Actor Jonathan Howard has discussed what the future could look like for Carl Webster if he survives the upcoming murder
Coronation Street star Jonathan Howard has discussed what the future could look like for Carl Webster if he survives the upcoming murder.
As fans of the ITV soap already know, Carl is among the possible victims of a murder set to rock the cobbles, with the victim, which could also be Theo Silverton, Jodie Ramsey, Megan Walsh or Maggie Driscoll, set to be revealed following a week of dramatic episodes.
Following his first-ever appearance in Weatherfield last year, the character hasn’t made his life, or the lives of his loved ones, very easy. But none more so than Debbie, after he recently discovered that the fabulous hotel owner isn’t his half-sister, like he has spent his whole life believing, but his biological mother.
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The truth came out as Debbie took the blame for him following a horror multi-vehicle crash in January that caused the death of Weatherfield vicar, Billy Mayhew, during which a drunk Carl coldly pulled her from the passenger side into the driver’s seat to make it seem like she was behind the wheel.
After thinking Debbie, who was diagnosed with dementia last year, was taking the blame because she had forgotten what had happened, Carl didn’t take the news of his parentage very well and took pleasure in seeing Debbie take the wrap for the crash, before she was sentenced to time behind bars.
Eventually, with her health suffering, Debbie was freed following a successful appeal, and while she was led to believe that Carl wanted to make amends and work on a relationship, he soon showed his true colours and has repeatedly tried to get money out of her since.
However, in scenes aired during last week’s Corrie, the hotel owner was seen sending her son on his way for the last time, having given him some cash to leave Weatherfield once and for all. But Debbie’s goodbye could end up being permanent because, as Corrie fans also know, Carl is among the five possible victims of a murder which is set to rock the cobbles this week, after a flashforward episode back in February confirmed who could be killed, and that it’s Betsy Swain who finds the dead body.
Speaking about Carl’s motives, Jonathan told the Manchester Evening News and other press: “With Carl, everything that drives him is he feels like he’s owed something. Before he found out Debbie was his mum, he felt like he had this family in England that never visited him and he’d been neglected, so he’s always had a chip on his shoulder.
” Now he’s got the news Debbie’s his mum, and then to be attacked by Ronnie, he uses that to his advantage. Wherever he is in life, he’s going to try to take advantage of the situation. He knows his mum loves him unconditionally, and he’s going to take advantage of that because he doesn’t quite know how to accept that love at the moment.”
When it was suggested that it was quite a sad place for the character to be in, the soap star replied: “It’s very sad. I feel for him. Obviously, I play him, so I feel something for him.” He added: “I’ve got to have empathy and compassion and find the humanity in him. Especially if I’m being paid to play this guy, I’ve got to find the empathy and compassion there.
“If I’d grown up my whole life not really knowing who my family was and feeling like I was left on the side, how would that impact me? How would I react? I’ve got to play what’s on the page, but I’ve got to try and find the humanity in that and the reason behind it.
Asked whether Carl does have love for his mother, and has a heart when it comes to their situation, the actor shared: “Absolutely he’s got feelings for his mum, yes. Does he know how to express them? No. I don’t really think so. Does he know how to love? I don’t really think so. I think it’s sex and what can I get from life, from this situation? [Carl’s] a bit of a chancer like that.“
But if Carl were to survive this week’s murder, Jonathan admits he’d quite like to see more dodgy antics from his character. “I’m really intrigued to see, if he survives, if he’s going to have a redemptive arc because I’ve had a wonderful, fun time for the 12 months I’ve been here, you know, being a mosquito and annoying the hell out of people, doing the dodgy dealings, the hit and runs, the car stealing, the teenage robberies, the blackmailing – I’ve really enjoyed all that.
“If Carl survives, how far are we going to push the envelope? And I love playing the mosquito and I really hope he continues to have some of that in him if he survives. But, yeah, I try and find moments of kindness in him and moments of wanting to be loved.”
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