EXCLUSIVE: Coronation Street Lauren star Cait Fitton reveals off-screen bond with ITV soap legend
Cait Fitton made waves in Corrie as Lauren Bolton since her 2022 debut. Behind the scenes, the actress reveals she benefited from the support of one of the soap's veterans.
Lauren Bolton is set to face more struggles after her boyfriend Max Turner was revealed to have set fire at No.8 in recent Coronation Street scenes.
It’s been a whirlwind ride for Cait Fitton since stepping into Lauren’s shoes in late 2022. The actress, 22, made an impact from the moment she arrived on the cobbles and quickly became a key player in one of the ITV soap’s most gripping storylines.
She was most recently acquitted of murdering Joel Deering after the duty solicitor abused her for months, forcing her to flee the cobbles, only to return months later, pregnant with his baby.
Cait now credits her co-stars, Roy and Max actors David Neilson and Paddy Bever, for guiding her through the intense storyline. “I learned the most from David Neilson, who plays Roy,” Cait says.
“He’s such a wise person. He just makes you laugh on set. It’s the same with Paddy, we have an amazing bond off-screen. This place is full of people with good advice!”
Corrie star Cait Fitton says Roy Cropper actor David Neilson offered her support throughout her time on the cobbles
Max recently tried to cash in on his adoptive dad David’s insurance money by setting the family home ablaze in a bid to free the Platts from gangster Harvey Gaskell’s threats.
However, Max’s plan literally backfired when he was caught in the flames as he tried to save his sister Lily. Sent to hospital and placed in a coma, Max eventually woke up and was furiously confronted by his stepmother Shona (Julia Goulding), who’d spotted him on CCTV footage from Kevin Webster’s garage.
The lad came clean, but his confession will have dire repercussions for Lauren. “There’s frustration more than anything,” says Cait. “We had our happy ending and Max made a stupid decision without thinking of the consequences.”
She adds: “Max has done what felt right in the moment and not thought about the consequences. Now, he’s either going to prison or he’ll have to run away. He’s not going to have the life he’s always wanted to have with Lauren.”
Beyond the drama unfolding on-screen, Cait has had her own challenges to face – particularly with the pressures of social media. Soap fans are known for being vocal and their opinions can be brutal.
Cait admits the scrutiny wasn’t initially easy to handle. “I was keen to know what viewers thought about me. I was looking for their approval and, half the time, I didn’t get it,” she says. “But as time’s gone on now, I’ve got enough trust in myself to just go on set and try my best.”
Lauren’s fiery nature has even reminded some viewers of another Corrie legend – Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly). For Cait, being likened to the bold and confident legend is nothing short of an honour.
“I always wanted to play a character like hers and Katherine is a phenomenal actress,” she says. “I used to look up to her. It’s the best compliment ever.”