Christmas was always going to be difficult for Corrie's Abi this year after the loss of Seb, but can a special gift bring a glimmer of happiness? Actress Sally Carman shares a glint of what is in store for Abi this festive season.
How is Abi feeling about Kelly as she and Kevin get back from their honeymoon?
She is on cloud nine, the honeymoon was just what she needed to enjoy being with Kevin and she is feeling so loved up. So when she gets back and realises that Kelly has actually moved onto the street it absolutely blows her mind, of all the streets in all the towns she has decided to live on this same one as the mother of the person she was involved in the death of.
Is there any part of her at this stage that has any sympathy for Kelly?
No, she feels very strongly that Kelly started the ball rolling and if she hadn't done what she did then none of it would have happened. She can't bear to think about her, never mind see her, so she is in no position to feel anything other than hatred. She is relieved when Kelly says she is going to move away, she wants her out of sight and mind.
How is she feeling about her first Christmas without Seb?
She has a choice and this is when Abi really gets it together, despite everything else that happens to her in her life she manages to always pull herself up from her boots when she really really needs to. She thinks that she can either wallow in the loss of Seb and not having her other children, or she can really make this Christmas special for the child she has got, which is Jack and make it special for her husband and new family. So that is what she does, she throws herself into it completely.
Do you like that she has these two extremes?
Yes! She is all or nothing, one extreme to the other. She doesn't really have the grey areas in her heart; she is either all love or all hate. She lacks that emotional maturity and because she has literally had to fight for everything in her life whether it be a positive or a negative situation she just throws 100% at it. I get to play the unhinged off the rails part of her but she then gets to redeem herself because she is mortified and disgusted by what she has done. That is why the audience forgives her, they are frustrated with her, they feel her frustration with herself. There is no intentional harm in her. The people she is truly nasty to are people who are not nice, or herself.
What can you tell us about the surprise Christmas present she gets?
Christmas day is tricky for her. She is not allowing herself to think about anything other than Jack. She doesn't have the emotional space to think about what might have been. She pushes all of those thoughts out of her head and concentrates on making new memories with Jack and Kevin. She has the meltdown over the turkey and she is starting to feel useless again, Kevin is being gorgeous and says they can have beans on toast, none of it matters and then there is a knock at the door. She doesn’t want to see anyone but Kevin goes to the door and returns with a present for her. And what is more, it is a present that Seb arranged before he died and that Kevin has seen through and organised. For once Abi is lost for words and can’t believe that Seb has sent this present from the grave.
Abi's happiness doesn't last long - what happens?
She was in such a lovely place after Christmas Day but when she goes to the memorial garden and sees some flowers from Kelly, it is too much for her to deal with. She still feels much too raw and Kelly is getting the brunt of her grief and anger. She goes to the Alahans where Kelly is staying and throws the flowers at her and tells her she doesn't want her around. She can't deal with the fact she is on the street but also the fact that Kelly has been given the chance to live the life that Seb had taken away from him.
What happens at the Narcotics Anonymous group?
Abi is finding it difficult and she is really struggling with the whole situation so she realises she needs to get some support in place to stop her from going off the rails completely. She goes to the NA meeting and she turns around and sees that Kelly is there and she is furious! She sits down and Kelly starts speaking and everything that Kelly says just mirrors Abi’s life. Abandoned by her parents, made to feel unlovable, feeling like she has always done everything wrong, taking drugs to block out the reality and it is impossible for Abi to ignore that. It really tugs on her heart because she has been there and she recognises it and she knows the pain and the mistakes you can make from being in pain. At the end of the meeting she says a little about how she is feeling and she talks about the fact that no one should be in that position not any child and she looks at Kelly to let her know she understands as she has been through it too. It is a moment of understanding and a truce of sorts.
