Leanne Battersby

Leanne Barlow
Jane Danson as Leanne Battersby (2011)
Coronation Street character
Portrayed by	Jane Danson
Introduced by	Brian Park (1997) Tony Wood (2004)
Duration	1997–2000, 2004–06, 2007—
First appearance	4 July 1997
Classification	Present; regular
Profile
Alias	Leanne Battersby (Maiden name) Leanne Tilsley (Married Name) Leanne Barlow (Married name)
Date of birth	1 July 1981
Home	9a Rosamund Street
Occupation	Waitress (1997–99) Barmaid (1999–2006) Shop assistant (1999) Prostitute (2004–05) Bar manager (2010) Bookmaker (since 2009)
Family Husband Nick Tilsley (1998–99) Peter Barlow (2010—) Father Les Battersby Mother Stella Price Half brothers Greg Kelly Half sisters Eva Price Stepsons Simon Barlow Grandmothers Betty Battersby

Leanne Anika Barlow (née Battersby; previously Tilsley) is a fictional character on the soap opera Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Jane Danson, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 4 July 1997.

The character has been involved in many high-profile storylines - she got married while still a teenager, become addicted to cocaine, worked as a lap-dancer and prostitute, dated a father and son, been involved in an arson insurance scam, been kidnapped, stolen lottery money, and suffering a miscarriage after falling down the stairs. Leanne finds out about Peter and Carla Connor's affair in February 2012 and moves out of her and Peter's flat.

Creation

Background

Leanne as she appeared in 1997

The mid 1990s were a time of big change behind-the-scenes at Coronation Street. The long-running serial was being regularly beaten in the ratings by rival soap EastEnders. A new producer, Brian Park, was brought in to revitalise the soap in 1997. Dubbed "the axeman", Park was responsible for culling 8 long-running and established characters, as well as giving the go-ahead for more controversial and sensationalist storylines, aimed at attracting a younger audience. He also introduced various new characters, among them were the Battersby family. Dubbed the "family from hell", the Battersbys were father Les, his wife Janice, Les's daughter Leanne, and Janice's daughter Toyah.

When Leanne and her family were introduced in the summer of 1997 as the new "common" family. Leanne was, at that time, portrayed as a mischievous troublemaker. She was 16 at the time and fresh out of school with no GCSEs. As Leanne refused to go to college, Janice insisted she get a job and got Leanne a job as a cleaner at the factory she worked but this did not last as Leanne was lazy and rude to those around her.

Casting

After three years in the role of Leanne, Jane Danson announced her decision to quit in February 2000 after a number of gritty storylines stating; "I feel I've taken Leanne Battersby as far as I can. I've had tremendous storylines, which have stretched me as an actress and prepared me for the challenges to come. I'm very excited about the future." In June 2004, the character reappeared, this time working as a pole dancer in a lap dancing club.

Danson left Coronation Street in March 2009 to go on maternity leave. She returned on 11 September 2009 when she was spotted by Peter and Simon Barlow working in an Italian restaurant in Leeds.

Storylines

1997–2000

One of Leanne's early storylines sees her date and later marry Nick Tilsley (Adam Rickett). Nick's mother Gail (Helen Worth) disapproves but this does not stop them telling their parents that they are going to a concert, when in fact they going to Scotland to get married in January 1998.

In an effort to become more responsible, Leanne quits her hairdressing course and starts working with Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox) in the Kabin. Nick, however, continues at college and they move into number 4 Coronation Street with Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold), his girlfriend, Zoe Tattersall (Joanne Froggatt), and Zoe's daughter, Shannon. Nick and Leanne's relationship becomes strained when Leanne gets pregnant. Insisting they are not ready for a baby, Nick persuades Leanne to have an abortion and tell people that she miscarried. Leanne reluctantly agrees but this proves to be the beginning of the end for the couple.

Nick learns that his father's killer, Darren Whateley, will soon be released from prison on parole and persuades Leanne to befriend him, intending to send Darren back to prison. Things do not go according to plan, and Leanne's safety is threatened when Darren breaks into her house. Leanne is so scared that she tells Gail what has happened and they report Darren to the police for stalking her. He returns to prison for breaking his parole conditions, regardless of the fact that Nick was responsible for the situation.

Their relationship does not survive such trauma and they separate. Nick returns to Canada and Gail offers Leanne a reasonable divorce settlement as Leanne supported Nick during their marriage. Now single, Leanne begins dating Vikram Desai (Christopher Bisson) who works at the corner shop. Excessive partying and late nights take their toll and Leanne resigns from the Kabin following a row with Rita's foster daughter, Sharon (Tracie Bennett), over missing money and starts work as barmaid at the Rovers for Natalie Horrocks (Denise Welch).

Leanne goes on to become addicted to cocaine. She ends up deeply in debt to drug dealer Jez Quigley (Lee Boardman), and is occasionally forced to sleep with him. Not having anywhere to go for the money, she gets desperate. She was going to help him rob the Rovers but changes her mind at the last minute and ends up in hospital after a fight with one of Jez's thugs. Leanne is scared, and decides to leave Weatherfield. Knowing Jez is capable of extreme violence, she leaves Weatherfield for Amsterdam with her friend, Mark Redman (Paul Fox), in 2000.

2004—2012

In June 2004, Les (Bruce Jones) finds Leanne dressed as a belly dancer in a local bar. She returns to the Street and moves in with Janice (Vicky Entwistle). She quickly causes trouble for ex-husband Nick and his girlfriend, Maria Sutherland (Samia Smith). Toyah (Georgia Taylor) told her about Maria's one night stand with Toyah's ex-boyfriend, John Lynley, and she takes revenge on Maria and Nick. Leanne and Maria’s sparring culminates in a brawl in the Rovers Return. Eventually, Leanne's scheming pays off as Nick leaves Weatherfield alone.

Not long after her return, Leanne starts dating Jamie Baldwin (Rupert Hill). Jamie's stepmother, Frankie Baldwin (Debra Stephenson), hates Leanne and makes it very clear. Despite her feud with Frankie, Leanne and Jamie become engaged. However, Leanne has an affair with Jamie's dad, Danny Baldwin (Bradley Walsh), which Frankie discovers. When Jamie learns the truth, he calls off the engagement and Leanne leaves temporarily. Leanne and Danny get together.

When Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs), begins suffering Alzheimer's symptoms, Leanne and Danny look after him. However, Danny is more concerned about Mike's estate. Shortly before Mike's death, Danny manipulated Mike into leaving everything to him. Following Mike's death, Leanne finds a later will, leaving Adam his fair share. Despite getting engaged to Leanne, Danny loves former wife Frankie and ends things with Leanne in a bid for reconciliation. She is devastated and gets revenge by blackmailing him with Mike's latest will. Leanne double-crosses her ex by giving Adam Mike's second will, despite Danny giving her the money she demanded. Having totally wrecked Danny's life, Leanne leaves for Spain in July 2006.

Leanne returns to Weatherfield in March 2007, harbouring a secret - she is now an escort. Janice is horrified by this and makes her disapproval very clear. When Leanne begins dating Liam Connor (Rob-James Collier), Janice makes her realise that she has to choose between Liam and prostitution. Initially, Leanne chooses escorting but decides she should allow her heart to rule her head and gives it up. In the last days of her career as a prostitute, Leanne gets a new client - Liam's brother, Paul Connor (Sean Gallagher).

Leanne opens a restaurant called Valandro's. She borrows £10,000 from Janice‘s boyfriend, Roger Stiles (Andrew Dunn), but initially struggles with the business. She takes on Paul Clayton (Tom Hudson) as chef and feels hopeful when business improves. Paul also invests in the restaurant but in March 2008, as business isn't great, Leanne and Paul set fire to the restaurant for the insurance money. Leanne's boyfriend, Dan Mason, gives her an alibi, leaving Paul to face charges alone - he leaves the country rather than face imprisonment. Leanne gets involved in a lottery scam with stepmother Janice; again, she escapes without charge but Dan breaks up with her over it.

In November 2008, Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) returns to the Street with his son, Simon (Alex Bain), and Leanne takes a shine to both. On 17 December, a drunken Peter goes to kiss Leanne. She rejects him but he grabs her and in self-defence, Leanne pushes him away. He falls into the decorated Christmas tree with Simon waking up and Leanne walking out. However, she forgives him when he promises to give up the booze and the pair start dating. Early in 2009, Peter struggles to stay off alcohol and enters a rehabilitation programme which Leanne supports, running the bookies in his absence. Upon his return in March 2009, Leanne discovers he has cheated on her while away. Broken-hearted, she moves to Leeds to manage a restaurant for a friend.

She keeps in contact with Janice and after Simon's rabbit dies in September 2009 (who he had named Leanne after her departure), Peter and Simon go to the restaurant to see Leanne. She reluctantly serves them and tells Peter she has a new boyfriend so they leave without her. However, Leanne returns to Weatherfield that evening. She rekindles her relationship with Peter but is furious to discover that he has lied about not dating anyone while she was away as he had a brief fling with Michelle Connor. The couple put their differences aside and continue dating.

In October 2009, Leanne quits her job, declaring that she is frustrated and needs a new challenge. Seeing how frustrated she is, Peter spots a business opportunity in the vacant unit Turner's Joinery at the end of the Street. He shows it to her and suggests they open a bar there, an idea to which she agrees. However, Ken (William Roache) opposes the idea as Peter is a recovering alcoholic.

When an old friend of Peter's, Ciaran McCarthy (Keith Duffy), returns in February 2010, Peter once again turns to alcohol. During a party at the new bar, Peter gets drunk, embarrassing everyone. Devastated at his downfall, a tearful Leanne realises that her dream venture cannot go ahead with Peter being a recovering alcoholic. However, she promises to stand by Peter as he re-enters treatment for his addiction. She also supports him when Simon's maternal grandfather, George, tries to claim custody of the little boy.

In April 2010, Leanne becomes suspicious of Peter's behaviour and mistakenly believes that he is seeing old flame Michelle. She angrily confronts him at Ken and Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride)'s wedding anniversary party in the Rovers. However, she is mortified to realise that Peter was in fact planning to propose to her. She is determined to make amends for her mistake and subsequently gets down on one knee and proposes to him, to which he accepts.

The reappearance of Leanne's ex, Nick (now played by Ben Price), poses a further challenge to her relationship with Peter. In August 2010, Peter is furious with Leanne after Lewis Archer (Nigel Havers) steals £4,000 from the bookies. Nick comforts Leanne, making his feelings for her clear as he thinks that Peter does not appreciate her. She insists that she loves Peter but is upset when Nick's girlfriend, Natasha Blakeman (Rachel Leskovac), tells Leanne that she is pregnant; serving as a painful reminder of her marriage to Nick and the baby that they aborted. Nick, celebrating the news in the pub, and Leanne after rowing with Peter, catch each other's eyes across the pub to which Leanne raises her glass in a silent toast and a private toast between them, as they are both moving on. Nick mouths "thank you," full of meaning in his eyes, which proves too much for Leanne and she runs out of the pub in tears. Natasha notices and follows Leanne outside, paranoid about Nick's feelings towards his ex-wife, warning her to back off.

When Natasha attempts suicide, after Nick's discovery that she had aborted the baby and was faking her pregnancy, Leanne comforts Nick at the hospital. They speak candidly about their marriage and Leanne's abortion. It is clear that Leanne has strong feelings towards her ex-husband, despite being engaged to Peter.

Leanne is not happy when Nick takes over 'The Joinery' Bar, seeing him taking on her dream venture. After some persuasion by Peter, Leanne agrees to work for Nick, when he offers her the position of bar manager. Nick still has feelings for Leanne and eventually they begin an affair. Leanne feels guilty and tries avoid Nick but they are caught by Ken and Leanne explains to him and Deirdre that she loves Peter.

After an explosion at the bar and a tram derailment on 6 December, Nick, Peter and Ashley are trapped in the office. Peter is seriously hurt and taken to hospital where he and Leanne marry but moments later, Peter has a heart attack and has to be resuscitated. To Leanne's relief, he survives and successfully comes through surgery to stop internal bleeding but it is later revealed that he has damaged his spine and it is likely to be some time before he is able to walk again. While Peter is recovering, Leanne becomes suspicious about Carla's response to his injuries and realises that she is in love with Peter. She angrily confronts her and Carla admits that Peter has been helping her with a drink problem and that she fell for him, but he turned her down because he is in love with Leanne. Leanne warns her to stay away from them.

When Peter leaves hospital, they move in with Ken and Deirdre for a while as Peter cannot manage the stairs at the flat, however, Leanne finds it difficult living at close quarters with her in-laws, especially when Deirdre's daughter Tracy (Kate Ford) is released from prison and joins the family at number 1. To escape from their cramped living conditions and also put distance between herself and Nick, who is now working with her at the bookies and has been putting pressure on her to leave Peter for him, Leanne takes Peter off on an impromptu honeymoon on New Year's Eve. On their return they move back to their flat, as Peter is sinking into depression over his injury and hates being treated like an invalid. Leanne finds herself under great stress, having to look after both Simon and Peter while also running the bookies alongside Nick, who continues to put pressure on her to leave Peter. Leanne's guilt and tension make it hard for her to cope with Peter's depression, as he is a very bad patient, while Nick takes every opportunity to present himself as her potential saviour, adding to her stress.

In February 2011, Leanne suspects that Peter has been having an affair with Carla, after he stays out all night and is seen leaving Carla's apartment in the morning. She furiously confronts Carla, who insists that they are not having an affair and that she should talk to Peter. When Leanne accuses him of sleeping with Carla, Peter breaks down and admits that he had been drinking and did not want her to find out, as he was afraid she would leave him; he spent the night on Carla's couch so that Leanne would not see him drunk. Leanne is furious when she realises that Nick deviously tempted Peter with alcohol, knowing that he was depressed and vulnerable, and was the cause of him falling off the wagon, as Nick had hoped that it would split them up - but she can't explain to Peter why she mistrusts Nick so much without revealing their affair.

Just as Leanne is starting to hope that things might start to get back to normal, with Peter's recovery proceeding apace, she is horrified to realise that Tracy heard her arguing with Carla and knows about her affair with Nick, sure that it is a matter of time before Tracy tells Peter. When the day of their wedding blessing arrives, Leanne allows herself to hope that everything might be all right after all - but is devastated when, at the blessing, Peter reveals in front of their friends and family at the church that he knows all about the affair and announces that he wants a divorce. Crushed, Leanne tries desperately to persuade him that the affair was a mistake and ended a long time ago, but Peter is too hurt and angry to listen. Leanne decides to leave Weatherfield and books a train to London Euston.

Ken tries to persuade Peter to forgive Leanne. At first he remains defiant, still deeply hurt, but at the last minute he changes his mind and asks Lloyd to take him to the train station. As Peter races to the platform he sees the train pulling away and thinks he is too late, but sees Leanne still standing on the platform. She exclaims "I just couldn't go" and they give each other a hug. After a weekend spent talking through their problems, the couple agree to give their marriage another try and head off, with Simon, on the honeymoon Peter had booked.

In March 2011, Leanne, Peter and Simon return to Weatherfield after their holiday. Leanne is surprised when stepmother Janice decides very suddenly to leave town to go travelling with her ex-lodger Trevor Dean (Steve Jackson). An interview with the new headteacher at Bessie Street Primary leaves Leanne feeling very indignant after hearing that Simon is disruptive in class - and she is then jealous when Cheryl is told that her son Russ (Finton Flynn) is gifted and will receive special coaching. Overcompensating for her insecurity, as Simon's stepmother, Leanne pushes him to audition for the school play and is thrilled when he wins the lead role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat but then is dismayed to realise that she must make his costume herself. As sewing is not her strong suit, she gets Sean Tully (Antony Cotton) to make Simon's outfit using his machine at Underworld.

At the end of June 2011, the new manageress at The Rovers Stella Price (Michelle Collins) confesses to Peter that she is Leanne's biological mother, after Peter discovers a picture of Leanne in her purse that she has taken from their flat. On 1 July 2011, during Leanne's 30th birthday party arranged by Stella, Leanne finds out the truth about her birth mother and furiously storms out of the pub. Stella later turns up and wants Leanne to hear her out about why she abandoned her as a baby. Leanne insists that Janice is her mother and tells Stella to get back to her own family because she has all the family she could want already.

Peter finds a pregnancy test in Leanne's bag and she explains that she didn't want to tell him about her suspicions until she was sure. Leanne takes the test, and it is positive. Leanne is overjoyed, but although Peter also seems happy on the surface, he admits to Ken that he isn't sure they are ready. Peter and Leanne celebrate in the Rovers, until Carla Connor (Alison King) overhears Deirdre and Ken congratulating them and forces Peter to confirm her guess that Leanne must be pregnant. Leanne is furious when she realises Carla knows about her pregnancy, all the more so when Carla drops hints to Simon about it. She confronts Peter, and they have a heated row which ends with Leanne hurling quite vicious insults at Peter about his alcoholism. Rather than respond, he storms out of the flat. Feeling guilty, Leanne runs after him, but trips and falls down the stairs, where she is later found by Stella, who raises the alarm. At the hospital, a doctor confirms that Leanne has suffered a miscarriage. Peter feels guilty about the stress Leanne has been under lately and feels he may have jinxed the pregnancy with his reservations. Peter tells Stella about the miscarriage and Leanne allows her mother to comfort her. When Leanne realises that Peter had doubts about the pregnancy, she assumes it means that he hasn't fully forgiven her for the affair with Nick and orders him to leave, implying that their marriage is in crisis. Carla finds Peter in a highly agitated state and takes advantage of his vulnerability to try to seduce him again - he almost succumbs, but at the last minute pushes her away. After talking things through with Ken, Peter returns to the hospital and tells Leanne that he wants them to try for another baby after she is recovered.

In January 2012, it is revealed that Peter has been having an affair with Carla Connor (Alison King). Leanne isn't suprised, but breaks down in Stella's arms. She goes home with Peter, and gives him a chance to explain why he cheated. After hearing his side of events, she forgives him and agrees to give their marriage another shot. However, Peter tells Leanne that he loves Carla, and choses her. Realising there is nothing left in Weatherfield but painful memories, and after an emotional goodbye with Simon, Leanne leaves Weatherfield in a taxi, with Simon running after her, crying hysterically. (She is due to return to the street but it is currently unknown when).

Reception

Danson was nominated in the category of "Best Actress" at the 2011 British Soap Awards.

In a 2005 interview with The Sunday Mirror Jane Danson expressed her delight with playing such a multi-faceted character, she stated; "Its quite hard to get inside her head because shes so strong in lots of ways, but when it comes to men, she's a hopeless cause. I do love playing her. She lets me do all the things I wouldn't dare do in real life..." Discussing Leanne's controversial prostitution comeback storyline in 2007, Danson said; "She (Leanne) likes to see herself as a high class lady of the night. Corrie's never dealt with that kind of thing before but as Corrie always does, it deals with it in a way that's really responsible, and there's always a message. As the storyline progresses, I think it's fair to say that Leanne, hopefully, will redeem herself. There'll be a moral in there somewhere..."

The Guardian columnist Grace Dent commented on Danson's decision to return to the show in 2007 saying; "so Leanne Battersby's back on Coronation Street, again. We knew Leanne would come back. She's played by Jane Danson, one of those rare thesps who knows which side her bread's buttered on. With excellent wages, regular hours and maximum TV exposure you'd imagine most actors would kill to be a soap opera staple." In the same article she spoke favourably of the prostitution storyline: "Corrie is dealing with this whole thing in an interesting, relevant way. Much differently to those Pat Butcher, Janine Evans on-the-game storylines filled with shame and desperation. How, the plot asks, do you stop young women from seeing sex work as a cool, empowering, money-making five year plan? How do you keep your daughter off the pole? How did things go so sadly tits-up with girl power? How did Leanne Battersby become another of the myriad of deluded post-feminists you find these days swinging round poles in their pants, doing headstands in front of webcams, or performing 20 "happy finishes" a day while somehow still thinking they're channeling Emmeline Pankhurst. (Hint: they're not)."

In December 2010, following the show's critically acclaimed live episode, Jane Danson's performance was singled out by many Digital Spy forum members.

External links

• Leanne Battersby at itv.com