Coronation Street spoilers follow.
Coronation Street star Sally Carman has revealed the future of Abi Webster's baby storyline in a big new interview.
Sunday night's episode ended with a shock cliffhanger, as Abi realised she was pregnant and experiencing contractions after being abandoned at the side of the road by her dodgy friend Dean Turnbull.
In upcoming scenes, Abi manages to get herself to the hospital, where she gives birth to a baby boy. However, she quickly decides that she'd be an unfit mum to the new arrival and does a runner back to the cobbles, abandoning her son.
Sally recently spoke to Digital Spy and other media about what's ahead.
What is going through Abi's mind at this point?
"This is the brilliant thing about Abi. For all of the life knocks she's received, she's such a fighter. Because she's got such a big heart, if there's a grain of hope or a crack of light, she will fight for it.
"In this instance, where Abi is on the side of the road, she's got two choices. It doesn't occur to her to just lie down and say 'Okay, this is it'. She instantly goes into 'fight or flight' mode. She knows that she needs to get to the hospital."
We find out that Abi is six months pregnant. Why hadn't she noticed the signs?
"There weren't any. Abi thought she was pregnant a few months ago after not having a period for a while, but then she had her period and thought that she wasn't pregnant after all.
"There was other stuff going on at the time, as Abi was getting her relationship with Kevin back on track. That preoccupied her and it didn't even occur to her that there could be a pregnancy.
"Since then, Abi has been having her periods. She didn't put weight on particularly, so there were just no signs."
Can you tell us what happens when Abi arrives at the hospital?
"Abi gives a false name, because she's full of shame. She's also massively in shock and she's not thinking straight, so she goes to what she knows. When her back's up against the wall, she panics. She's still high on drugs, so she's also worried that the hospital could call the police on her.
"Abi is also completely terrified over what might happen to the baby, because she's only six months pregnant."
Abi gives birth to a little boy, but then she does a runner. Why does she leave the hospital?
"For the same reasons that she gave up the twins – she doesn't believe that she can look after him properly. From her point of view, she has already failed this baby by wrecking the start of his life. In her head, she's got nothing to offer him.
"Abi thinks that the baby has probably been born too soon because of the drugs she's been taking. She has no home anymore and no relationship. So what can she possibly do for this child, other than give him a chance by giving him up?"
Does Abi have a plan when she returns to Weatherfield?
"Abi goes back to Weatherfield because she's in such denial. She thinks she can shut that down and get away with it by just carrying on with what she was doing before. She's clearly not thinking straight.
"Abi is in a really bad way emotionally, mentally and physically, so she's not in her right mind."
At this point, is there any part of Abi that wants to be a mother to this child?
"No, because she doesn't feel it's an option. There's no point. She doesn't want that, she can't deal with that, and she doesn't feel she has anything to offer.
"Abi thinks it's already been proven three times that she hasn't got it in her to open her heart in that way. It's a complete no-go for her at the moment."
We do see Abi meet her child properly for the first time later in the week. How does that make her feel?
"This is why Abi is so brilliant – regardless of everything in her life telling her to just forget it because she's not going to succeed, her heart instantly opens to this child. It's not even in her control – straight away she loves him."
Does Abi name her son?
"Yes, she calls him Alfie, after Seb's favourite teddy bear."
Abi confirms to Imran that he is the father of the baby. Does she want him involved?
"Abi only admits it because she's made to. I think she would happily have nothing to do with him or Toyah. She even tells Imran that she doesn't want anything from him and she'll never tell Toyah. She doesn't want Imran involved at this point at all.
"There's huge guilt with regards to Toyah, who has really helped Abi recently. There haven't been many people like that, who go the extra mile for her. She's blown away by Toyah's kindness and generosity. That becomes a massive part of all this – and it's a big problem."
We see Toyah persuade Imran to give Abi legal advice, as Abi wants to prove that she can be a good mum to the baby. How does Abi feel about Toyah and Imran's involvement?
"It's really difficult, because she actually did try to push Toyah away. Toyah sees the opportunity to help Abi and recognises that she really needs that help.
"Eventually Abi lets her in, but it's just horrendous because the more she trusts and bonds with Toyah, the harder it is to admit any of this. It's a mess.
"Abi is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Is it in her best interests to tell Toyah, or is it not? Not telling her is done for all the right reasons, but of course they're not the right reasons. And obviously it's going to come out..."
In an ideal world, would Abi want to raise the baby and keep Imran out of it?
"I think in an ideal world, she'd love that. She'd love it to just be her and Alfie. They could start afresh. She could prove to herself that she can be a good mum and provide a loving, safe environment – and right a lot of wrongs through doing that.
"I don't think Abi wants Imran involved in any way, but she's utterly grateful that he's helping her to keep Alfie, because on paper, it doesn't look good and it's very unlikely.
"But the more Imran helps out, she realises that he does have her and Alfie's best interests at heart, so she's open to him being involved."
Does Abi think that Kevin will ever forgive her for cheating on him?
"I think the idea of that is definitely there, but Abi has to put it on the back burner because it's too painful. She thinks if she can prove herself as a good mum to this baby and Kevin can witness that, then it might open the possibility of them having a family unit.
"Abi absolutely adores Kevin and Jack. She knows love never dies and those feelings haven't gone away. But she knows it's too early for that, so she's totally focused on Alfie."
How did you feel about taking on this story?
"I had a chat with [Corrie producer] Iain MacLeod and he didn't come up for breath. He was speaking for about 40 minutes. He was saying 'and then this happens, and then this happens'. My jaw was falling further to the floor.
"I think I said about two words and they were 'thank you'. I thought it was amazing. It's awesome. I can't quite believe that I get to do another brilliant storyline. I was so grateful."
When did you find out about the story?
"I didn't know about the storyline when the one-night stand happened. I didn't even know about the one-night stand, because it happened off screen and wasn't filmed.
"It wasn't until much later that I found out, but I love that. I really don't mind not knowing. I like it to unfold at the last minute, as it would for Abi. As long as I know my lines, I'm not bothered!
"Even when Abi thought she might be pregnant a few months ago, I didn't know it would go this way. I thought she wasn't pregnant. I didn't know anything, so I was playing it out in real time. For me that worked. Plus I can't hold my own water, so it's best that I don't know!"
Did you ever expect things to go this way for Abi?
"No, I couldn't envisage any of the stories I've had, to be honest. It's brilliant because it's the extremes. They're so brilliant to play.
"We've been on the hospital set doing ten scenes a day, but they all flow into one. You really got to work those acting muscles. At the end of the day you're tired but you're like: 'This is the best job in the world'."
Would you like Abi to find happiness?
"I want a bit of everything. Abi has to find happiness, because no human being can go through all that and not find happiness.
"It might not last forever. It might be a small window of happiness, which I'm happy with, but there has to be. I think she will and I'm hopeful she will, but that just preps her up for when it all goes wrong again… which I hope it does!"
Can Abi find the focus she needs to be a good mum?
"She just needs a breather. If she's given enough time and support to get her life back on track, she's got every chance of doing that… up to a point!"
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV.
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Daniel has been writing about soaps on Digital Spy since 2004 and took over as Soaps Editor in 2010.
He has interviewed hundreds of soap stars over the years, from Bill Roache to Lacey Turner, and regularly visits the sets of Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks for behind-the-scenes trips and press events.
He has served as an awards judge on numerous occasions for the likes of the BAFTA TV Awards, RTS Programme Awards and British Soap Awards. In 2020, he was Highly Commended for Best Section Editor at the BSME Awards.
