Michelle Connor is convinced drug dealer Rich has stepped up his campaign to frame Robert Preston and goes to confront him

Certain his former acquaintance Rich wants to destroy him, Robert Preston saw red and battered him. Now it looks as though he'll pay the price as he goes on trial for assault. But as we all now know, Robert and his girlfriend Michelle Connor are pursuing the wrong man – it's Michelle's deranged ex, Will Chatterton, who's behind the vendetta. And he's not finished yet...

An incident at the bistro leaves Michelle certain Rich is still out to frame Robert, leading to a bitter confrontation

An incident at the bistro leaves Michelle certain Rich is still out to frame Robert, leading to a bitter confrontation

Earlier, Michelle tries to persuade her boyfriend to let her attend his assault trial

But he won't hear of it.

Meanwhile, scheming Will continues on his crazed quest to win back Michelle

Having planted some drugs in the bistro and tipped off the police, he invites Maria to lunch at the eaterie so he can witness the results of his underhand actions

In the kitchen, Zeedan accidentally cuts himself. Pulling out the first-aid box, Michelle is horrified to find a bag of drugs!

Out front, police begin to search the premises – much to Will's glee

Michelle is livid, thinking Rich is up to no good again

Heading to Rich's home, she rails against him as Kate and Maria try to restrain her

Is she about to take her misguided revenge mission too far? Catch all the drama on Corrie from Sunday 3 September

Here are seven hot Coronation Street plots that will see fans through those long, chilly nights…

With the weather feeling more like November than August, it seems summer's on its way out, and autumn is just around the corner. But don't get too disheartened because with the drama on Coronation Street about to crank up, you'll only be too happy to stay inside.

Here, we reveal seven sensational storylines set to have soap fans glued to the box...

1. Michelle Connor’s ex Will steps up his campaign of terror

Poor 'Shell has recently faced a series of frightening ordeals, and the bad news is that her stalker will step up his campaign of terror. All the while, she and Robert think Rich is to blame, when in fact the culprit is Will.

Actress Kym Marsh told us: "Will feels spurned by Michelle and wants to hurt her in revenge for her hurting him. When they had their near-affair last year, the reason she gave for not being with him was that she loved Steve. So the fact that she has since left Steve, but still hasn’t chosen Will really angers him.

"Obviously, because Michelle and Robert are so convinced that Rich is to blame for everything, he’s able to carry on what he’s doing. I think viewers might be shouting at their TV screens, willing Michelle to see what’s under her nose!"

Wiley Will plays the concerned friend to Michelle, and offers to help Robert with a redesign for the Bistro. Behind the scenes, though, he’s causing more mayhem.

Added Kym: "There’s another incident at the Bistro which leaves Michelle terrified."

Robert finally gets to a point, though, where he believes Rich is telling the truth, and that someone else is waging a war on them. And, to keep Michelle safe, he suggests they fake a split. As 'single' Michelle feigns heartbreak, could a delighted Will expose himself as the guilty party?

2. Shona and David finally get together!

David may have gone ballistic when Shona returned to the cobbles last month, but he soon calmed down, and it’s pretty obvious why. As much as he wants to despise the mother of Kylie’s killer, the truth is that he fancies the pants off her.

As we move into autumn, the crimper will finally give into his feelings and embark on a relationship with the brunette. But don’t go celebrating just yet. Not only does Gail disapprove of her son’s girlfriend (what’s new?), but the thorny issue of Clayton continues to cast a shadow over the pair. David hates the murderous teen – but Shona loves him. And, as her maternal pull remains as strong as ever, she finds herself keeping a big secret from her new boyfriend…

"David’s going to have to come to terms with the fact that she is Clayton’s mum and that’s not going to change," said actor Jack P Shepherd. But can he? And how will he react when he discovers what Shona has done?

3. Eva Price pushes ahead with her plot to destroy Aidan

Eva’s off to France soon for a month, but’s it’s a case of 'Au Revoir' rather than goodbye, because she’ll be back on the cobbles in the autumn, full of va va voom for her plan to destroy cheating Aidan.

While her trip across the Channel is a chance for the stressed-out blonde to have a break from lying about her 'pregnancy', she doesn’t rest on her laurels, and uses the opportunity to give Aidan’s credit card a battering. "She comes back laden with shopping bags," reveals our Corrie insider.

Eva’s still dead set on marrying the Underworld businessman, and following her return, she throws herself into arranging her hen night. But as the vengeful blonde parties the night away, is her plot about to be exposed? A certain street resident has clocked the intimacy between her and Adam, and twigged that she’s playing games.

As Eva braces herself to say “I do”, could she be faced with Aidan saying “I don’t”?

4. Nasty Nathan and Neil on trial

Thanks to some canny work from Craig, evil duo Nathan and Neil have been charged with child grooming offences, and later this year, they’ll stand trial.

"In the build-up, there’s still a desperation to get enough evidence against them, and to find people who were caught up in their paedophile ring," revealed our Corrie mole. "There’s some real twists along the way, which Craig is involved in."

Will the pair go down for abusing Bethany? Actors Chris Harper and Ben Cartwright have both given strong hints that justice will be served.

Said Chris, who plays Nathan: "What we really want is to tell this story right, and I think it's really important that Nathan doesn't get away with it."

Added Ben, who plays Neil: "I don’t think Coronation Street have any other option than to show that these guys get their comeuppance."

Whatever the outcome, Bethany’s ordeal isn’t over. "She has changed, and it wouldn’t be realistic if she didn’t," said Lucy Fallon, who plays her. "Something like this would stay with someone forever."

5. Pat Phelan has a secret…

Remember when Pat Phelan had a black eye? He told Eileen he’d walked into a kitchen shelf – but said to Nicola that he’d broken up a fight at a bus stop. Fishy…

Well, we’ll soon find out the reason for Phelan’s shiner – and it’s got nothing to do with bus stops or building materials. Could the shady Scouser be embroiled in fresh murkiness? Given that he’ll soon be seen sporting another injury, it looks that way.

Meanwhile, daughter Nicola knows nothing of her father’s dodgy side, and is thrilled when he agrees to help her and her boyfriend, Scott (a copper – eek!) convert an old building into a youth centre. But when Yasmeen gives her chapter and verse on Phelan’s property scam, will Nicola want anything more to do with him?

6. Kate Connor gets a new lover

Actress Faye Brooks revealed earlier in the summer that Kate would get a new love interest – and in a few week’s time, the Bistro waitress will get lucky on a night out with a woman called Imogen.

But don’t be fooled by 'Kimogen.' The love interest Faye's referring to is much closer to home. We're not at liberty to reveal the mystery woman's identity, but we can say that she is around a similar age, and currently in a relationship.

Could Leanne Battersby be tempted to switch sides? Anyone’s a better bet than Steve McDonald. Other suspects in the love line-up include Jenny, Rana, Alya, Toyah and Eva – who, like Leanne, has good reason to give up on men.

"I don't think fans will guess who it is," teaseed Faye. One thing’s for sure, she’s got to be better than crackpot Caz...

7. Mary’s son Jude comes to Weatherfield – and learns the truth about his father…

Mary would normally be jumping for joy at the prospect of spending time with her long lost son, Jude. But when the marine biologist flies over from South Africa with his family for her nuptials to Norris, she’s on pins. She hates that she has duped him into thinking she has found love – when, in fact, it’s merely a sham wedding for the purposes of a competition.

But soon, Mary has an even bigger secret to deal with – and it’s the one regarding Jude’s father. As she confides in Jude’s wife that the man was a family friend, who raped her, neither realise that Jude is in earshot. How will he react to Mary’s bombshell?

And the best of the rest of the storylines:

• Toyah meets up with a potential surrogate. But will the woman want to help when she learns that Peter is an alcoholic?
• Anna discovers Seb is living in squalor. Having previously had no time for the tearaway teen, will she come to his aid?
• Chesney goes awol after a panic attack, leaving youngsters Hope and Ruby alone and in danger. Will all be found OK?
• Gary accepts more dangerous work in the Ukraine when son Jake needs speech therapy classes. But at what cost?
• Sally sets her sights on becoming Mayor of Weatherfield. Will she land the top job? And if so, will the power go to her head?

Corrie star Kym Marsh is furious that a person is able to get away with pretending to be her six-year-old daughter online

Kym Marsh has criticised a person for setting up a fake Twitter account in the name of her six-year-old daughter.

The Coronation Street actress also said that the page on the social networking site was using pictures of her youngest child Polly.

The account fused Polly’s first name with the second name of Marsh’s Coronation Street character, Michelle Connor.

Kym said: “The fake account of my 6!!!! Year old @pollyconnor4 has BLOCKED me!!! You are using photos of my little girl you strange strange person.”

In a second tweet, she said that 'something needs to be done' about fake accounts.

She added: “Why would ANYONE make a fake account of a 6 year old??? Weird.”

The Twitter account is protected and has 36 followers.

Kym, 41, has previously spoken out about the dangers of identities being stolen online, and earlier this year revealed a man had been duped into thinking he was dating her for 10 years when her name and image was used in a 'catfishing' (fake profile) scam.

She also said her eldest daughter Emilie had been used as bait online with more than a dozen fake profiles set up in her name on various social media sites.

Robert Preston and Michelle Connor are in yet more danger! And Corrie’s Tristan Gemmill hints that Robert will turn to the dark side to sort things…

Robert Preston isn’t half paying for his dodgy past and, while it’s bad enough he believes he’s being targeted by low-life drug dealer Rich, he can’t bear the fact that his girlfriend, Michelle Connor, is affected in Coronation Street.

“Robert feels totally responsible for the nightmare that’s unfolding," Tristan Gemmill told Soaplife. “And being the hands-on guy that he is, he decides he has to fix it his way… and it sort of spirals out of control because of that.’

So, Robert believes Rich is responsible for the attacks on the Bistro? “Yes, but Rich has a strong alibi. Robert, though, is convinced Rich is responsible and he can’t get this out of his head.”

Why does Robert offer Chesney Brown £5000? “Robert notices Chesney jump when a plate smashes and he worries Chesney may have psychological scars after the Bistro attack. Adam Barlow’s threatening legal action on Chesney’s behalf, but Robert offers Chesney a pay-off he can’t afford to try to avoid more trouble.”

Michelle offers to bail him out financially. How does he feel about that? “Robert’s independent and he wants to sort out his own problems and he doesn’t want money to get in the way of their relationship. So he goes to the casino. He thinks it helps him unwind, plus he could win some money.”

Does it help him unwind? “No. Michelle [Kym Marsh] is furious when she finds out and they have a big argument. Robert says he got them into this mess and he’ll get them out of it, but this doesn’t hold water. Michelle points out this will count for nothing if the Bistro goes bankrupt because he loses more money. There are some icy moments between them and Michelle insists that from now on they tell each other the truth about everything.”

Then Michelle’s car is vandalised… “Michelle clearly doesn’t know about it, so Robert goes into protection mode and he gets it fixed without telling her. When she finds out, they fall out again. These attacks are starting to unravel Michelle and Robert’s relationship.”

Michelle’s clearly in serious danger… “And Robert will do anything to protect her… We will see just how far he’s prepared to go. This turns out to be quite a significant departure for him.”

Coronation Street, ITV

Michelle Connor is horrified when her boyfriend Robert Preston heads to the casino in a bid to win cash to pay Chesney

Ever since Chesney was stabbed in the Bistro in Coronation Street, life has become a living hell for Robert Preston and his girlfriend Michelle Connor.

The couple have received chilling threats which culminated in the firebombing of the eaterie by a masked vandal. Violent drug dealer Rich has a cast-iron alibi – so does Robert have another arch enemy intent on destroying him? Meanwhile, the besieged bistro owner also has to find cash to pay compensation to Chesney. With the chips down, he decides to risk all at the casino, much to Michelle's dismay. Will Robert's desperate gamble pay off?

Is his recklessness set to cost him both his business and his girlfriend?

Robert is hoping Lady Luck is on his side, but as he starts to gamble, it doesn't look that way!

Finding Robert on a losing streak, Michelle can't hide her disappointment. As she storms off, Robert places one last bet…

Meanwhile, when Robert discovers Michelle's car has been vandalised, he turns to Luke for help…

He's keen to get the car fixed before Michelle realises she's the victim of another sinister act of vandalism

Later, having given Will and Maria a lift into town, Michelle drops into a bar for a drink – and realises she's being watched! Is she in danger? Watch all the drama on Coronation Street from Monday, July 31

The campaign of terror against Michelle Connor and Robert Preston is stepped up in Coronation Street, reveals star Kym Marsh

Michelle Connor thought Robert Preston was a safe, reliable and dependable guy in Coronation Street. How wrong was she?!

“Michelle has been totally taken by surprise since Robert’s admission about his drugs past,” Kym Marsh told Soaplife. “But because he did the right thing and told the police about Rich she has accepted that it is nothing to do with who he is now.” But it seems it is…

Has Robert’s confessions changed Michelle’s feelings for him? “Initially she was furious that he had brought this trouble to their door, but she loves him and she is prepared to accept that he has a past. So does she. For her the fact that he told her is important after Steve lied to her.”

Then someone paints ‘RIP’ on the wall of the Bistro… “And Michelle is terrified, Robert [Tristan Gemmill] has disappeared so she is left to try and clean it off herself. Robert returns having been mugged in town and then someone throws a firebomb at the Bistro. They both start to think that Rich is definitely behind all the problems they have been having. She knows that he is a very dangerous man who knows some very dangerous people so she is scared.”

Can Robert cope? “Robert is really struggling with the fact that he has brought all of these problems to their door. He hates that his past has caught up with him and he can’t cope with the fact that he has put Michelle at risk.”

Is Michelle tempted to leave him? “No – she is determined they will deal with this together. The fact that her first true love, Will, has returned makes no difference to Michelle and she’s happy for him when he starts dating Maria. She is over Steve, too. She loves Robert.”

So Robert is the right man for Michelle? “Before we found out about his shady past I’d say yes, he is exactly what she needs, as he is dependable and wants to take care of her. But looking at it from the outside, I wonder: is he just going to cause her more heartache and grief?”

Will life be looking up for Michelle any time soon? “I think things are going to get a lot worse for Michelle. We’ve filmed some pretty dramatic stuff in the past few weeks so watch this space!”

Coronation Street, ITV

Eva Price uncovers Aidan and Maria's affair - at the same time she thinks she might be pregnant!

It's a dramatic week for many of the Street's residents, especially Eva Price, who has some big news to share with fiance Aidan just as he prepares to say goodbye to her!

Maria thinks Aidan is about to call things off with Eva and they'll finally be together...

But Eva is about to make a shock discovery when the penny drops that Aidan and Maria have been having an affair!

A fuming Eva rushes to confront Maria, but has second thoughts when she sees young Liam by her side

When a guilt-ridden Kevin helps out Dev, there's a definite spark between the mechanic and Erica. But will it turn into a flame?

When Michelle bumps into her ex, Will, she agrees to join him for a catch-up…

Will is sympathetic as he listens to Michelle's recent troubled times with Steve

Will admits to a pang of jealously as Michelle tells him about her new partner, Robert. But will Michelle be tempted to get involved with her ex again?

Phelan keeps his day ahead a secret from Eileen when he sets off for 'work', but suspicious Eileen spots him getting into a car with Nicola...

Phelan is accompanying Seb and Nicola to Liverpool for a talk, but will he tell her the real reason he's trying to get close?

Phelan is on a mission to find out more about unsuspecting Nicola's parents and the likelihood that he's her real dad…

WK26-Coronation-Street-The-Week-In-Pictures12

But as persistent Phelan quizzes unsuspecting Nicola, she becomes uncomfortable and suggests they head home..

Later in the week, Phelan gathers more info on Nicola, but it's not so secret when she walks in to find him snooping on her!

When a concerned Nicola demands an explanation, flustered Phelan blurts out a reason, but will she buy it?

And what will happen if Phelan does turn out to be Nicola's real dad?

Robert's old 'mate' Rich turns up at the Bistro demanding money from the chef

But Robert doesn't take too kindly to the visit and tells Rich to sling his hook! What does his pal want?

After Gemma encourges Chesney to win back Sinead, will the lad be successful or will she be won over by Daniel again?

Tim's fuming after discovering that Gina has sneaked behind his back, but will he find out what else she's done? Watch Coronation Street on ITV from Monday, June 26

Rumours are circulating that Steve McDonald is about to pop the question to Leanne... but will she say yes?

Coronation Street's Steve McDonald is reportedly preparing to pop the question to Leanne Battersby in what could be his seventh wedding ceremony.

According to the Mirror, Steve will attempt to make an honest woman out of Leanne in a bid to give their son Oliver a stable family life.

Leanne is left stunned when Steve pops the question... but will she agree to become Corrie's next Mrs McDonald?

Steve's first wedding was in 1995 to Vicky Arden, but it didn't last.

Next up, Steve tied the knot with Karen Phillips. They split up, but remarried in 2004.

Then he attempted to marry Becky Granger, but she was too drunk to go through with it. They managed to walk down the aisle eventually, but it wasn't long before Steve was single again and fell in love with Tracy Barlow.

Steve and Tracy's marriage was so short-lived it ended at the reception after he found out she had lied about her miscarriage being caused by Becky pushing her.

Fans thought Steve had finally found The One when he married Michelle Connor, played by Kym Marsh, in 2015. But they split after she discovered he’d fathered a baby with Leanne.

Could it be seventh time lucky for Steve?

The Weatherfield favourite, who’s nominated for three awards at this weekend’s ceremony, talks prizes, partying and prosecco – and reveals what she’ll be wearing on the red carpet…

It's been a huge year for Corrie star Kym Marsh, who has moved soap fans to tears with her performance in Michelle Connor's late miscarriage storyline. Kym, who's nominated in three categories at the British Soap Awards – Best Actress, Best Female Dramatic Performance and Scene of the Year – talked to us ahead of the big bash...

Kym, how do you feel about the possibility of doing the treble? "I’m absolutely delighted! To be nominated is brilliant, and to win one would be amazing. To win three would be ridiculous and I’ll probably be very drunk!! But you never know, do you?"

If you were lucky enough to win a trophy, who would you most like to present it to you? "Tom Hardy!"

Have you prepared a speech in case you win, or will you just talk off the cuff? "I can’t talk off the cuff because it would be just awful. Nearer the time, I’ll put something together. The worst part about speeches is missing someone out, so the best thing to do is keep it brief and not mention anyone’s names."

You’ve had a huge reaction to the storyline in which Michelle and Steve lost baby Ruairi. Do you feel proud of your achievements? "Absolutely. I’m really proud of us as a team, actually. We worked so hard; the scripts were phenomenal and the director was really sensitive, as were the crew. When we saw the finished piece, we were blown away. I put everything into it, and I took myself back to places that I had tried so hard to come away from. I wanted to make it as realistic as possible for those people watching, because I know how important that is."

Do fans still approach you about the storyline? "Yes, in fact just the other day someone came up to me about it. And since the storyline aired, I’ve become more involved with baby loss and bereaved parents. I’m an ambassador now for a charity called Saying Goodbye. There are so many people who said they were able to identity with the story, and we know that websites and helplines had a big surge, so we’ve reached out to a lot of people."

It has been another strong year for the soaps – are there any other actors or storylines that you think deserve recognition? "Lucy Fallon has been wonderful in the storyline about Bethany being groomed. Some people have said that it’s difficult to watch, but there’s a reason for that. It’s so realistic and it’s such a huge subject and an important one. And that’s what soaps do – we tell important stories. Should I lose out to Lucy, I’ll be losing to a very worthy winner. And I have to give credit to Emmerdale for their dementia storyline. That has been a big one for me, and Charlotte Bellamy (who plays Laurel) has been wonderful."

It’s 10 years since you last won a soap award – for Best Newcomer. Can you remember much about that night? "Yes, I was ecstatic! Obviously, being new to the show, it was such a thrill. And here I am, 10 years later, with the possibility of winning another award – it’s lovely!"

Where have you put your Best Newcomer trophy? "I think my mum’s nicked it! I’ve got my NTA and she’s got my Soap Award. She’s not having any more though, if I win any this year! Seriously, though, my parents are so supportive. They’ve got so much memorabilia in their house, including my gold discs from when I was in Hear’Say. They’re proper proud."

Can you remember your first ever award? "I do, it was a singing trophy, called The Ken Dodd trophy, for a competition called Joy Time in New Brighton. I was 10 years' old."

Have you chosen your dress for this weekend? I have, yes. I’m usually last minute – ask anyone at Corrie, I’m terrible! But this year, because I’m nominated, I thought I’d better look good! I wore a red dress last year, but this year I’ve gone for something blue. But I don’t want to give anything else away!

Have you ever worn anything at an awards show that you’ve regretted? "Yeah, I’ve worn some terrible things in the past – did you see me in the Hear’Say days? I went to the Brit Awards once, and the record company company got this woman to make a dress for me. She said: 'It’s gonna be amazing!' But I looked like an umbrella! At the Soap Awards, I’ve been OK, though. I go for quite simple things; I’m not one for anything daring or not wearing any knickers!"

>>Find out everything you need to know about the 2017 British Soap Awards here

Who will be your plus-one guest this year? "I’m taking my son, David. I’ve never taken him before because he’s quite shy and doesn’t like cameras, but this year I said 'Do you want to come?' and he said 'Yeah mum, I’d love to.' This was before I knew I was nominated, and now my daughter Emilie, who’s been with me a few times, is gutted. We’re going suit shopping, but David’s on a health kick at the moment, so we’ll leave it to the last minute."

Do you have any friends in other soaps that you’ll catch up with on the night? "Yes, I used to live next door to Duncan James when I lived in Hertfordshire, who’s now in Hollyoaks (playing Ryan Knight) so I'll catch up with him. He used to pop round, and we’d have drinks in each other’s houses. We never sang together though!"

What will be your tipple at the aftershow party? "I like a glass of champagne or prosecco, and I’m partial to a gin and tonic."

Will you be up on the dance floor? "It depends how much prosecco I’ve had! I like music from the 80s and 90s so that will probably get me up."

And will you be partying till the early hours or leaving at a respectable time? "I normally get to a point where I’m like 'Right, it’s time to go home!' Gone are the days where I’m still up at 5 o'clock in the morning. I can’t cope with the hangovers – they’re much worse as you get older!"

The British Soap Awards screen live on ITV at 8pm on Saturday, June 3rd

Trapped Leanne Battersby has to rely on her stepsister Toyah when her waters break in Coronation Street

Given their acrimonious relationship, it's hardly like that Toyah would be the person Leanne would pick as her ideal birth partner in Corrie – especially if she were stuck in a lift at the time.

But the bickering stepsisters have to face exactly that situation when Leanne's waters break at the worst possible moment.

Once the baby arrives, there's another awkward moment to confront when Michelle insists on seeing the new-born – unaware, of course, that her husband Steve is the tot's dad!

Trapped together in a lift at Victoria Court, Leanne and Toyah start to panic when Leanne's waters break!

Trapped together in a lift at Victoria Court, Leanne and Toyah start to panic when Leanne's waters break!

Earlier, Toyah had followed her stepsister into the lift to accuse her of making insensitive remarks

With the lift alarm not working and no phone signal, the situation is looking serious for the pair!

When Leanne's contractions increase, she hangs on to Toyah, while Rana shouts up instructions from the lobby

With the baby having arrived, emotional Michelle is thrilled for Leanne and insists on seeing the tot

Leanne tries to conceal her guilt as Michelle – who recently lost her own baby – gazes at the little boy

It's clearly a difficult moment for Michelle – who is still oblivious to the fact Steve is the dad!

Later, Gail puts on a party at the bistro to celebrate the birth – and it proves unforgettable! Catch all the drama on Coronation Street, ITV, from Monday, February 20

Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) and wife Michelle (Kym Marsh) have been going through tough times of late in Coronation Street and they're no closer to resolving their relationship differences as their problems continue to pile up.

With Michelle deciding to move into Carla's flat to escape the rowing at home, Steve's young daughter, Amy, claims the couple are excluding her, resulting in her fiery mum, Tracy, challenging the pair. An argument ensues as Tracy (Kate Ford) lets rip at Steve and Michelle in the Rovers, resulting in young Amy (Elle Mulvaney) running away...

Will the McDonalds be able to resolve their differences or is this the end for the once-devoted couple?

Amy has had enough of the awful atmosphere at home and Steve and Michelle's constant bickering...

When Tracy finds Amy upset in the Rovers' yard, she confronts Steve and Michelle about her daughter feeling unwanted by them...

But Amy takes flight, unnoticed, as the adults continue to fight among themselves. Will she be OK?

Later, when Steve delivers some of Michelle's belongings to Carla's flat, the couple end up rowing again! Is there no hope for the pair or will they mnage to resolve their differences?

Watch Coronation Street on ITV from Sunday, June 19

Michelle is struggling to fight her feelings for Will on Corrie

WK16-Coro-Has-Michelle-Cheated-On-Steve01

As Michelle and former flame Will's attraction grows, is she about to do wrong by absent hubby Steve and cheat on him?

WK16-Coro-Has-Michelle-Cheated-On-Steve02

Ever since Will came back on the scene, wedding planner Michelle has been fighting her feelings for him

WK16-Coro-Has-Michelle-Cheated-On-Steve03

To make matters worse, it's Michelle's birthday and with Steve still in Spain, Will has invited her to dinner

WK16-Coro-Has-Michelle-Cheated-On-Steve04

As she confesses to Will that she just wants to be with someone who cares for her, the pair get passionate

WK16-Coro-Has-Michelle-Cheated-On-Steve05

Suddenly, Michelle comes to her senses, realising she loves Steve, and she pushes Will away

WK16-Coro-Has-Michelle-Cheated-On-Steve06

When Michelle arrives home, Steve's waiting for her! But will she be able to fight her feelings for Will? Watch Coronation Street on ITV from Monday, April 18

Coronation Street star Kym Marsh reveals her big plans for her big year to Soaplife… And talks about her new fitness programme.

How’s 2016 panning out for you so far?

“Good. I’m still loving Corrie and am definitely there until June, and hopefully beyond that. There are quite a few other things I want to do, too – like trekking to the Everest base camp. It’s also a big year for our family as my son is 21 in April and I’m 40 in June. We’re planning a joint party.”

How do you feel about turning 40?

“It’s the thought of being 40 that’s spurred me on to get fit and reach my goals. I want to be able to look in the mirror and think, ‘You know what? You’re not bad for an old bird!’”

Is that what inspired your Power Sculpt fitness programme?

“I was very clear from the start that I wanted anyone to be able to follow the plan. I wanted to make it accessible to everyone. The programme has two phases – beginner and intermediate – and each phase has an easier option. You can pick and choose, and do as little or as much as you like. It doesn’t say you’ve got to do a certain number, you simply try your best. Do a couple of 20-minute work-outs three or four times a week, and you’ll really start seeing a difference.”

Even if you eat whatever you like?

[Laughs] “If you want to get fit and lose some weight, I’m afraid you can’t just eat what you like. You’ve got to adopt a healthy diet.”

What’s your diet like?

“Pretty good most of the time. I follow a mainly Paleo diet – high protein, low carb – although I do eat good carbohydrates, such as leafy green veg and sweet potatoes. I eat a lot of eggs, vegetables, fish and lean meat. I don’t have much dairy and substitute coconut or almond milk for cow’s milk. I have a cheat day once a week, though. I think you’ve got to do that or you get bored and start feeling deprived.”

And what are your 'cheat' foods?

“Whatever takes my fancy. It might be pizza, might be chocolate... I indulge myself, but don’t go mad. It’s never a good idea to eat your body weight in chocolate!”

Coronation Street, ITV

Steve and Michelle are finally getting hitched in Coronation Street. But little do they know, Steve's treacherous ex Tracy is out to get even with all those she thinks have wronged her!

As an unmissable week of episodes gets underway, Corrie star Kym Marsh opens up about Steve and Michelle's long-awaited big day.

"I loved the wedding dress," says Kym. "I was hugely involved in choosing it. I was very quick in choosing the dress. I wasn't a bridezilla! I think it was the third or fourth dress I tried on. It's hard. You do look at the dresses and think, 'What would I like?' But you have to remember you're not shopping for you, you're shopping for Michelle."

Kym also gives us the scoop on the new Connor cousins moving to the Street later this year (lead by Shayne Ward), the aftermath of Tracy and Tony's attempted takeover of the Rovers... and her cute new canine co-star Cookie, who happens to be Simon Gregson's real-life pet!

"Simon just happened to hear the producers were looking for a Jack Russell to be a part of the show," explains Kym. "They were going to give Steve and Michelle a dog called Rover. So Simon brought Cookie in and she is now Rover. She is just so cute. She is gorgeous… until she breathes in your face! She's got the smelliest breath ever!"

Don't miss the explosive events in Coronation Street, all this week at 9pm on ITV.

Another Coronation Street wedding, another drama. Kym Marsh talks to Soaplife about Tracy’s threat to Steve and Michelle’s happiness...

After all their ups and downs, and trials and tribulations, Michelle Connor and Steve McDonald are ready to wed. “It’s a registry office do because they don’t have much money,” explains Kym. “But as Michelle’s a wedding planner, she’s been able to pull in a few favours. They’ve also done everything themselves, decked out the Rovers so it looks beautiful, and they’re looking forward to it being the happiest day of their lives.” And Tracy’s looking forward to wrecking it…

How excited is Michelle about getting married?

“Things were a bit muted because Michelle and Steve have been worried about their jobs and their home at the Rovers being in jeopardy. When Carla [Alison King] offers to buy Liz’s [Beverley Callard] share of the pub, though, Michelle’s very excited.”

Tracy’s not! Does Michelle have any idea how furious Tracy is?

“Not a clue! But then she has no inkling Tony [Terence Maynard] has been having an affair with Tracy and they’re planning to take over the Rovers. There’s a scene when Carla and Michelle are talking about Carla now part-owning the pub and a fuming Tracy overhears them. She’s shaking with rage, but no one notices.”

Will Tracy (Kate Ford) ruin the wedding?

“If she has her way, she will. She wants revenge and she’s lashing out at everything and everyone.”

Is Tracy’s affair with Tony revealed on Michelle’s wedding day?

“It does come out, but I’m not saying what happens next or how the happy couple react. Sorry!”

Do you want Steve and Michelle to have a happy ever after?

“Simon [Gregson, who plays Steve] always says we’re the Ross and Rachel [from Friends] of Coronation Street and, yeah, I’d like them to stay together now. They’ve been through so much – not just recently but way back – and it would be weird if they didn’t have much of a future.”

Coronation Street, ITV.

Will their big day go without a hitch on Coronation Street?

As Coronation Street’s Steve and Michelle prepare to tie the knot, star Kym Marsh hopes the couple get their happy ending, but she says any mini McDonalds are not on the cards…

Tell us about the big day, KYm…

“It’s at a registry office because Michelle and Steve don’t have much money, and the reception is at The Rovers. But obviously, Michelle being a wedding planner, she’s been able to pull in favours so they’ve done a really nice job. It’s all on a budget, but it looks beautiful. We had such a laugh filming it; it was great fun. But we always do. Me and Simon [Gregson, who plays Steve] are really good mates.”

As the wedding approaches, is Michelle confident that Steve’s recovery is going well?

“Yeah, absolutely. Obviously, when we saw him propose, she was concerned that he’d asked her to marry him when they had all these money problems, but she was just worried about everything. I think she’s absolutely confident that they’re heading in the right direction. She’s very much there for him, and he knows that.”

What is Michelle’s wedding dress like? And does it meet with your approval?

“Well, it’s not what Kym would wear! It’s hard when you go looking at wedding dresses, or any clothes really. You want to buy something that’s ‘you’, but you have to keep in your mind that it’s got to be right for the character. It’s not massively frilly; it’s a bit vintagey.

"It was only the third one I tried on; I was like ‘That’s the one!’ Although I did try it on in a size 18 which was quite amusing! They had to pin it in and say ‘Imagine it in your size!”

Real-life brides normally get in shape before their wedding – did you feel pressure to look good?

“Yeah, I totally did! I had my spray tan. Even though it’s not you and it’s your character, you still don’t want to look horrible in your dress! But I was very busy around that time so I didn’t do as much working out as I would’ve liked.”

Do you feel a sense of anticipation when you film a wedding, even though it’s not real?

“Yeah, you get excited when you’re in make-up and having your hair done. And then you put the dress on and everyone says, ‘Aww, you look gorgeous!'”

Will you and your fiancé, Dan Hooper, watch the wedding together*?

“He probably won’t watch it, but I’ll watch it, definitely. I like to watch when there’s something big going on, whether it’s my storyline or someone else’s. And my children will watch it – although Polly, my four year old, gets really confused. She’ll say ‘Mummy, your name’s not Michelle, is it not?’ She calls Simon ‘the daddy one’. She came into work when I had the fitting and said ‘Why have you got that dress on?’ and I said ‘Cos I’m gonna get married in this.’ She said, ‘You’re getting married to the daddy one?’ I was like,’Yes – but not really...”

Do you want Steve and Michelle to have a happy ever after?

“Simon always says that we’re the Ross and Rachel of Coronation Street. It’d be nice for them to stay together. I think it’d be weird if they didn’t now because they’ve been through so much to get to where they are – not just recently, but over the years with Becky and all the rest of it. But it’s soapland, so you never know, do you?”

Would you like them to still be together in 10 years?

“Yeah, why not? That’d be nice.”

Can you envisage them having kids?

“No, don’t say that! I don’t think that’s ever on the cards. They had the argument about whether he was going to have a vasectomy, and Michelle has made it clear that she doesn’t want to have any more children. Whether they do or not is another matter, but Simon and I both hope that doesn’t happen – we’ve got enough at home.The dog’s enough for now!”

*The interview was held before Dan and Kym announced their temporary split

Coronation Street star Kym Marsh says that win or lose she and co-star Simon Gregson were proud of the way Steve McDonald's depression storyline has played out.

Kym, who plays his soon-to-be wife Michelle, told What's on TV at the British Soap Awards: "I think the best scenes for me were when Steve finally broke down and told Michelle that he had depression. They were, I mean, the subject matter, they were fantastic. "]

"But the funniest scenes for me and Steve were when he turned up to pick her up and she found him sat in his car and she threatened to pull the wing mirrors off that stupid little car he was in. She was like pulling them! We had such a laugh."

Kym continued: "But that storyline was major. For a comedy couple to do such a serious subject matter was massive, so hopefully we did it justice. So if we don't win tonight we're proud of it anyway."

Kym and Simon were nominated for Best Storyline at the awards, but lost out to EastEnders and its Who Killed Lucy? plot.

She was accompanied to the awards with her teenage daughter, Emily.

The British Soap Awards screen on ITV on Thursday, May 21.

The landladies and barmaids of the boozer on the corner of Rosamund and Coronation Streets, AKA the Rovers Return, have always held an iconic place on the long-running soap, an honour which Sarah Platt  (Tina O'Brien) is about to share.

Sarah does a big sell on Rovers co-owner Steve McDonald and earns herself a spot pulling pints behind the bar next week. It's a hallowed place, one that not everyone is fit to share (remember Eileen Grimshaw's unfortunate stint?) But if you've got a way with the punters and can hold your own when things get heated, a woman can ascend to true legend status if they play it right.

To mark Sarah's debut in the Rovers, our in-house soap obsessives Matt and Ellen have cast an eye back over 60 years of life in Britain's most famous pub and chosen their top 10 barmaids.

Watch Corrie's top 10 barmaids video, above, and let us know if you agree or disagree.

Coronation Street star Kym Marsh tells Soaplife how Michelle worried that Steve’s unpaid tax bill for thousands of pounds will set back his recovery...

How does Michelle find these letters from the taxman?

“Michelle’s having a clear-out at the pub when she finds some unopened letters addressed to Steve [Simon Gregson] from the tax office, saying Steve owes £10,700 in unpaid tax. It seems he’s been ignoring the letters for months.”

Is Michelle angry?

“No. She knows that Steve was ignoring his mail and pretty much everything else because he was ill – and still is. You don’t instantly recover from depression. In fact, Michelle’s worried that all the progress Steve’s made over the past few months will have been in vain.”

So why does she tell him about it?

“She has to. But before she says anything to Steve, she tells Liz [Beverley Callard], who checks with the tax office that the bill is correct. Then Michelle breaks the news to Steve. Mortified, he admits he hid the letters away at the height of his problems and forgot about them. Michelle’s worried when Steve then promises to fix things.”

Why?

“Because she doesn’t know what Steve might do! He’s still very vulnerable, quite unpredictable and not like his old self. This just might tip him over the edge.”

Coronation Street, ITV. 

Coronation Street’s Kym Marsh reveals to Soaplife how Michelle falls out with Liz over Steve...

Michelle and Liz have always been good mates, but they really don’t see eye-eye about how to help Steve deal with his depression. “Mum and girlfriend both want to help Steve because they love him so much and are so worried about him, but while Liz prefers the tough love approach, Michelle prefers treading softly,” says Kym.

What does Michelle think of Liz’s tough love approach to Steve?

“Michelle’s very protective of Steve [Simon Gregson] – especially since the minibus crash. She also feels a bit guilty that she didn’t pick up on the fact he has been depressed. She feels they should go easy on him, but Liz [Beverley Callard] thinks they should start making him do things.” 

Then Liz criticises Michelle for dating Hamish…

“And that’s upsetting for Michelle. Liz is having a go at her about how she tried to move on, but it was Steve who dumped her! They now know why he did it but, at the time, Michelle felt unloved and rejected. I think at the point Liz has a go at Michelle for dating Hamish [James Redmond], both are exhausted and have so much going on they are at each other’s throats. Michelle defends herself, telling Liz that Hamish made her feel wanted and that’s what she really needed at the time.”

And Steve overhears her. How does he feel?

“He feels dejected, as though he’s let Michelle down and that she’s better off without him. He slopes off to Streetcars and later tells Michelle she’d be better off leaving him.”

How does Michelle react?

“It breaks her heart because it couldn’t be further from the truth. Michelle does everything she can to persuade him that he’s wrong. She wants to do everything she can to help him get better.”

Making up with Liz would be a good start, wouldn’t it?

“Of course and both women realise they shouldn’t be arguing – that they’re extremely stressed because they’re worried and there’s so much going on. They come to the conclusion that no matter how different their approach to helping Steve, ultimately they both want the best for him.”

So Michelle’s going to stand by Steve?

“She will do everything in her power to help him and will stand by him through thick and thin. She’s going to be with Steve every step of the way.”

Coronation Street, ITV. Click here for dates and times.

Coronation Street’s Kym Marsh tells Soaplife how Michelle’s hopes of rekindling her romance with Steve are dealt a bitter blow

How does Michelle cope with Steve’s behaviour over Christmas?

“She doesn’t really, she’s upset and confused. Michelle really doesn’t know where she stands with Steve on the run up to Christmas and then his behaviour on Christmas Day really hurts her. Steve [Simon Gregson] throws all of his efforts into making it the best Christmas ever for Amy and invites Michelle to a big party for the family. Then he asks her to go upstairs with him and she hopes that this is a sign of him wanting them to rekindle things. As they are throwing the fake snow for Amy out of the window Michelle gets all nostalgic and goes in for a kiss, but he knocks her back. She’s hurt and humiliated by his behaviour towards her and she’s really not coping well at all.”

Does she realise that it’s a mental health problem at this stage?

“Gosh, no! Michelle has no idea that Steve’s got a mental health problem because he hasn’t told her. She just knows he’s been pushing her away. She has absolutely no clue that the reason he’s been doing that is because he’s suffering from depression. Michelle just thinks he doesn’t love her any more. She feels completely rejected and confused. She’s still in love with Steve so she’s really upset.”

What does Steve overhear her saying to Tony?

“A lot happens over Christmas that makes Michelle think she really has to accept that they’re over. She’s trying to talk herself into moving on so I think she feels she needs to vocalise it to someone so that it feels real and she can hear herself say it out loud. She tells Tony [Terence Maynard] that she’s moving on and that Steve’s her past.”

Does she mean it?

“She means it when she says it to Tony … Whether her heart wants to or is ready to is another story. She’s saying it to convince herself more than anyone else. In Michelle’s mind Steve couldn’t make it any clearer that he doesn’t want her so she knows she has to move on and move forward with her life.”

We’ve heard Michelle’s going to get a new bloke...

“Yes, she kind of doesn’t want to move on, but she thinks there’s no hope for her and Steve. When a nice man comes along everyone encourages her to go for it, but how ready she’ll be is another story…”

Coronation Street, ITV. Click here for dates and times.

Kym Marsh has filed for divorce from her husband of one year, EastEnders actor Jamie Lomas.

The Coronation Street star has started divorce proceedings citing her husband's unreasonable behaviour, according to the Daily Mirror.

Kym, who plays Michelle Connor in Coronation Street, reportedly moved out of her family home and in with her parents in Runcorn, Cheshire, while Jamie is thought not to have been home since.

The couple have a two-year-old daughter, Polly, and Kym has son a David, 18, and a daughter Emily, 15, from a previous relationship.

Kym married to another EastEnders actor, Jack Ryder, in 2002, but divorced him in 2009 after admitting an affair with Jamie. Jack said he only discovered the affair four months after he split from Kym.

Coronation Street favourites Alison King and Kym Lomas tell TV Times magazine what makes Carla and Michelle – or ‘Carchelle’ as the fans have dubbed them – so close….

What makes Michelle and Carla such a successful team?

Alison: "Michelle is super efficient and always has Carla’s back and Carla has the ability to deal with three things at once. The fact that they care about one another so much, underlines it all."

Kym: "They have got history. People forget that Carla was married to Michelle’s older brother. They grew up together and know each other inside out, Because of that; they are able to offer the right support when the other needs it. They would annihilate anyone who tried to hurt the other."

We hear viewers love them as a team...

Alison: "Yes, there is this fansite where they call us Carchelle. I don’t do Twitter, but Kym does and she shows me what people are saying. It’s hilarious."

Kym: "They want Carla and Michelle to get together sexually. I put this picture of Alison and I up on Twitter and called it Carchelle and they went mad. I can’t imagine Michelle and Carla getting together. It would be the cheesiest thing going. I said to Alison that if it ever happens, it would have to be a one-off because that would just be too weird."

What do Carla and Michelle make of the feud between Rob and Peter?

Alison: "They want their heads banging together those two. It is exhausting for Carla and it hurts her. She goes round and round in circles with them. She thought that bringing Rob into the bookies would spark a friendship, but it is not to be."

Kym: "Michelle likes it because she hates Rob so much. He stitched her up and tried to get her out of the way and she hasn’t forgiven him. She loves the fact that they have fallen out and would back Peter any time."

What is their take on the mess Peter is making with the bookies?

Alison: "Carla hasn’t really got her eye on the ball. She has dealt with her brother and is finally on top of the factory and the last thing she expects is for Peter to be in such financial trouble. When he tells her about the ‘competitive’ odds he is going to offer people, she doesn’t really understand it. Carla is desperate to put Peter on a pedestal, but he is not scrambling onto it!"

Kym: "When Steve tells Michelle about Peter’s scheme to offer silly odds; she is shocked and tries to tell Carla. She doesn’t want Carla to be made a fool of and she is worried that the factory might get dragged down because there is a danger of Peter losing everything."

Would you want to be a businesswoman in real life?

Alison: "No, it’s my worst nightmare. I am not good with figures. I was the total non-academic artistic type at school. Being a businesswoman would frighten the living daylights out of me."

Kym: "I have just gone into a business partnership with my husband, actor Jamie Lomas and a couple who run Entertainment Today in Manchester. We are providing celebrities for personal appearances and I am very excited about it. We had a big launch a couple of weeks back and have been inundated with calls."

Do you two enjoying working with one another?

Alison: "We are really close mates and we laugh all day in that factory office. We call each other ‘mummy’ at work because we have each other’s back. Kym has become one of my best friends and I think the chemistry between us, is evident between Carla and Michelle."

Kym: "I love working with Alison – she’s mental! We know each other inside out and we’re very silly together."

Do you see each other outside of work?

Alison: "We meet up a lot and this year, we are going on holiday together for the first time. Kym and I have been through a lot together and that’s brought us closer."

Kym: "It’s going to be a great holiday as Alison and I like the same things and always have a giggle. My son David, who is 18 and daughter Emily, 15, are coming too. David wanted to have a last holiday with me, but knew that if my youngest Polly came, my attention would be on her because she is only two. Alison is coming on her own and Jamie is looking after Polly, so we’ll get some grown-up time. We can sit around and do nothing. I can’t wait."

What is Alison/Kym’s most annoying habit?

Alison: "She is always making me laugh. When I go wrong, she can’t help but laugh. I can’t think of anything annoying – Kym is always talking about her family, but I love that. She is really family orientated and is the sort of person who can cheer you up in a second."

Kym: "She doesn’t have any. She has some funny habits. When she gets a line wrong, she does a funny giggle whereas I just swear. Once, she had to say the line ‘I do business with loads of blokes’ and she kept saying ‘I do loads of blokes.’ She kept saying it and we were crying with laughter."