Luca Toolan, who plays Mason, has opened up about his character’s gripping new storyline on Coronation Street, revealing the challenges and depth of the plot that sees Mason at the centre of a shocking stabbing. Luca shared his reaction to the storyline.
‘When I first heard about the stabbing, I was really taken aback,’ said Luca. ‘Mason’s always been on the other end of things, so I’d have expected him to be the attacker, not the victim. But from an actor’s perspective, it’s been such a juicy storyline, and I’ve had incredible support, including working with The Ben Kinsella Trust.’
Luca emphasised the importance of soaps tackling hard-hitting issues: ‘Corrie has such a powerful effect on its audience. If this storyline makes even one person drop a knife and saves a life, it’s worth it.’
Mason’s character arc has been a rollercoaster, and he’s risking everything to bring his brothers, Matty and Logan, to justice for Becky’s death. ‘It’s all for Betsy,’ Luca explained. ‘It’s an act of love, a way to show her he’s changed and that he’s not like them. Mason wants to undo the wrongs he’s been part of.’
There’s also a softer side emerging as Mason apologises to Liam for his past bullying. ‘Mason is trying to put all his wrongs right. Stu’s offered him a fresh start as a trainee chef in Germany, but he wants to clear his conscience first,’ Luca revealed. However, when asked if he hopes Mason will take the opportunity, Luca said, ‘Hell no! Living with Sally and Tim is the pinnacle of existence on Corrie, isn’t it? Mason’s built relationships with them and Betsy, so he’d be sad to leave that behind.’
Having Lisa in his corner has bolstered Mason’s confidence. ‘Anyone with Lisa in their corner is going to have a spring in their step! But Mason has also had enough of his brothers and is ready to fight back.’
Discussing the shift in Mason’s character, Luca said: ‘It’s been ace to show his softer side and build relationships. Interacting with Sally Dynevor and Vicky Myers has been incredible – they’ve mentored me so much.’
In a pivotal moment, Mason discovers a WWII helmet in his brothers’ flat, which connects them to Becky’s murder. ‘That helmet pins them to the crime. It’s a huge turning point for Mason.’
Filming the stabbing scene was intense. ‘We wanted it to feel as realistic as possible, like the Saving Private Ryan scene. I did a lot of research, even reading about what it feels like to get stabbed – it’s more about shock than pain. Everyone on set was incredible, from the director to the makeup team. It was the best two weeks of my career.’
Coronation Street continues tonight on ITV1
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