EXCLUSIVE: Coronation Street’s Lauren star Cait Fitton teases Max’s downfall amid arson bombshell
Max Turner was recently revealed as the fire-starter at No.8 in Coronation Street. Lauren Bolton actress Cait Fitton has revealed his antics could have devastating consequences.
Max’s future is on the line and the stakes are high for his girlfriend Lauren Bolton after recent Coronation Street scenes revealed he was behind the blaze at No.8.
Last year, the 19-year-old lad, played by Paddy Bever, rekindled his romance with new mum Lauren, 20, after supporting her throughout her ordeal with evil Joel Deering.
But he’s since left their plans in jeopardy. “Max has done what felt right in the moment and not thought about the consequences,” actress Cait Fitton says. “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.”
It’s been a whirlwind ride for Cait, 22, since stepping into Lauren’s shoes in late 2022. She made an impact from the moment she arrived on Corrie and quickly became a key player in one of the ITV soap’s most gripping storylines.
Max Turner was revealed to have started the fire at No.8 – but his antics will have dire consequences
The wayward teen was most recently acquitted of murdering Joel after the duty solicitor abused her for months, forcing her to flee the cobbles, only to return months later, pregnant with his baby.
Cait credits her co-stars 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!”
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, who’d spotted him on CCTV footage from Kevin Webster’s garage.
Max 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.”
Lauren isn’t the only one relying on Max. Her baby boy Frankie is just as dependent on the troublesome teen. “Since having Frankie, Lauren can’t think about herself anymore,” Cait says.
Lauren was recently acquitted of Joel Deering’s murder and looking forward to a fresh start after her abuse ordeal
Though she can count on Roy and solicitor Dee-Dee Bailey to support her. “She might have Roy and Dee-Dee but she doesn’t have a support network,” Cait says. “Moving forward, we’re going to see Lauren as an adult. She’s going to see where she fits in.”
Lauren is still recovering from her harrowing abuse at the hands of Joel Deering, which ended with Lauren killing her tormentor. Off-screen, however, Cait and co-star Calum Lill got on like a house on fire.
“We both really respect each other because it was also his first proper job,” Cait says. “He really got me through a lot.” The pair shared some of their most compelling moments on the show together, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats.
But they also went the extra mile to make their scenes together more believable. “We distanced from each other. He was on one side, I was on the other side of the building,” Cait remembers. “Every time we passed each other, we’d be in character because we wanted it to be real.”
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 has earned harsh criticism from some long-term Coronation Street fans (
Chloe Rivers <[email protected]>)
However, actress Cait Fitton was delighted to be compared to Corrie legend Becky Granger
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.”
Cait once found it hard to decompress after Lauren’s emotionally intense scenes. But with time, the switch between life and fiction has become seamless.
“I’m a very bubbly person, but that was quite hard at first. You’re more your character than you are yourself,” she says. “I love my job but you can’t let it control your outside life as well.
The main thing was putting a plan into place, because I’d never done anything like this before.” Now, Cait’s best plan of action after a tough day at work is to surround herself with her loved ones and to have a good laugh.
Now, Cait is eager to see Lauren evolve and move on from her past mistakes. After sharing scenes with Vicky Myers, who plays Lisa Swain, she believes there’s real potential for Lauren to turn her life around.
“Wouldn’t it be such a big turnaround if Lauren went into the police force?” Cait suggests. “For Lauren, having Lisa in her corner made her change her whole perspective on the police force. It would be so interesting!”
For now, however, Lauren faces an uncertain future with Max as the troublemaker’s latest antics could be the final straw. “Max’s choice comes with consequences,” Cait says. But what will they be and how will they affect Lauren?
