Bethany Platt

2000–2007

When 13 year-old Sarah-Louise begins to worry about gaining weight, she is horrified to discover she is five months pregnant. After considering adoption and a plan for her mother Gail (Helen Worth) to pretend the baby is hers, Sarah decides to raise the baby herself and gives birth, aged 13 on 4 June 2000. Just hours after her birth, Bethany is kidnapped by Alison Webster (Naomi Radcliffe), whose baby son Jake has just died. Alison and Bethany are found but Alison commits suicide after handing Bethany over. Sarah originally plans to call her daughter Britney after the pop star Britney Spears, but is persuaded not to by her grandmother, Audrey (Sue Nicholls). Sarah tries to cope but, being little more than a child herself, relies heavily on her mother and once even leaves Bethany at home alone. Sarah struggles to find boyfriends who will accept that she is a teenage mother but things come to a head when she begins dating Aidan Critchley (Dean Ashton). When Aidan crashes the stolen car he is driving and Sarah is badly injured, she realises Bethany was nearly left motherless and resolves to put her first. However, this is not the last time Bethany's life is put in danger. In 2003, Gail's husband Richard Hillman (Brian Capron), having been revealed as the killer of Maxine Peacock (Tracy Shaw), tries to kill Bethany, Sarah, Gail, David (Jack P. Shepherd) and himself by driving the family car into the canal. Thanks to Gail handing Sarah a pair of nail scissors as she kissed her goodbye, Sarah is able to cut herself free, undo Bethany's seat belt and swim to safety with her. The family escape, while Richard dies.

When Sarah begins dating Todd Grimshaw (Bruno Langley), he accepts Bethany as his own. Much to Gail's disgust, Sarah and Bethany move in with Todd and his family, leading Gail to involving Social Services and causing a rift in the family. When Bethany's father, Neil Fearns (Paul Holowaty), is killed in a car accident, Sarah decides to take Bethany to the funeral. Neil's mother, Brenda (Julia Deakin), is pleased to meet Bethany and asks to be part of her life. After Sarah and Gail fall out, Brenda invites Sarah and Bethany to live with her, even agreeing that Todd can move in too after some misgivings. However, when Brenda insists they sleep in separate rooms, Sarah worries Brenda is taking over and they leave. However, Brenda has become mentally unbalanced by her grief and kidnaps Bethany, planning to kill herself and Bethany so they can be with Neil. However, Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire) finds them and manages to talk Brenda down. Despite the difficulty of looking after Bethany at such a young age, Sarah is persuaded by Todd into having another baby. However, Todd is secretly struggling with his sexuality and the shock of discovering his affair with Karl Foster (Chris Finch), sends Sarah into premature labour. Bethany's half-brother, Billy Platt, dies shortly after birth. Bethany gets a new father figure when Sarah begins dating Todd's brother, Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas), soon after their split. Jason becomes very fond of Bethany but she is almost left fatherless once again when Jason panics about the responsibilities of marriage and parenthood and jilts Sarah at the altar. Sarah later forgives Jason and he becomes Bethany's stepfather although David ruins the wedding by deliberately driving into the same part of the canal that Richard drove the family into.

When an increasingly off-the-rails David hides ecstasy tablets in one of Bethany's dolls, Bethany finds them and swallows one, making David panic. He makes Bethany drink salt water, hoping to make her sick, but is later forced to admit the truth. Bethany makes a full recovery but Social Services become involved and the possibility of Bethany going into care is raised. As a result, Sarah tells Gail that either David moves out or she and Bethany will. Concerned about their safety, Gail tells David to leave. When Sarah's uncle, Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce) offers David a job in Milan, Sarah gets revenge for her ruined wedding and Bethany's trauma by planting ecstasy in his drawer at Audrey's Salon. When Audrey finds the drugs, Stephen withdraws the job offer and Sarah persuades him to give it to her instead. Sarah plans to move to Italy with Jason and Bethany. However, at the train station, Sarah admits to a horrified Jason that she planted the drugs and he refuses to go with her. Sarah and Bethany then leave for Italy without him.

2015–

A teenage Bethany returns to Weatherfield and persuades Andy Carver (Oliver Farnworth) to buy her drinks in The Rovers, annoying Andy's girlfriend, Steph Britton (Tisha Merry). When Gail comes in, she reveals Bethany's identity and age, horrifying landlady Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh). Gail later phones Sarah and discovers Bethany has run away and stolen Sarah's money to pay for the flight. Bethany pleads to stay, claiming she hates Milan and Sarah virtually ignores her in favour of work and her new boyfriend, but Gail still books a return flight for her. However, Bethany hides her uncle Nick Tilsley's (Ben Price) car keys and runs away to ensure she misses her flight. Sarah returns to Weatherfield to take Bethany back to Milan but this ends in a heated argument and Bethany throwing an ornament at Sarah. The pair later reconcile and recall fond memories of their time in Milan, with Sarah agreeing they can stay a few days and that she will find her a new school when they return. However, Bethany is determined not to go back and manages to get Audrey on her side. Bethany causes further trouble when she shoplifts from a boutique, forcing Sarah to get help from David's arch-enemy Callum Logan (Sean Ward). Bethany then winds her mother up by regularly pointing out Sarah's obvious attraction to Callum, while trying to convince Jason that Sarah wants him back. When Jason tells Sarah he isn't interested in her, the two play Bethany at her own game by pretending to reunite. Bethany eventually seems to be resigned to returning to Milan. However, when Stephen repeatedly chases Sarah to send him a report and she lies that her internet is down, Bethany spots her chance and sends him a casual email, proving there is nothing wrong with their internet access. A furious Sarah tells Bethany that she has finally got her way as Stephen has fired her.

At Gail and Michael Rodwell's (Les Dennis) wedding reception, Bethany gets tipsy so Nick sends her home. Bethany later develops feelings for Callum, despite him dating her mother, and begins spending more and more time at his flat. Callum convinces Bethany to deliver some drugs to a heavily tattooed man, who intimidates Bethany. She spends the next day with Callum and his friend, Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell), and offers to do another delivery for him. However, the police raid The Dog & Gun, Callum and Gemma's local pub, which panics Bethany. She gives the drugs to Callum who gives them to Gemma and Callum is furious when Gemma is arrested. Bethany spitefully tells Sarah that Callum has been looking at other women inappropriately, upsetting Sarah and nearly results in the couple breaking up, but Callum talks his way out of the situation.

Callum takes photos and videos of Bethany delivering his drugs and pretending to smoke cannabis which he uses to blackmail Sarah when she splits with him over his dangerous lifestyle. After learning that Callum and David's wife Kylie Platt's (Paula Lane) son, Max Turner (Harry McDermott) witnessed Callum beating up Jason in the ginnel, he drugs Sarah and forces Bethany to give him an alibi. Bethany tells the police that she was with Callum in his flat when Jason was attacked. She later retracts her statement when Callum orders his thugs to threaten Audrey and wreck No.8 and the salon. Later, unknown to Bethany, Kylie murders Callum while he is attacking Sarah, with David and Sarah helping cover up the crime. Bethany and the rest of the family are told that he is on the run from a gangster but Sarah, wrecked with guilt, takes Bethany back to Milan for a few weeks. Bethany learns Sarah is pregnant by Callum after overhearing Todd, David and Kylie discuss it. She confronts Sarah in the Bistro and reveals to Gail and Audrey about Sarah's pregnancy, who argue with Sarah.

Months later, Sarah attends Bethany's parents evening with David, but Bethany doesn't turn up. Sarah and David learn from one of Bethany's teachers that she has been skipping school by saying she is attending grief counselling. Sarah and David realise Bethany has intercepted letters and emails from the school about her absence to prevent her family from knowing about it. Sarah tries to contact Bethany with no response. When Bethany arrives at the pub, Sarah and Gail try to find out why she is playing truant. At school, Bethany is ganged up on by a group of girls, who make cruel remarks about her and Sarah and threaten her, pulling her hair. Bethany arrives at Sarah's baby shower and throws the cake at the wall, snapping at Sarah and telling her to put the baby up for adoption as she is a terrible mother. Todd finds Bethany on the street and he encourages her to open up and later, Bethany apologises to Sarah. Bethany later receives cruel messages from Lauren (Shannon Flynn) and Shelley (Natalie Davies), so Bethany breaks down in the alley. Bethany tries to skip school by telling Sarah she has a stomach ache, but she is forced to go to school. Bethany later receives another message from Lauren and Kylie notices her upset. Bethany confides in Kylie about the bullying and Kylie gives her advice on standing up for herself. Bethany is followed home by Lauren and her gang and they threaten her again. Luke Britton (Dean Fagan) intervenes and tells them to leave. Luke takes Bethany to Sarah, where she reveals all about the bullying. Sarah then visits Lauren at home, where she shouts at her and tells her mother what she's been doing to Bethany. Bethany is followed home again by Lauren and her gang, but are chased off by Gemma, however, they steal her mobile phone. After Sarah gives birth, Bethany meets her half-brother and Sarah chooses Harry for a name from Bethany's suggestions. David and Gail learn that Bethany is still being bullied when Gemma tells David she chased the bullies off, but Bethany pleads with them not to tell Sarah. After taking Harry for a walk, Bethany is stopped by Lauren and her gang, who insult Harry. Nick defends Bethany, but he loses his temper with Lauren and throws her schoolbag into the road. Lauren and her mother later visit the Platt household, but are eventually thrown out by David. When Lauren and her gang hassle Bethany outside school, Luke collects Bethany in a flash car.

After Callum's corpse is found underneath Gail's annexe, Gail believes that Sarah is mentally ill, but Bethany refuses to believe this. When Sarah changes the locks and barricades herself in the house with Harry, Bethany persuades Sarah to open the door. Sarah is then taken to hospital when David phones for an ambulance. Bethany visits Sarah and Harry with Gail in a mother and baby unit. Bethany later intercepts a letter from her school and she confides in Gail that she has messed up her GCSEs and convinces Gail not to tell Sarah. When Bethany looks for a summer job in the café, Lauren arrives and apologises to her. Lauren learns Sarah is in a psychiatric ward and she tricks Bethany to go and look for summer jobs with her. However, Bethany realises Lauren has tricked her when she is later cornered by Lauren and her gang, who taunt her about Sarah and pull her hair. Lauren and her gang leave when Anna Windass (Debbie Rush) interrupts, and Bethany leaves in tears. Kylie comforts her when she finds out she is receiving text messages from Lauren and her gang. Bethany is later devastated when Kylie is stabbed and killed in the street. Bethany and David visit Sarah and tell her about Kylie's death. Sarah wants to leave the unit, but Bethany persuades her to stay and get better for her and Harry. On a home visit, Sarah decides to discharge herself, despite advice from Bethany and Gail.

Bethany takes diet pills after Craig Tinker (Colson Smith) takes a photo of her when she breaks a swing and posts it online. Bethany collapses at the gym and Gary Windass (Mikey North) confronts her over the diet pills. Bethany confides in Gary over her GCSE results and Sarah blames herself for Bethany not doing well. At the gym, Lauren arrives and makes cruel remarks, but Bethany hits Lauren, witnessed by Gary. Gary goes to Bethany's school and reports the bullying. Sarah notices Gary with Bethany a lot and after confronting Gary, Bethany admits Gary has been helping her with Lauren and there is a meeting at school the following day. At the meeting, Lauren makes out Bethany is the bully and both Bethany and Lauren are suspended. Bethany helps David out at the salon and Lauren arrives and David gives Lauren a free treatment, but gets Bethany out of the way and threatens her to leave his family alone. Bethany returns to school and learns Lauren is being expelled after others came forward. Sarah finds out about Bethany going running and Bethany tearfully admits to Sarah she counts calories and runs to burn calories. Sarah finds Bethany's diet pills and Bethany promises she no longer takes them.

Bethany arranges for Gary to come to Nick's empty flat after she overhears him talking to Alya Nazir (Sair Khan) about someone he's met, thinking it's her. Sarah and Gary end up together at the flat and presume Bethany knows of their relationship. Bethany witnesses Sarah and Gary kiss on the balcony. Bethany is taken to a gig by Gary with his sister, Faye Windass (Ellie Leach). Bethany flirts with Gary and lays seductively on Gary's bed and Faye catches her. Bethany gives Faye vodka to keep quiet, but Faye drops hints at dinner. Bethany admits to giving Faye the vodka when she is drunk. An emotional Bethany disappears after Gary rejects her and Sarah contacts the police. Gary accuses Luke of being the older man Bethany has a crush on after Norris witnesses them together. Bethany returns after spending time with a friend and she later takes diet pills. Sarah finds out about Bethany's crush on Gary, but Bethany tries to get over it. She later collapses after taking more pills and is presumably kidnapped. The next day she wakes up in hospital and tells Sarah that Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) brought her in. Bethany is referred to a primary mental health team and Sarah splits up with Gary. Bethany tracks down Nathan, the man who found her, who gives her his number. Nathan allows and encourages Bethany to use his salon to shoot a hairstyle tutorial and he suggests that Bethany should show more of her body in future. Bethany and Nathan kiss when Nathan admits he has feelings. Nathan is arrested on suspicion of abducting a girl and Bethany refuses to his idea of saying it was her. Nathan is cold towards Bethany and is taken to a bar by his friend, Mel, and she gets her drunk. Nathan collects Bethany, taking her to his to sober her up, and Bethany has sex with Nathan. Bethany is persuaded by Nathan's salon assistant Mel Maguire (Sonia Ibrahim) to get a contraceptive implant, so she does not get pregnant.

Casting

Amy and Emily Walton shared the role of Bethany Platt from the character's birth in 2000 until 2007 when Tina O'Brien chose to quit. Mia Cookson also played the role of Bethany alongside the Walton twins in 2000. On 23 October 2014, it was announced that Bethany, now 14 years old, would return to the show. Katie Redford was initially cast in the role, but was sacked just days later before filming began after it was revealed that she was 25 years old, not 19 as she and her management had claimed. On 29 January Blackpool-born Lucy Fallon was confirmed as her replacement. She returned on 20 March 2015.

Early development

Bethany is introduced in 2000 when the show tackled the controversial subject of teenage pregnancy, using the character of 13-year-old Sarah-Louise Platt, recently recast to 16-year-old Tina O'Brien. The storyline was praised by health minister Yvette Cooper, saying "we need to make sure that young people themselves are aware of just how easy it is to get pregnant and just how hard it is to be a parent, if we are to get teenage pregnancy rates down" and congratulated Granada TV "on having the courage to include a storyline in Coronation Street about teenage pregnancy."

In 2007, a storyline involving David Platt planting ecstasy tablets in a toy of Bethany's and Bethany accidentally taking drugs was revealed. Of the storyline, Jack P. Shepherd commented "I was quite excited because I've not really done emotional stuff before. I've done little bits but this is a huge storyline. It's a character change for David. The only way David knows how to get attention is by doing bad things. It's the only time when people sit up and listen." Executive producer Keiran Roberts said "We didn't set out to do a story about the danger of drugs, but we have got responsibilities and if we can send out a useful message, in this case that drugs can be very dangerous, then that is all well and good."

Reintroduction

With the announcement of Sarah's return soon came the announcement of her daughter Bethany's return with actress Katie Redford being cast in the role. Speaking of the announcement Redford said: "Until I'm actually on set, I genuinely don't think it will sink in that I'm joining the cast of Coronation Street. I know it sounds clichéd but it really feels like a dream come true. Bethany Platt is going to be such a fun and witty character to play and I hope everyone enjoys her return as much as I'm going to!" She returned on 20 March 2015. It was later revealed that Redford would be replaced in the role of Bethany with Lucy Fallon taking over the role. Speaking of her casting, Fallon commented: "Walking onto the set was surreal and nerve wracking, but everyone has been really welcoming and I am thrilled to have been given this great opportunity." Bethany made her return on screen on 20 March and Sarah made her return on 30 March 2015.

Feud with Callum Logan

In February 2015, producer Stuart Blackburn revealed that Sarah would embark on a relationship with Callum Logan portrayed by Sean Ward who is the ex of David's wife Kylie Platt portrayed by Paula Lane and an enemy of David's. "David's got massive problems, because over the weeks Callum's taken a real liking to Max and Max is actually his biological son," Blackburn told ITV. "And he's got almost as many rights to Max as David does. On the seemingly good news front is the return of Bethany and Sarah, but very quickly Callum takes a real liking to Sarah. It's a liking that is returned, so huge problems for David!" Bethany also has a crush on Callum and Callum uses this to his advantage. Blackburn said "Sarah Lou is involved with Callum and her daughter Bethany also has a crush on him. Callum will use this crush and Bethany will become his insurance policy if things go wrong. Bethany thinks she is grown up, but she is just a 15-year old kid. She is naive and she is going to get in a world of trouble because of her involvement with Callum."

Sexual exploitation

In December 2016, it was announced that Bethany would be "gradually groomed into a world of sexual exploitation" storyline early next year after "falling for charming" Nathan Curtis, played by Christopher Harper. The storyline intends "to raise awareness of the dangers out there as well as breaking the stereotypes of the perpetrators and victims that exist". Harper said that "it’s very interesting to have someone as bright and cynical as Bethany be duped by this adult who is manipulating her" and "child exploitation isn’t just about what is happening to young children – that emotional hotpot we all remember of being 16,17, 18 years of age, being clever, being open but also still vulnerable. And that’s where Bethany is". For the storyline, the show is working closely with child protection charities.

Fallon says the storyline is "so important that we do it, especially at this time, because we are targeting the people watching Coronation Street who are quite young. All the fans are quite young and they are the people we want to target". Fallon filmed a scene "where Nathan takes Bethany to his flat where there are a lot of men" and added it "was so uncomfortable, it was horrible". Fallon discussed the situation where Bethany would be passed on to another man by Nathan for sex, saying although her character isn't raped, "she agrees to have sex with the guy, but only because Nathan tells her it is normal and that this is what adult relationships are really like" and that reading it "made my [Fallon] skin crawl. It was horrible". Fallon maintains the storyline is "really important" and hopes girls in a similar situation might think "what's happening to me isn't normal" or that "parents might start talking to their daughters about a relationship". Fallon added "the fact it's such an important storyline makes it easier to do."

Reception

For her portrayal as Bethany, Fallon was long-listed for Best Newcomer at the 2015 Inside Soap Awards. Laura-Jayne Tyler of Inside Soap praised the character, saying "she's a little firecracker who has us in stitches every episode, and we're not letting her go without a fight."