Youngster Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) will reach a crisis point in Coronation Street soon, as version of Roy Cropper (David Neilson) he is seeing through a hallucination orders him to ‘get rid’ of Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale).
Sam’s state of mind has gradually gotten worse following Megan Walsh’s (Beth Nixon) attempt at keeping him quiet over her abusing Will.
He began experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations of Will, but is also now seeing a version of Roy. The local cafe owner is gentle, kind and caring, but the variation that exists in Sam’s mind gives him terrible and dangerous advice.
In upcoming episodes, Sam experiences another hallucination of Roy, and is put on edge when he’s urged to take control and rid himself of Will once and for all.
When Sam asserts that he isn’t a violent person, Roy accuses him of being a coward and says that their friendship is over.
Sam then heads to the Rovers and finds Will alone in the back room, far too busy with a shooting-based video game to realise Sam is there. As Will plays his game, Sam hears Roy warning him that Will is going to kill him too.
He makes a run for it, but Will goes after him, concerned. Sam rushes into the cafe and locks the door behind him. Will bangs on the door but inside, Roy finds Sam in a terrible state.
Sam reels at the sight of him, totally thrown and petrified at the fact he can see the real version of Roy, and the vision.
Outside, Nick Tilsley (Ben Price), Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor), Nina Lucas (Mollie Gallagher) and Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) gather and beg for Sam to let them in.
Discussing Sam’s current situation, actor Ben Price, who plays Sam’s dad Nick, has said that the complex co-parenting dynamic between Nick, Toyah and Leanne has resulted in Sam falling through the cracks somewhat.
‘I think that’s entirely true. Because he is splitting time between two houses, they might be picking up on different things. When Leanne and I were together, for instance, we were both seeing the same things. Now, Nick isn’t seeing the whole picture. I think it’s also important to distinguish that while Leanne and Toyah are sisters, Nick’s relationship is
different with Toyah than it is with Leanne.
He added: ‘Nick and Leanne have a long, long history, especially around the children—Oliver, Simon, and now Sam. With Toyah, although she’s absolutely brilliant and she’s a counsellor and can see those things, Nick feels more hesitant about talking about it so much. He’s aware he’s essentially the only parent now, really.’
As the ordeal continues, Sam’s family worry about where he’s disappeared to, but he is found in the precinct by Carla Connor-Swain (Alison King). Noticing the fear on Sam’s face, Carla does her very best to reassure him while reaching for her phone to call Nick.
After making the call, Carla tries to pacify an agitated Sam, but when Nick and David Platt (Jack P Shepherd) appear, he makes a run for it.
Deeply upset, Carla explains that she thinks Sam is suffering from psychosis.
On these scenes, Ben explained: ‘Carla and Nick have a history, but with Carla, it’s a moment of currency for Nick. Carla isn’t usually like that; she’s very full of brusqueness. If Carla is saying it, and Carla has seen it and gone through it, there’s a moment where I think Nick knows Carla enough to go, “She’s seen something properly.”
‘What’s so good about a character like Carla is that, because of what she’s been through, she’s very black and white. Everyone wants that so then when she does break that hard shell it makes you sit up and take notice. That is what happens to Nick.’
Reflecting on the dynamic he has with star Jude Riordan, Ben smiled: ‘I want him to be brilliant, and he is brilliant. When you’re with someone who’s discovering that power as an actor, in an adult story, it’s really amazing to watch. He is really, really good and such a nice young lad as well.
‘Super level, super diligent, but also, he’s got a bit of a Platt about him. It’s been really lovely for me. I get to work with a really good actor,
and it makes me better.’
