Coronation Street fans should prepare to be stunned by a forthcoming cobbles romance, one of the soap’s stars has said.
Faye Brooks, who plays Kate Connor, revealed that her character had a new love on the horizon – but that viewers would never guess who it was and may not like the pairing.
Kate is Sophie Webster’s (Brooke Vincent) ex-girlfriend and is set for a fresh relationship in the coming months as she deals with her father’s MS diagnosis.
Faye told The Sun: “There’s love coming her way, which I think she so rightly deserves after what she’s going through but it’s completely unexpected.
“I’m thrilled about it.
“I don’t know whether the general public are going to take to it, I just know it’s going to shock people for the right reasons.
“I think this love interest is just what Weatherfield needs – it’s not what you expect at all.”
All that the actress would share was that the new love was definitely a woman, but was not a rekindled romance with Sophie.
She said: “I think they’ve just found a good friendship, but there might be a little jealousy there when a new love interest comes along but I think Kate would feel exactly the same way if Sophie got a new girlfriend.
“I would love them to get back together but I would like to be in Corrie for a few years so maybe that’s down the line.”
Meanwhile, Faye’s singer partner Gareth Gates has just narrowly avoided a driving ban after being caught speeding earlier this year.
He was caught doing 47mph in a 30mph zone.
Now the 32-year-old has appeared in court and was let off a driving ban after appealing to the judge.
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The star was given a £1,493 fine and five points on his licence – £1,280 in direct fine and a surcharge of £128 with £85 prosecution costs.
This is the fourth speeding charge for the star.
The pop star was pulled over by police on January 22 as he drove through Bradford in his Range Rover at 17mph over the limit.
Gareth apparently told the courts a driving ban would have a huge impact on his career and family.
He reportedly told the judge it would result in financial loss as well as professional, personal and charity commitments.
His solicitor Ashfaq Chowdhury told the courts that Gareth “needs to be on the road”.
He went on to explain that Gareth had “many imminent bookings” and a ban would result in him “breaching contracts”.
Magistrate Yunus Mayat told the former Pop Idol star: “We do find exceptional hardship, not on yourself, but on other parties.
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“Your family and ex-wife and child would suffer exceptional hardship if you had to look for alternative transport arrangements.
“You are a role model to a lot of people and driving at this sort of speed doesn’t help.”
Gareth has a daughter, Missy, from a past relationship.