Corrie's Craig: Tina suppresses Graeme, unlike Xin

Corrie's Craig: Tina suppresses Graeme, unlike Xin
Corrie's Craig: Tina suppresses Graeme, unlike Xin

Coronation Street's Craig Gazey tells Soaplife that Graeme's fake wife is not faking it any more - and his feelings are starting to ring true, too... Playing the doting newlywed husband to Xin has put a lot of strain on Graeme's relationship with Tina - and no wonder! Graeme and Tina hardly get to see each other. Now Tina's friendship with Xin is starting to suffer, to. Tina doesn't like seeing Xin with her man and Xin doesn't like seeing Tina with her husband - because she's falling in love with him. Oh no! Soaplife asks Craig how this has happened... Has living apart dulled Tina and Graeme's feelings for each other? "I wouldn't say it's dulled their feelings; it has put a massive strain on their relationship. Graeme still loves Tina, but I think that reality is becoming a bit blurred." Xin has started to see Graeme as more than a friend. Has she given him any clue? "Yes. Xin starts to drop hints to Graeme about how she really feels and I think Graeme starts to pick up on these clues. Xin wants to get intimate with Graeme. He's so approachable and easy to get along with and Xin has mistaken this for flirting. But he's just a really nice bloke!" Does he really feel only friendship for her? "He sees her as a friend, but there are little moments where they're becoming closer and closer. They've been forced to spend all this time together and so have had to develop a friendship. She takes an interest in him, and starts to help him on his window-cleaning round. I think Graeme can be a bit sillier with her than he can with Tina." When Kylie puts down Graeme, Xin springs to his defence and it's obvious she cares for him. Does Graeme instantly realise? "No. It's one of those situations that as soon as it crosses your mind it's instantly overruled, leaving just a nagging thought behind. Graeme's own thoughts and insecurities overrule any possibility that Xin might like him." But Tina notices. Does she say anything to Graeme? "Yeah, they have an argument about it. And Tina pointing it out to Graeme further sows the seeds that Xin might see him as more than a friend..." How worried is Graeme when he and Xin receive a letter from immigration saying an inspector is coming the next day? "Devastated. Personally, as the actor playing Graeme, I think it's crazy that he didn't think this was going to happen. Suddenly alarm bells start ringing for Graeme that he could go to prison over this. While he cares for Xin, when it comes to crunch time he's more worried about his own destiny." We've heard Xin does a runner to save Graeme, but he brings her back... "Xin runs off and leaves a letter for Graeme saying, 'Grass me up, say I tricked you and that I've gone', but Graeme doesn't want to do that. He doesn't think it will work or that they'll be believed. He says to Tina, 'Why did we do this if we're just going to abandon her?', which shows how much he does care." After the inspection, Graeme sees Tommy giving Tina a hug and immediately thinks Tina's cheating on him. Why? "There have been a couple of moments that have planted seeds of doubt in Graeme's mind. It just makes him angry as he wants to see his girlfriend and tell her everything that's happened with the inspector. It's all gone wrong." Can you tell us who you think Graeme is most suited to: Xin or Tina? "I really like Tina and Graeme as a couple, but I also think there's always going to be problems with them: he's always going to feel inferior and every bloke fancies her. As Graeme is so stupid and bizarre, I think Tina does suppress him in a way without actually meaning to. On the other hand, Xin is equally as nuts as Graeme so she never really questions how he is."

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.