Olivia Frances Brown, who plays Jodie Ramsey on Coronation Street, has revealed that her character is driven by a dangerous agenda to steal the life of her sister, Shona Platt.
The plot reaches a violent climax next week when a gunshot rings out at the Platt house. The incident will see police and paramedics rush to the scene after David Platt calls emergency services to report that someone has been shot. A firearms officer will also arrive as Lisa attempts to determine what occurred at Number 8.
Jodie’s obsession with David
Brown explained that Jodie has developed a “warped mind,” convincing herself that David is the key to her future happiness and the “answer to everything.” In an attempt to fully replace Shona, Jodie has spent months obsessing over taking over Shona’s marriage, her home, and her role with Harper.
According to Brown, this desire is rooted in a need for revenge because Shona ran away as a teenager, leaving Jodie to care for their father, Doug, alone. Brown stated that Jodie “idolises Shona so much” that she wants to step into her shoes to understand how it feels to be her. Brown noted that Jodie believes taking over that life will make her content, though she added, “Little does she know that probably wouldn’t be the case at all.”
Jodie manipulates Doug and accuses Lily at the party
Jodie’s path to replacing her sister has involved gaslighting and manipulation. This includes tampering with Doug’s medication and claiming he is a danger to the family, which leads to a mental health team arriving to take him for assessment. As Doug is led away, he warns Shona to watch her back regarding Jodie. Shona tells Doug she is sorry as he departs.
Further tensions erupt during Shona’s birthday celebrations at Number 8. Jodie accuses Lily of recording Harper crying to make Shona believe she is losing her mind, causing Lily to flee the party in tears.
Brown said playing a character with a “dark, sinister edge” was “a lot of fun,” noting she does not do much of that in her own life. She stressed that Jodie “genuinely does care” about Lily Platt, as Jodie relates to the girl’s “innocence and childlike qualities” because Jodie never grew up herself. Brown added that Jodie will go to “extreme lengths” to protect those she feels genuine love for.
The final showdown
The feud culminates in a scene where the living room of Number 8 is left strewn with belongings and a paramedic tends to a person on the floor. While the identity of the shooting victim remains a mystery, Brown noted that the sequence was a thrill to film, as it involved a professional gun handler and a real weapon. Brown said she knew from the script that any character could have been shot.
Describing the mental state of her character, Brown said: “She’s driven herself completely crazy with this huge fantasy. It’s not rooted in reality anymore, she’s completely lost her marbles.”
Other events on the Cobbles
In other storylines, Kit reveals to Lisa that he has cancer after she confronts him for ignoring her calls. Kit had previously been in a chemotherapy room where a nurse advised him that he is not fit to work. Meanwhile, Sam is caught by Idris after spotting Idris’s credit card on a table at Speed Daal and attempting to use it.
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