Lloyd Mullaney
| Lloyd Mullaney | |||||||||
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| Craig Charles as Lloyd Mullaney (2007) | |||||||||
| Coronation Street character | |||||||||
| Portrayed by | Craig Charles | ||||||||
| Introduced by | Tony Wood (2005) Steve Frost (2007) Phil Collinson (2012) |
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| Duration | 2005— | ||||||||
| First appearance | 20 June 2005 | ||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular (returning) | ||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||
| Date of birth | 1964[1] | ||||||||
| Home | Outside Weatherfield | ||||||||
| Occupation | Co-owner of Street Cars (2005–11) | ||||||||
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Lloyd Mullaney is a fictional character from the British soap opera, Coronation Street, played by Craig Charles. He made his first on screen appearance on 20 June 2005. The character departed on 23 July 2006, while Charles was suspended from work. He returned on 12 February 2007. On the show, Lloyd co-owned taxi firm Streetcars with best friend Steve McDonald. He has been in a relationship with Cheryl Gray, and they lived together with her son Russ at number 13. The character departed on 15 December 2011, so Charles could go and film new episodes of Red Dwarf.
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[edit] Storylines
Although he claims to be single, Lloyd had a girlfriend named Julie (Glenda McKay) – whom he secretly visited when telling people he is off to play darts. He works hard to form a romantic relationship with Kelly Crabtree (Tupele Dorgu), but she finds out about his other relationship. Julie has lent Lloyd the money to buy into Streetcars, making it a difficult break-up.
Later, Lloyd encourages Kelly to plead guilty to fraud in order to avoid getting a custodial sentence, despite the crime having been committed by Kelly's old friend Becky Grainger (Katherine Kelly). The couple split because Kelly feels humiliated at having pleaded guilty when she is innocent. After they split, Kelly has a one-night stand with Steve McDonald. When Lloyd finds out, he feels betrayed and angry, refusing to make up with either of them.
However, after some time off, Lloyd returns and appears to have forgiven Steve, but not Kelly. They resume their friendship and move on from the past. Following his relationship with Kelly, the romance front is quiet until he begins to take an interest in Jodie Morton (Samantha Seager). However, Jodie is under constant pressure to help run the family business and look after her younger siblings Kayleigh (Jessica Barden) and Finlay. In time, she has enough and moved to London, ending any possibility of a relationship.
Lloyd is considered brave by his friends - in November 2005 he rescues Steve and girlfriend Ronnie Clayton (Emma Stansfield) from Ronnie's gun-wielding husband Jimmy (David Crellin), and rescues Becky Granger from Roy's Rolls when it is set on fire.
When Jerry Morton (Michael Starke) has a heart attack, Lloyd helps him and his family while he is in hospital. When Jerry's ex-wife Teresa Bryant (Karen Henthorn) arrives on the street on hearing about Jerry's plight, it is revealed that she and Lloyd had once slept together. She takes advantage of this - as well as Finlay's fondness of Lloyd - to con Lloyd into believing he is Finlay's biological father. Lloyd believes her and trying to do the decent thing, offers money to help look after him that she pocketed herself. Teresa's con is eventually revealed when WPC Mel (Emma Edmondson), Finlay's older half-sister gets suspicious and it is revealed that Finlay is not Lloyd's son.
After Steve has a one night stand with Becky Granger, Steve's girlfriend Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) becomes suspicious when Steve and Lloyd's behaviour seems strange. Steve flees abroad to see his brother Andy (Nicholas Cochrane), so Michelle bullies Lloyd to tell her what is going on. He lies several times and Michelle discovers that he has been sleeping with someone else. Steve stays away from Michelle but Lloyd convinces Michelle that Steve is planning to propose. Michelle tells Liam (Rob James-Collier) and Maria (Samia Ghadie), but Lloyd tells her to keep quiet when Steve returns from Spain. Lloyd then tells Michelle the truth, not knowing that Steve has proposed.
Lloyd often helps bookmaker Harry Mason (Jack Ellis) and his wife Clarissa (Alexandra Boyd) when they live on the street.
In December 2008, Lloyd begins attending Brazilian crunch classes with Steve's mother Liz (Beverley Callard) in an attempt to lose weight, after he enters a bet with Steve, instigated by Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver). Lloyd is initially reluctant but gives it a try and becomes popular with the ladies due to his looks, personality and DJ-ing skills. When Lloyd returns with Liz later that evening and insists on going home due to the pain, Liz's face shows she has feelings for him and is distressed to see him share a kiss under the mistletoe with Poppy Morales (Sophia Hahqie), a new member of staff at the Rovers. On December 29 2008, a young woman called Danielle (Annie Cooper) is clearly interested in Lloyd (although this is not reciprocated), but he and Liz kiss in private during a dance evening at the Brazilian crunch classes. Upon returning to the Rovers, Lloyd brushes off Danielle and goes to the back yard to meet Liz. The two declare their feelings for one another, share another kiss and secretly sleep together, while Steve is working behind the bar.
On 5 January 2009, Steve is in a dilemma as to how to dump Michelle, and after previously seeking his mother's advice, goes to visit Lloyd in order to confide in, and seeks the advice of his best friend. Steve arrives while Lloyd and Liz are in a passionate embrace, but Liz has to hide behind a chair when Lloyd answers the door, due to it being Steve, who then forces his way in to chat with Lloyd. Lloyd tries in vain to get Steve to leave, who is also intrigued by Lloyd's edgy behaviour, believing his mystery woman to be in. However, just as Steve is beginning to leave, he remembers his keys and discovers his mother's. Lloyd says that he found them in the street, and Steve jokes how the smell of perfume and the keys could have meant there was an affair going on between Lloyd and Liz. It then transpires there is an affair going on. Liz emerges from behind the chair, and Steve and Lloyd have an argument over the legitimacy of the whole situation (with Liz switching sides), followed by a minor yet comical scuffle between the two.
After a drunken one-night-stand with Teresa, and a second explosive break-up with Liz, Lloyd reluctantly begins to date Teresa, who is living with him. Liz and Teresa continue to fight and after Teresa's stab at humiliating Liz by arranging a 'Vicars and Tarts (Liz)' party, Liz gets revenge by burning Lloyd's records in the oven. Teresa then tricks Lloyd into proposing to her in front of Liz after agreeing that she will make up with Liz in return.
Since breaking up with Liz, Lloyd expresses an interest in Cheryl Gray (Holly Quin-Ankrah), a friend of Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson). Lloyd pursues Cheryl, although she resists Lloyd's advances. Lloyd later discovers that Cheryl works in a strip club. He later also discovers that she is married, and has a son called Russ Gray (Finton Flynn). One day - after seeing Cheryl with a black eye, presuming it is her boss - Lloyd attacks the strip club owner, causing Cheryl to lose her job. She then drops the bombshell that it is her husband Chris Gray (Will Thorp), and so Lloyd offers to let her live with him.
In December 2010, Lloyd is celebrating Peter Barlow's stag night in The Joinery, when a fight erupts between him and Chris after he provokes him several times during the evening. The fight intensifies before a huge explosion ends the fight and tears through The Joinery. Lloyd, however, escapes relatively unhurt and even rescues his enemy, Chris, from the inferno at The Joinery. Chris is grateful for Lloyd saving his life as Lloyd returns to help more survivors. After he saves Cheryl, she remarks on how the glass on 13 Coronation Street is red hot, and Lloyd kicks down the front door only to be blasted back by huge flames. He still manages to save Josh and Freddie Peacock from the inferno along with Russ Gray. Cheryl redecorates Street Cars and she decides to get rid of the chair and gets Chesney Brown (Sam Aston) and Gary Windass (Mikey North) to move it into the van so Eddie can take it to the dump, Lloyd spots this happening and persuades Cheryl to keep the chair resulting in Eddie bringing it back in. On Valentine's Day, he takes Peter to his wedding to Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson), Peter tells him to wait in the car with Simon (Alex Bain).
Lloyd is left heartbroken when Chris and Cheryl tell him that they are back together. Lloyd throws Chris, Russ and Cheryl out of his house and tells Cheryl he never wants to see her again. Lloyd's friend and work colleague Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) speaks to him and tells him that he should not let them get to him; and that if they annoy him, then they have won. The conversation helps Lloyd see sense, and he tells Steve that he is grateful for helping him cope through the confession. Lloyd struggles to cope with losing Cheryl and Russ and at one point he grabs Karl Munro (John Michie) by the throat when he jokes about Cheryl. Lloyd sets fire to his sofa in the street as Cheryl and Chris watch. Lloyd and Chris have a fight and Chris hits his head, Cheryl learns he has been lying about his tumour and decides to leave with Russ. Stella Price (Michelle Collins) helps Lloyd with his taxes and one evening, he misinterprets her concern and tries to kiss her. Stella knocks him back and Lloyd apologises. Lloyd tells Karl about the kiss. Lloyd decides to leave Weatherfield and he sells his share of Street Cars to Becky, before departing. Lloyd later sells his house to Steve.
[edit] Casting
The show's producers created the role of Lloyd for Craig Charles to portray. In 2008 it was announced that producers had signed Charles up for a special three year contract.[2]
On 28 May 2011, it was announced Charles would be leaving Coronation Street for a few months in order to film new episodes of Red Dwarf.[3] Laura Armstrong of The People reported Charles would return to the show in 2012.[3] Lloyd made his departure on screen on 15 December 2011.[4]
[edit] Reception
Following Craig Charles's temporary suspension from the show for drug abuse in 2006, The Guardian columnist Grace Dent spoke positively of the character and her hopes for his eventual return: "Love or hate Craig Charles, I thought he was brilliant in Corrie. From the moment Lloyd arrived, he was a breath of fresh air; the perfect foil to Steve McDonald, a friendly face for cab controller Eileen to while away long shifts with, a voice of common sense. Craig, get a grip and come back soon." [5]
[edit] References
- ^ "Lloyd Mullaney". itv.com. http://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/characters/lloydmullaney/. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ Digitalspy.co.uk
- ^ a b Armstrong, Laura (28 May 2011). "Five to be axed in Coronation Street cull". The People. Trinity Mirror. http://www.people.co.uk/celebs-tv/soaps/2011/05/29/five-to-be-axed-in-coronation-street-cull-102039-23163971/. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
- ^ "Coronation Street 12-16 December 2011". Press Centre. itv.com. 18 November 2011. http://www.itv.com/presscentre/coronationstreet/week50overview2/default.html. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/jul/08/tvandradio.theguide
