Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) was heartbroken when she uncovered her partner Nick Tilsley’s (Ben Price) affair with her sister Toyah (Georgia Taylor) in Coronation Street.
Leanne and Nick had grown apart as she became deeply involved with the cult-like Altovalent Institute. Her personal relationships took a backseat while her strongest connection formed with the Institute’s leader, Rowan Cunliffe (Emrhys Cooper).
Feeling sidelined, both Nick and Toyah found comfort in each other, with Nick supporting Toyah during a cancer scare.
When Leanne discovered their betrayal, she ended things with Nick, leaving another key person in their lives heavily impacted by the fallout.
Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan), Nick’s son, has already endured the heartbreaking loss of his biological mother, Natasha Blakeman (Rachel Leskovac), who was tragically killed by Harvey Gaskell (Will Mellor).
The trauma initially left Sam unable to speak, but over time, he began to heal, thanks in large part to Leanne stepping in as a mother figure.
Ben Price revealed that in an upcoming episode, as Nick and Leanne sort through their shared belongings, Nick becomes painfully aware of how much the separation is affecting Sam.
“Nick lost his own father, so when Natasha passed, he knew how important it was to give Sam a sense of stability and safety,” Ben explained. “Sam has grown very close to Leanne, so this feels like losing a mother all over again, and Nick is struggling with immense guilt because of it.”
Simultaneously, Nick realizes that he and Leanne have no future together, not even for Sam’s benefit.
“He will always have love for her. A part of Nick still cares for her, but it’s absolutely over. This isn’t just a temporary breakup; it’s final. I think when she got involved with the Institute, something shifted for him— that marked the end for Nick,” Ben explained.
Although Nick’s emotions for Leanne have evolved, Ben mentioned that he still harbors feelings for Toyah.
“I truly believe he’s in love with her,” he emphasized. “I know it might sound strange since she’s Leanne’s sister, but I think he really cares for her and sees potential in their relationship. It’s unfortunate how it had to come to an end.
“Things were different with Toyah—there was a lighter vibe between them. After Leanne’s sudden shift to the Institute, it made Nick realize that he hardly knew her anymore. I believe he’s being sincere with Toyah.
“There’s definitely a deeper bond there. I don’t think it initially started out as a physical attraction. Supporting her during her cancer scare is what brought them closer. It wasn’t like he had been drawn to her for ages; it was more about being there for each other, which is how their love began. There’s a lot more substance to it than just the physical aspect.”
However, if Nick and Toyah choose to pursue their relationship, how will Sam react to that?
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