Love may be in the air in Weatherfield, but Coronation Street star Jane Danson has revealed that her character, Leanne Battersby, will harbour some fears over her relationship with newcomer Idris Nazir.
The businessman, a relative of Alya, made a bold entrance on the ITV soap last month as he arrived on the cobbles with a flashy sports car, before putting a couple of trouble-starters in their place at Speed Daal.
This caught the attention of Leanne, who was quickly charmed by the newcomer. But despite his confident and personable demeanour, Idris has also been seen to have a ruthless side when speaking to associates.
With Leanne having a rough time in terms of romance, she takes the plunge with Idris, with Danson telling TV Times Magazine: “It gets quite serious, quite quickly. Idris’s relative Alya has warned her to be careful.”
“But Leanne’s like: ‘I can handle myself.’ And fair enough, she can! Idris treats her like she has probably wanted to be treated for a while, and she’s enjoying being spoiled,” added the actor, who first played Leanne in 1997.
The whirlwind nature of their romance means the first date is a flashy affair, with Idris booking a room at the Chariot Square Hotel. It’s here, however, where Leanne notices that the newcomer may have a controlling streak.
“Toyah calls while Leanne is in the bathroom. Idris is thinking ‘I don’t want anything to ruin this moment’, so he puts her phone on silent,” explains Danson. “Lo and behold, there’s a bit of an emergency and Leanne is needed.
This certainly puts Idris in his place, though harmony is quickly restored as the couple attempt to start again. Leanne introduces him to Sam Blakeman, which will naturally cause some angst for her ex-husband, Nick Tilsley.
Furthermore, Leanne and Idris will also become business partners as he buys a share in Speed Daal. This arrangement excites both Leanne and Danson, with the actor remarking that it will be nice for her character to have an “ally” at her workplace.
