Corrie's Kate Ford: 'I love watching crime programmes'
TRACY BARLOW'S secret affair is finally discovered this week. Actress Kate Ford tells us what’s next for her trouble-making alter ego…
You would imagine Kate Ford might crave some peace and quiet when she gets home from work, to escape the drama of playing Coronation Street troublemaker Tracy Barlow.
Yet the 37 year old has an unusual way of switching off after a week of filming – she watches real-life crime and murder stories on television.
“That’s one of the things I like to do in the evening – pour a glass of wine and watch crime programmes,” says Kate. “I love television and I unwind by watching the Crime and Investigation channel!”
Tracy is horrified that Todd knows about the affair
Meanwhile on Coronation Street, Tracy is about to find herself under investigation, when Todd Grimshaw (Bruno Langley) discovers the truth about her secret affair with Liz McDonald’s boyfriend Tony Stewart (Terence Maynard).
Working alongside Tracy in her shop Barlow’s Buys, suspicious Todd is in prime position to catch his boss out. And when he does, he’s determined to make the most of it.
The affair is uncovered this week when Tony drops his wallet after he and Tracy enjoy a secret afternoon liaison.
When he calls in the shop later, Tracy surreptitiously hands it back and they share a brief kiss, but Todd witnesses the exchange.
“Tracy is horrified that Todd knows about the affair,” says Kate. “But she’s forged a bit of a friendship with him and thinks he might be excited by it.
“But then he starts indicating he needs a pay rise, so he uses the knowledge to his advantage, which annoys her. He says, ‘Oh, it would be awful if Liz found out,’ so she knows exactly what he’s doing.”
At the same time, Tracy is hell-bent on causing trouble of her own, between Tony and unsuspecting Liz (Beverley Callard).
When Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) needs to visit the doctor this week, his mum, Liz, insists Tony steps in and helps her out behind the bar.
When she later surprises Tony with a lovely meal, he’s further put out as it becomes clear she’s simply buttering him up. Liz wants him to finance Steve’s wedding to his girlfriend, Michelle.
Fuming Tony begins to feel he’s being exploited and when Tracy adds fuel to the fire he starts to fume. “Tracy puts the idea into Tony’s head that they’re using him like a bank, and the more she says it, the more he starts to notice it,” says Kate.
Thankfully, Kate’s life is considerably calmer than Tracy’s. Home is south London, where she lives with her six year-old son, Otis. Kate is a world apart from her on-screen character.
“I think after the heartbreak of losing Rob, this affair has made Tracy feel alive again, so she’s just thrown herself into it,” Kate says of her feisty alter ego. “She totally fancies him!”
Coronation Street, Monday, 7.30pm, ITV
