Coronation Street star Lorna Laidlaw has revealed why her character Aggie Bailey disappeared from screens for a while.
For a few months earlier this year, fans only saw Aggie occasionally appear in video calls to her family. She went off screens right in the middle of the Bailey family's huge storyline which focused on Aggie's past with Ronnie (Vinta Morgan).
Many actors who were at higher risk of getting really poorly with coronavirus were not seen on screens, but Lorna's reason to stay away from the set was actually to protect her vulnerable mum who was shielding.
The soap cleverly disguised Lorna's absence by having Aggie isolate between shifts at the hospital.
The actress said it was her suggestion to Corrie to have her appear on the Cobbles via WhatsApp, which she was "pleased" about, but she says it feels great to be back for real.
"It feels great, though I was pleased to dial into the Street via Aggie's video calls," she told Inside Soap.
"I was supposed to be in these scenes but I was shielding and protecting my mum, so I said to Corrie, 'Why don't we just do them over WhatsApp?'
Related: Coronation Street's Grace Vickers blackmails the Baileys as Michael leaves her devastated
"I did my own make-up and dressed my home to look like a hotel, as Aggie was meant to be isolating following her shifts at the hospital. Some days it was really hot, so I was wearing my nurse uniform on top of a pair of shorts and flip-flops, as no one was going to see them. That's how we roll, my friend."
Upcoming episodes will see Aggie and her husband Ed at the centre of a blackmail storyline when Grace Vickers threatens them after their son Michael breaks up with her.
Since Grace (Kate Spencer) and Michael (Ryan Russell) have recently got back together after co-parenting baby Glory. Michael has since regretted the decision and Grace is left angry and heartbroken.
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm.
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Tasha is a freelance writer for with a particular interest in the representation of women in film and TV. After graduating with a Literature degree then journalism qualifications with News Associates a few years further back than she’d like to admit, Tasha began her freelance career. She’s worked as a writer, editor and commissioning editor for a number of publications including Digital Spy. She is also a theatre critic. LinkedIn
