Coronation Street star reveals Mick and Lou devastation after flashback episode
Coronation Street star Farrel Hegarty has hinted at a dark future for nightmare couple Mick and Lou Michaelis.
The chaotic pair take centre stage in a special flashback episode next week, which explores their secret backstory with local detective Kit Green.
Soap bosses have cast three newcomers to play younger versions of Mick, Lou and Kit as we see them as teenagers in 2007.
We recently caught up with Farrel for a chat about the big episode and where Mick and Lou go from here…
What can fans expect from this special episode?
"It's been so much fun to work on. A lot happens in the episode! We uncover exactly how Mick, Lou and Kit know each other. There's definitely a few skeletons in the closet, so those are going to come out.
"We'll explore the reasons why the three characters are the way they are. I think it's quite rare that we get to look back and see that – we show what they've all been through and what's happened in the past. It's going to be really exciting to watch."
Did you get to meet the three younger actors?
"I did, really briefly. It was so odd because at one point it was the three of us and the three of them!
"I didn't get to see any of the scenes being filmed, but I've read the script and I know what happens. I'll be watching the episode at the same time as everybody else, which is really exciting."
Did you notice any similarities between you and Charlotte Alex-Riley, who's playing the young Lou?
"Well, I guess I'll let everyone else be the judge of that! But if there are similarities, I'll take it as a massive compliment!
"Charlotte is going to make a fantastic young Lou. She had such good feedback, from what people have said to me."
In the present day, we see Kit quite taken aback when he comes face-to-face with Lou at The Rovers next week. Was Lou aware that Kit was living nearby?
"Lou finding out about that happens off screen. But the first time you see Lou and Kit together, there's definitely a sense of shock because for her it's a blast from the past. They've not seen each other for a while.
"What we'll discover is that Kit brings up a lot of things that Lou would rather forget – and a lot of things that she'd rather keep hidden, as well..."
How is your time on the show going so far?
"I'm loving it – it's going great. I'm lucky enough to work with Joe Layton, who plays Mick. We get on so well – it's great that we can do our scenes with ease! I'm loving every minute of it.
"I'm also working every day with some Corrie legends, which is overwhelming at first! I've done quite a bit with Sue Nicholls, who plays Audrey. She's just the loveliest woman. I'm just there beaming like a Cheshire cat when I'm in scenes like that.
"I've also worked with Barbara Knox, who plays Rita. I actually got a picture of me and her when I was 5, when I came to the Corrie tour."
What has the audience's reaction to Lou been like?
"Lou doesn't have a 'girl-next-door' vibe. I wouldn't want to be best mates with her, so she's going to cause a mix of reactions. She's the sort of person who puts her family first. Unfortunately, that's the type of character who's going to burn bridges along the way.
"I met some lovely Corrie fans outside the gates at the studio recently, who've been really excited to see new faces in there. They were especially pleased to see new faces who've come in all guns blazing. So it's been nice to speak with them."
We're going to find out much more about Lou, aren't we?
"Yes, I think that's all going to unfold. Why is she that hard-faced? Why has she become that sort of person? I think she's had difficulties – she hasn't had the easiest of starts. She does have that hard face on, but we will see a more vulnerable side to her as well."
How would you describe Lou's relationship with Mick?
"Lou is extremely loyal, but at times she definitely shouldn't be. Mick is all she's ever known and she's definitely got that 'stand by your man' attitude, where she'll turn a blind eye to a lot of things.
"She's so besotted and loyal to Mick that she can't see right from wrong. Their relationship gets her in hot water."
We'll see nicer sides to Lou as well. Is it fun to have those different aspects to explore?
"Yes, I'm so lucky to play a role like this. I tend not to get cast as shrinking violets, if I'm honest – I must have one of those faces! But Lou is brilliant to play.
"Some of her behaviour really makes me wince sometimes. I think she can be quite hot-headed and irrational. She speaks before she thinks and she protects her own, which gets her into trouble.
"Lou does have a massive heart for the people she loves and she has good qualities. But I think, to a lot of people, she's loud, feisty and quite unreasonable at times."
Are the scenes we've watched so far just the beginning of the devastation that Mick and Lou could cause?
"I know it's the beginning! There's a lot more to come from these two, I'm afraid to say. I think there's a lot happening.
"It's all about to come to a head. It's all about to implode. We're going to see a lot of Lou finding it hard to keep afloat and pick up the pieces. She's torn between head and heart a lot."
Given her loyalty to Mick, does Lou have limits? Is there anything she wouldn't do?
"There's probably not that much, which is actually quite sad to see. We're going to see that more vulnerable side to Lou, as she's torn between her head and heart and what is the right thing to do.
"With Mick and Lou's relationship, he's got a way of always winning her round. We're definitely going to see more of the unhealthy side of their relationship and how Lou's love for Mick is quite blind.
"Sometimes in relationships like that, it can be quite worrying that you do get taken over by a level of love for someone, rather than what's actually good for yourself.
"It's definitely an important issue to think about. For a lot of people, we can look at relationships on the outskirts and go: 'Why is that happening? Should they be together? Is that healthy? Is that not toxic?'
"But actually when you're in it, it's a different thing. It's not that easy for people in relationships that are unhealthy and at times unsafe."
You always knew that you were joining . What attracted you to the part?
"Lou really appealed to me because she's the sort of person who's never had it easy. She's built up a lot of coping mechanisms, where she's presenting a hard and feisty character with her walls up.
"All she's ever known is these fiery relationships. She's probably had fiery relationships with a lot of people in her life, which is what makes a character like that so interesting.
"I read scripts and I go: 'Oh God! What's she doing now? What's she saying now?' It's not a way that I would behave, and because of that, it's so much fun to play.
"Lou has that desperation to protect her inner circle and because of that, she makes a mess of things..."
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage
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