Coronation Street spoilers follow.

Coronation Street's Emma Brooker and Curtis Delamere's romance hasn't got off to the easiest of starts, as Emma continues to deal with the revelation that Curtis has an incurable heart condition.

Although Curtis' (Sam Retford) condition means that he could have a "totally normal lifespan", there is also a risk that his life could be cut short and his collapse in the Bistro last week has intensified all of Emma's worries about her new boyfriend's health.

Actress Alexandra Mardell, who plays Emma, has told Inside Soap that although Emma and Curtis' relationship may have looked like a fairytale romance since the moment he first came to her rescue at the Rovers, they aren't going to have a smooth ride.

emma brooker and curtis delamere in coronation street
ITV

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"Curtis is Emma's Prince Charming, so she's made the decision to keep going in the hope that love will conquer all," she said. "Emma and Curtis are perfect for each other – he's calm, intelligent and charming, and he even gets on with her dad!

"Whereas Emma is very ditzy and all over the place, so they balance each other out. He's exactly what Emma would have imagined in her fairy tale."

But following Curtis' most recent collapse, and Emma all too aware of his fears about his health, things are starting to get more difficult for the couple as Emma tries to put a brave face on things.

"Emma's been putting on a show, because she initially told Curtis that she could deal with this," Alexandra said. "In front of him she wants to be as strong as possible so she can support him, but inside, she's distraught."

curtis delamere and emma brooker in coronation street
ITV

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This week, Emma will panic when Curtis fails to show up for their arranged date, worrying that he might have fallen ill again. So, she and her dad Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) are furious when they find Curtis drunk in the Rovers instead.

Apologetic Curtis explains that he is struggling to cope with the lack of information he has about his illness, saying that not having a diagnosis is driving him mad, and Emma is sympathetic to his feelings – although, as Alexandra says, that doesn't mean that she is finding the situation easy.

"Emma wants a man who can look after her, but in truth, she'll always be looking after him. It's just too much for her to cope with," she said.

coronation street's emma is sad
ITV

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But can Emma and Curtis go the distance in the face of his health uncertainties? Alexandra says she isn't yet sure which way things are going to go in the long term.

"It's fair to say that Emma's not necessarily been lucky in love this time round either. This situation is going to get really, really complicated for both her and Curtis," she said.

"Emma is really compassionate and empathetic, but this is going to test her much more than she ever anticipated..."

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm.


Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage.

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Susannah Alexander

Reporter & Sub-Editor, Digital Spy Susannah is a freelance writer and sub-editor, specialising in the entertainment industry. She graduated in 2014, with a BA in English and American Literature and Creative Writing, and an MA in Creative Producing.  She’s been writing for Digital Spy ever since, after first getting involved through work experience, and has written hundreds of stories for the site on a range of topics, from The Sims to Doctor Who.  Susannah has also written for Reveal Magazine.  Her special interests are soaps (her Mastermind subject would be 2000s Coronation Street), Marvel and Star Wars. She can also quote far too many lines from Friends and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.