Coronation Street star Marc Baylis has spoken about how his character Rob Donovan has changed since his last stint in the show.
The actor reprised his role as Rob in Thursday night’s episode (January 9), which marked the character’s first appearance in seven years.
Rob was surprised to receive a visit from his son Bobby Crawford in prison and initially reacted angrily when asked to consider donating a kidney to his sister Carla Connor.
Next week, during a second visit, Bobby is intrigued when Rob reveals that he’s changed his mind. Claiming to have found religion during his time in jail, Rob says that he’s now keen to help save Carla’s life.
Speaking about the storyline for the first time, Marc explained: “Rob is a very different person. It’s been seven years since we last saw him. That’s a lot of life. It’s a lot of time to be in the prison system as well. Whether his core nature has changed or not, whether he’s made changes for the greater good, is yet to be seen.
“But he’s not had the easiest of times in prison, as I don’t think anyone would do for that amount of time, particularly someone who did what he did to a young woman.
“It’s not something that he’s had an easy journey with, and it’s something that he has huge regrets over with the way that everything played out.
“We do get to see some of that on screen, as well as Rob’s genuine feelings. But with Rob, there are always motives to make his life better than what it is, and that may well get him into trouble yet again.”
He continued: “There are some heartfelt moments with the people that Rob loves, including new characters that Rob has relationships with. There’s a darker side to Rob than I’ve known before, and we get a window into, I would say, a man who needs more support than he’s getting.”
Marc also hinted at a surprise for fans when a frightening situation unfolds in the prison visiting room next week.
While Rob and Bobby are talking, new inmate Matty Radcliffe threatens a prison guard with a knife. Bobby is horrified to find himself at the centre of the drama.
Marc added: “Bobby comes to visit and there is an escalation of a situation which involves Matty Radcliffe and all is not as it seems in the actual moment.
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“But at the same time, Rob doesn’t really want to see Bobby in turmoil or in danger in any way, shape or form. Whether he’s truly in danger is to be seen, because there is something else that’s happening in the background at the same time, but what that is can’t be revealed until it unfolds on screen.”
