the 2005 British Soap Awards.^[6]

References

1. ^ "Soap's producers defend teenage pregnancy plot". The Guardian. (Guardian Media Group). 1 February 2000. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2000/feb/01/1. Retrieved 10 August 2011. 
2. ^ Laurance, Jeremy (5 May 2000). "Third of teenagers regret 'first time'". The Independent. (Independent Print Limited). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/third-of-teenagers-regret-first-time-718627.html. Retrieved 10 August 2011. 
3. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (11 April 2009). "O'Brien was 'naive' over Corrie plot". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a152476/obrien-was-naive-over-corrie-plot.html. Retrieved 10 August 2011. 
4. ^ Davin, Solange (2008). Television and criticism. Intellect Books. pp. 30–32. ISBN 978-1-84150-147-5. 
5. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (31 January 2011). "O'Brien: 'Corrie return would be nice'". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a301169/obrien-corrie-return-would-be-nice.html. Retrieved 10 August 2011. 
6. ^ Berrett, Caroline (8 May 2005). "Soap baubles; Corrie beauty Nikki sparkles in pounds 100k gems". The People. (Trinity Mirror). http://www.thefreelibrary.com/SOAP+BAUBLES%3b+Corrie+beauty+Nikki+sparkles+in+pounds+100k+gems.-a0132213962. Retrieved 18 August 2011.