Joe Layton and Farrel Hegarty, and their characters, Mick and Lou, are set to shake things up in Weatherfield. Coronation Street caught up with them to talk about their journey to the cobbles, their roles, and what viewers can expect.
Initially arriving on her own on the 12th February, Lou (Farrel Hegarty) immediately sparks up a friendship with Gemma (Dolly-Rose Campbell) as they recognise each other from Bessie Street School, where Gemma’s quads and Lou’s two young daughters attend. When Mick (Joe Layton) appears on 14th February, the audience will be shocked to realise his true identity – the man with the silver van who has been harassing Chesney (Sam Aston), who is none the wiser to who Mick really is.
Joe couldn’t be happier to be part of the iconic soap: ‘I absolutely love it! Everyone’s really welcoming. It really is everything I’d hoped it would be.’ He recalls the moment he found out he got the role, saying, ‘I was at my sister’s house because I’m actually in the process of moving. My agent called me, I was so buzzing, and my sister heard the call and was like, “You got it?” I said, “I got it!”‘
Speaking about the challenges of soap acting, Joe admits, ‘Something I hadn’t quite been prepared for was the pace of shooting. There’s a degree of snobbery in the industry towards soaps, but after working here, I think every actor should experience it at some stage. We’re shooting twelve scripts, out of chronological order, with three different directors, every two weeks – it’s a real challenge but an amazing opportunity.’
On playing Mick, Joe is thrilled to explore a darker character: ‘I really enjoy playing what people would refer to as a baddie or a villain. When you’re playing a character, a part of you has got to love them and understand them. I always think, “Why is he the way he is?” That’s the fun of it.’And as for Mick’s big reveal as Chesney’s tormentor? ‘I think the audience will be shocked to realise it’s been Mick all along. From what I’ve seen, no one knew what was happening with the man with the silver van! It’s been fun keeping that under wraps.’Describing Mick in three words, Joe says: ‘Impulsive, hot-headed, and unpredictable.’
Farrel is just as excited about her arrival in Weatherfield, especially since she gets to debut alongside Joe: ‘It’s been so much fun! We definitely hit the ground running, and it’s so nice to come in as a duo – it’s like having a partner in crime there.’
Landing the role was a wild experience for her: ‘I went in for the screen test, and it was quite a heavy scene. I got to throw a sandwich at Joe, which I threw at his face – I think it was a spam sandwich! I remember thinking, “People get to call throwing a sandwich at someone’s face work?!”‘
Her reaction to getting the part was emotional: ‘I was working in a studio at the time, surrounded by 20 people who were all waiting for the news with me. When I found out, I was crying – I’ve never physically shaken that much in my life.’
As for Lou, she’s going to be a force to be reckoned with. ‘Lou is definitely an exciting character to play because she’s got good and bad parts to her. She’s a life force, full of beans, and she likes to make waves and cause chaos. But she also has a strong family loyalty, especially with Mick – they are thick as thieves and will stick up for each other, even when they probably shouldn’t.’
Lou also forms a surprising friendship with Gemma, despite knowing about Mick’s past behaviour. ‘Lou is irritated by Mick harassing Chesney and even tells him to let it go. She’s genuinely trying to make friends, but I don’t think she realises the problem is probably her…’
Describing Lou in three words, Farrel says: ‘Irrational, gobby, and fiery – but also loyal!’
Coronation Street continues Monday at 8pm on ITV1
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