EXCLUSIVE: ITV Coronation Street Toyah Battersby actress reveals false pregnancy result is something worse
On Monday night Coronation Street’s Toyah Battersby receives a shocking ovarian cancer diagnosis. Here Christine Smith speaks to actress Georgia Taylor about the emotional storyline
When Coronation Street’s much-loved character Toyah Battersby is told by doctors on Monday night that tests have confirmed she has germ cell ovarian cancer, she is understandably left devastated.
A few weeks ago, Toyah – played by Georgia Taylor – collapsed with crippling stomach pains and was rushed to hospital by her sister’s fiance, Nick, whom she has been secretly having an affair with.
Initially, Toyah had been told by the consultant she was pregnant, news that came as a huge surprise as she’d previously had a stillborn daughter at the age of 19 and feared she would never have children.
Her delight was, however, short-lived. Days later, Toyah was told her pregnancy result was in fact a false positive caused, potentially, by ovarian cancer, something that happens only very occasionally.
In the heart-breaking storyline that has been gripping viewers, Georgia, 44, exclusively reveals today that Toyah’s worst fears will be confirmed during Monday night’s emotional episode.
“To be told you have cancer are the words nobody wants to hear,” says Georgia ahead of Monday night’s diagnosis.
Toyah, sister Leanne and Nick take in the news
“It’s particularly awful for Toyah. We have seen her get the news she has always wanted – ‘You are pregnant’ – to then later be told, ‘You have ovarian cancer’.
“It is so painful for Toyah and she is understandably very upset.”
The actress and the soap’s bosses, together with the help of Ovarian Cancer Action, hope the plot will raise awareness about the cancer that affects more than 7,500 women every year in the UK who are diagnosed with it.
Ovarian cancer is most prevalent in women over 50 but, like Toyah, it can affect younger people too. There are three main types and the one that Toyah has – germ cell – is most common in younger women. It makes up five per cent of ovarian cancers and originates from cells that produce eggs in the ovaries.
After the heart-wrenching diagnosis, Toyah is told surgery is the best form of treatment, with a possibility she may require a course of chemotherapy afterwards.
On the surface, Toyah appears very strong but, as Georgia explains, when left alone she finds herself breaking down in tears. “Toyah remains quite stoic about her diagnosis and what lies ahead. She wants to be strong and doesn’t want to worry those closest to her.
Toyah Battersby collapses with stomach pains
“I have seen people who have had cancer and don’t want everyone to panic either – Toyah is the same as she faces up to her operation but behind closed doors, she does break down in tears. She is fearful about what the future holds and worries if she will even be around still.”
Georgia has never had any cancer scares herself, so she has drawn from the experiences of others and research by the soap’s production team to make sure she sensitively conveys the huge emotion felt surrounding a diagnosis.
Putting herself in Toyah’s shoes and knowing how she would feel if she had been given the same diagnosis, Georgia adds: “I want to make sure I tell her story well and the terrible emotions she is now feeling.
“I am not a medical professional and I am luckily in a privileged position where I don’t have to come to terms with the situation Toyah now finds herself in, but it is my job to tell the emotional storyline as best I can.
“It’s such a horrible ordeal for her.”
What makes Toyah’s situation worse, Georgia explains, is that she is also facing a complicated time at home. She is currently having an affair with Nick, the fiance of her sister, Leanne, who has unwittingly got involved with a cult group.
“It’s really stressful for Toyah because rather than her sister be there for her, Leanne removes herself from the situation,” Georgia explains. “It leaves Toyah feeling like her sister doesn’t want to support her.
“Thankfully Nick is very much there for her and it brings them even closer together.”
Toyah’s heartbreak is something that admin officer, Emma Colledge, 25, who lives in Durham, sadly knows only too well.
Like the popular Corrie character, Emma, now 25, also started getting crippling stomach pains in February 2022, as well as feeling bloated after she ate and the need to go to the toilet a lot more.
Emma also started to receive pains in her stomach
She was diagnosed with stage three Ovarian cancer
Worried something was wrong, she too was initially told by her GP she may be pregnant.
“I was in agony,” she recalls. “Every time I ate a couple of mouthfuls of food, I felt sick and very bloated. My stomach felt rock hard. People kept reassuring me it was fine and it was probably down to IBS or my period.
“But after a while, I knew I needed to get it checked out by my GP. The doctor told me to go and do a pregnancy test. I ended up doing about 10 tests to make doubly sure and unlike Toyah, mine said I wasn’t pregnant.
“I was then referred for a scan, but because it wasn’t regarded as urgent, this took several months.”
By now it was September 2022 and, to Emma’s horror, the ultrasound scan at Gateshead’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital revealed she not only had a 30cm cyst but she also had stage three ovarian cancer.
Emma had a five hour operation to remove the cyst
“I was so shocked and upset,” she recalls. “I was also in disbelief as I was only 23 at the time and I couldn’t believe it could happen to someone my age.
“The first thing I asked the hospital consultants was, ‘Am I going to die?’ As soon as you hear the word cancer, you ultimately think it is a death sentence.
“Thankfully they were very reassuring and told me I wouldn’t but I was still really scared.”
Emma went on to have a five-and-a-half-hour operation to remove the cyst and the ovary it was attached to, followed by another nine-and-a-half-hour surgery in which she had a full hysterectomy, her appendix and spleen and some of her bowel removed, and laser treatment. She also had a temporary stoma.
Six rounds of chemotherapy followed, which saw her lose her hair. “I found myself breaking down in tears a lot,” she confides. “I felt very tired and ill but knew I wanted to do everything to prevent the cancer from returning.”
In April 2023, Emma went for further scans, which showed there was no evidence of cancer.
“I was so relieved,” she says. “All the doctors and nurses were amazing.
“Ever since, I have been determined to raise awareness.”
While Emma admits she will be emotional when she watches tomorrow night’s Corrie episode, she praises the soap for the sensitive way it is tackling the storyline.
“Over the past few weeks, it’s been a hard watch knowing Toyah might have ovarian cancer like me and it has brought back lots of horrible memories.
“I know tomorrow night will be even tougher and I am sure I will have a lump in my throat watching Toyah get her diagnosis, but it is so great Corrie is running this storyline.
“It will help others know that they aren’t alone.”
Helping others is a sentiment shared by Georgia. Determined to pour her heart and soul into the storyline over the coming weeks and months, she says: “I am proud to be part of this storyline and help tell stories like Toyah’s that a cancer diagnosis does not always mean a death sentence.
“Everyone’s situation is different and each case is unique, but it is good to show stories can have a more positive ending.”
Ovarian cancer has four main symptoms
■ Persistent stomach pain
■ Persistent bloating
■ Difficulty eating/feeling full more quickly
■ Needing to wee more frequently
Symptoms may also include:
■Indigestion, back pain, changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, postmenopausal vaginal bleeding, extreme tiredness.
A pregnancy test should never be used to diagnose ovarian cancer. If you are worried about the symptoms go and see your GP
- If you have been affected by Toyah’s storyline, help and information can be found at the website ovarian.org.uk
- Coronation Street is on ITV1 at 8pm Mondy night
