The Shocking Soap Opera Debut That Captivated a Nation
It's been 26 years since Bethany Platt was introduced on the iconic ITV soap Coronation Street, in a storyline that shocked viewers nationwide. When 13-year-old Sarah Platt, played by Tina O'Brien, became pregnant, it marked one of the first times a British soap opera tackled teenage pregnancy, aiming to shed light on the real-life challenges of young motherhood.
The Twins Who Brought Bethany to Life
Twins Emily and Amy Walton shared the role of Sarah Platt's daughter for seven years from 2000 to 2007, replacing Mia Cookson who had played Bethany as a baby. The Lancashire-born pair, born in March 2000, were involved in several major plot twists, including Bethany's kidnapping by her paternal grandmother in 2004 and a dramatic hospital scene after she accidentally ingested an Ecstasy pill.
A Dramatic Exit and New Beginnings
Bethany left the cobbles alongside her mother in 2007 when the pair moved to Italy, ending the twins' time on the soap. Since then, they have moved away from acting and pursued other ventures, particularly in sport. The sisters competed in the British Trampoline finals in 2016, with Amy securing a place on the Great British trampoline team for the European Championships the following year.
Life After Weatherfield: From Acting to Athletics
Last year, Emily shared an Instagram photo of herself and her sister enjoying a holiday in Thailand, captioning it: "The last of Thailand," alongside a yellow heart emoji. Despite their departure, the character of Bethany returned to Coronation Street eight years later, with Lucy Fallon taking over the role and involving the character in gripping storylines like being groomed by Nathan Curtis and dealing with health issues post-surgery.
Coronation Street airs weekdays on ITV and ITVX
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