It’s the pairing that has captured the imagination of Coronation Street fans everywhere.
Not Ken and Deirdre, not Bet and Alec. Carla Connor and Lisa Swain. Known to fans as ‘Swarla’, the relationship between this heritage character and a relative newcomer has taken on a life of its own.
“Swarla is huge with fans,” says Manchester Evening News TV Editor Jess Sansome.
“It has become the new big soap relationship – particularly among a new generation of soap watchers who feel like they can invest in the two characters, played brilliantly by Alison King and Vicky Myers.
“And relate to them as they became the first LGBTQ+ couple to own a house on the cobbles.”
It’s that particular detail – seeing the pair move into Number 6 Coronation Street with Lisa’s daughter Betsy – that one Corrie fan says has been ‘monumental’.
“That kind of representation matters more than anyone could ever imagine, helping people to see that they belong,” says superfan Sarah.
“That’s exactly what Tony Warren stood for. He didn’t just open the door for representation, he built the house. And now, Carla and Lisa are moving in.”
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He is thought to have based many of the soap’s most popular characters – such as street siren Elsie Tanner and barmaid Bet Lynch – on gay men he knew from his own life.
And those characters became huge gay icons, embraced by people who saw a little bit of themselves in their glamour and forthright natures.
Corrie has always acted as something of a trojan horse when it comes to LGBT issues.
Over the years, stories about trans, gay, lesbian and bisexual characters have all been beamed into the living rooms of families who may have little or no experience with people from those communities.
“Lisa and Carla are not included as a token gesture or a ‘special storyline’ but rather as a natural and meaningful progression in the world Tony began shaping over 60 years ago.
“What makes their story so powerful is how normal it feels. We’re not being told to see them as different, we’re just seeing them as a couple. A couple who wants a life together, a home together.
“That’s where real change happens – when viewers start to see LGBT families not as novelties or plot devices, but as part of the everyday fabric of life.
“Their story shows viewers who may not understand the LGBT community, or may be unsure as they’ve been brought up with certain beliefs, that queer love is just as real, just as stable, and just as worthy as any other.”
In recent months ‘Swarla’ have taken centre stage with a hostage situation, shooting and proposal all ramping up the drama for actresses Vicky Myers and Alison King.
But for many LGBT viewers it’s been a breath of fresh air to see a same sex couple whose storyline hasn’t ended in tragedy.
Sarah thinks the storyline will give young LGBT people the courage to come out to their families.
“If the Swarla storyline can help someone understand themselves a little more, give them the courage to come out, or even just open a window of empathy for a parent or grandparent – then every single script will have been worth it,” she says.
“This story has the power to shift hearts and minds. In fact, it already is. I’ve seen tweet after tweet from viewers who’ve found the strength to come out, simply because they saw acceptance growing in their own living rooms, thanks to Carla and Lisa.”
The popularity of ‘Swarla’ has been recognised with a British Soap Awards nomination for Best On-Screen Partnership.
And the story regularly brings fans to the gates of the Corrie studios, hoping to catch a glimpse of actors Alison King and Vicky Myers, who often oblige by posing for photographs.
Jess says Swarla fans are brilliant at sharing their thoughts and theories on the couple’s future and the respect for the actresses themselves has made Swarla “a joy to write about”.
“Carla and Alison King – who plays her – has been much loved among Corrie fans for years.
“Putting her in a relationship with a new and mysterious character appears to have been a winning combination for the soap and their popularity has only grown since the first rumblings of a possible romance for the two characters late last year.”
Sarah says watching a heritage character like Carla fall in love with another woman, “without hesitation or inner turmoil”, speaks volumes.
“It shows that sexuality is not a big deal, you are who you are, and you love who you love,” she says.
“They represent something so many of us want, and something every single person deserves: love without complications. And preferably without prison escapes, murderous brothers, and hostage situations.
“When you add Betsy to their dynamic, long term fans of the show will recognise that Carla is finally getting the family she’s always wanted, and the love she deserves.”
