Coronation Street star Alex Bain confirms hospital shock in Simon crash storyline
"He's got a lot to answer for."
Coronation Street star Alex Bain has confirmed that Simon Barlow’s crash storyline will leave a character in hospital.
Since his dad Peter left in December Simon has struggled, and his drinking habits have become a concern.
In scenes that air next week, Simon attends a party thrown by Carla’s nephew Bobby, and although hungover the next day, he continues drinking.
But back at the flat, Nick tasks him with driving Sam to his chess competition, and Simon agrees, even though he knows he is probably over the limit.
Alex Bain, who plays Simon, explains his character’s dangerous decision to get behind the wheel.
He said: “I think it is because he has let [Nick and Leanne] down so much in the past that he doesn’t want to own up to being drunk again, so he thinks he will just drive and it will all be okay.”
Things soon go wrong though, and Simon loses control of the car, crashing into a road sign. Simon and Sam flee the scene, as he knows he can’t be found driving the car, but he is later forced to confess everything to a horrified Leanne.
But Bain has confirmed that the situation will get even worse for his character, when Sam collapses and ends up in hospital.
“He feels dreadful,” he said. “Simon’s already put this kid through so much. He has already been the catalyst for causing him to have so much heartbreak.
“He is the reason in a roundabout way that Sam’s lost his mum through Simon getting involved with Harvey’s gang. He’s got a lot to answer for.”
The crash storyline continues the current downward spiral for Simon, who Bain describes as “broken”.
He said: “I think he’s just a broken individual who really hasn’t got anyone properly looking out for him, and who has dealt with a lot from losing his mum at such a young age to now being left behind by his dad.”
Will Sam be okay, and what will be the consequences for Simon?