Wedding of the century! Corrie stars reveal all on Carla and Lisa’s big day
When Metro’s very own Maisie Spackman penned that she wanted Carla Connor to fall for a woman after spotting electrifying chemistry between the knicker queen and tough detective Lisa Swain, little did we all know where we’d end up just over two years later!
Coronation Street icons Alison King and Vicky Myers had been coy about where the relationship might head in the early days as fans more and more latched on to the hope that something might be explored.
Eventually it exploded, and the Swarla fandom continues to grow, with social media in the UK and across the pond being dominated by viral clips, interviews and insights around the representative couple.
Several hostage situations, a car pile-up, and an abusive dead-but-not-dead ex later, Carla and Lisa have come through more than your average couple to finally make it to their wedding.
Given that Carla’s middle name is ‘trauma’ and Lisa spends her time arresting the wrong people and accidentally shooting her own daughter, the assumption would be that Corrie would not be able resist bringing carnage and angst to their wedding day.
Cue a welcome curveball – joining Metro for a chat after the screening of the joyful half hour, Ali was very quick to promise that there are no hitches, with Vicky promising quite literal fireworks for the couple after some seriously moving and funny moments from Swarla and pals.
From very special vows and an impeccable Roy moment through to a wildly drunken guest and Sally the Ally at her best, a lot is packed in.
But of course, it can’t ALL go smooth sailing. Initially it seems like there might not be a big day at all, after the wedding venue is flooded.
‘Carla feels absolutely devastated, or as she might put it, ‘well knarked’’. This is supposed to be the best day of her life, and now it’s all ruined,’ Ali said. ‘She is not happy, and it’s everybody’s fault, even though it’s not. She throws her toys out of the pram. She’s really angry!’
But Lisa spies an opportunity to turn the tables and, while Carla is not usually a fan of surprises, Ali admits that for once, she actually loves the unexpected when Lisa solves the issue.
‘Lisa is a bit more pragmatic about it,’ Vicky shared. ‘I mean, obviously, she’s devastated, but that presents itself in a completely different way. Part of the reason why it works between them is because while there are some similarities, a lot of the time they react to things very differently.
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‘It’s something that Ryan says, that Carla had said to him. It’s basically about how Carla just wants to marry Lisa. Any hour, any venue will do! And that sets something off in Lisa.
‘She realises, well, we don’t need all of this big fuss, which Carla didn’t particularly want anyway. It was more about the intimacy between the two of them.
‘Plus, she’s got Sally on the case. Sally’s been a pivotal part of it because it was really a last-minute attempt to get this ceremony up and also for everybody that they know and love. How could they possibly manage to organise that in such a short space of time?
‘There was a lot for Lisa to be nervous about, but I think the crux of it is, and the most important thing of it was, to her, was to get married to Carla.’
The ceremony itself is indeed a very close and family oriented event, with Ali adding: ‘She loves that part of Lisa that can fix things and will let her take a step back because Peter Barlow wasn’t very good at things like that. So it’s quite nice to have somebody that has foresight and does nice things for her, takes on the mental load.’
It is indeed a very different day to what Ali is used to filming when it comes to Carla’s wedding – and the popular actress couldn’t be happier with the end result.
‘I was relieved it wasn’t that, no big dress for Carla this time! The surprise reception at Underworld is Carla’s favourite bit. She likes to feel that even though she shouts at everybody, they still love her – all the workforce.
‘And she likes that, she likes being part of it, because she’s always, always been left out in the whole Connor clan. She was always the one that was taken the mickey out of. So she likes to be part of something. Those factory workers are Carla’s family. It is her safe place.’
And for Lisa, the marriage also represents a new chapter after a toxic former relationship with she who shall not be named.
‘She wants to be married to this woman who she’s fallen madly in love with, who feels like home to her. The complete antithesis of the relationship she’d had before,’ Vicky said. ‘It’s not just about the wedding day, it’s about the marriage itself, and she can’t wait to start that.’
Ahead of the big day, the couple do have to say goodbye to baby Connie, who is taken back after some time in their care. Both actresses have enjoyed the chance to explore that side of their characters and the relationship.
Vicky mused: ‘I think as a viewer of the show, that’s something that’s been fundamental in its 65-year history. It’s about family. It’s about community. It’s about those quiet moments, those conversations. And blended families, dysfunctional families so I think it is important for us to get the opportunity to see this family making it work.’
As part of this, Carla was forced to confront an agony from her past in which she suffered the loss of a baby. Vicky agrees that seeing this vulnerable and honest side to Carla really ‘galvanised and strengthened’ their relationship.
Ali added: ‘Yeah, it was nice to touch on that because we have not really discussed it much. But it was important to bring that up when Connie came into their lives.
‘I think Carla came on leaps and bounds with that baby, she really enjoyed having her in their lives and we enjoyed having her around.’
So what is it that Carla and Lisa love most about each other?
Ali: ‘Carla loves Lisa Swain because she’s like sweet and sour. And she sees that side in herself as well, so she likes the vulnerable side, and the fact that Lisa has shown that to her. But obviously when they met, they were both at loggerheads. I think for Carla, it’s a lot of respect.
‘And also, Lisa was a huge kind of turning point for her. The fact that she liked her, like that, is everything, really. It was the person, not the gender, that didn’t come into it. They don’t need each other. They chose to be together.’
Vicky: ‘I think there’s so much. There was something instantly between the two of them. Lisa respects Carla, she respects her as a businesswoman and as a woman in general. The loyalty she has to her family and friends. And the way that even on the first conversation that they had, Carla was interested in Lisa’s own daughter.
‘She listened to Lisa, and she will always, she has always listened to Lisa, even when Lisa didn’t listen to her. I think there’s that quote: “if you’ve got a friend like Carla Connor, you know you’re doing alright.”
‘They trust each other and they talk. They talk through everything, even if it takes time to get there. They’ve got similarities, they enjoy things, they enjoy a drink. They look out for each other and they will stand by each other.’
We can’t avoid addressing the elephant in the room that the day WILL end in murder. But Ali reassures that it doesn’t mar the day for Swarla – they are totally unaware of what is going on while they celebrate with each other.
Vick smiled: ‘The fact that they think the scream is a fox and just carry on watching the fireworks, it just ends nicely. They are oblivious but it’s a great hook.
‘And also it’s a trial for them at the start of married life as Betsy is the one who found the body so they have got something difficult to deal with from day one of married life. As a family, after what they have been through I think they feel very equipped now to be able to deal with things as a team.’
So what would they like the future to hold long term?
Ali pondered before replying: ‘I like the domesticity about it. I like those quiet conversations, the daily routine. I love the comedy and the scenes with Ryan and with Betsy. I’d like more of that. But it may not last long. They love to torture us!’
Well, fellow fans, let’s not focus on the torture – the wedding is incoming and I reckon it will be everything you hoped for and more. With it also happening in Lesbian Visibility Week, the cast and crew have acknowledged the importance and thrown all their passion and hearts to it.
Closing off the chat, Vicky reflected: ‘Soaps are extremely powerful mediums, and this wedding is a significant event to celebrate. The power of this storyline, centering on two women falling in love, despite surrounding circumstances, and becoming each other’s safe space, can spark essential conversations.
‘It’s particularly impactful that this happens during Lesbian Visibility Week. This relationship promotes understanding and change, especially considering the persistent issue of homophobia and the current gradual retraction of rights despite past progress.
‘To champion this couple, their family unit, and their commitment by having them marry on Coronation Street is an honour and a truly beautiful, history-making moment. Their sexuality doesn’t define them, but they are proud of who they are.
‘They offer crucial visibility by confidently showing public affection, their life is not kept behind closed doors. Their frequent presence on screen holds the power to prompt lasting change.’
You can see more video footage from Swarla’s chats and other cast by following our TikTok account. More of the chat – and other details from Corrie – will be exclusively in our free soaps newsletter which you can sign up for here.
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