Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) has become fully consumed by the world of The Institute in Coronation Street.
While this character believes leader Rowan (Emryhs Cooper) runs a group passionate about self-care and positivity, the likes of Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) and Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor) are aware Leanne is actually part of a corrupt cult-like organisation.
In the most recent development, Nick returned home to find Leanne and Rowan holding hands and looking at something on the computer.
Under the impression Leanne had started an affair with Rowan, Nick was utterly flabbergasted when Leanne picked up the laptop and showed him an AI version of Oliver.
Leanne found a great deal of comfort from looking at the video, revealing to Nick he was looking at footage of what her son Oliver would look like today, if he was still alive.
Reflecting on Leanne’s journey with The Institute so far, actress Jane Danson revealed why her character has become so engrossed by the group:
‘Historically, Leanne doesn’t really think about things and jumps into the deep end but for the first time in her life, she’s stopped doing this’, she said.
‘On this occasion, she’s almost taken a step back and because of the certain traumas that have happened in her life, such as losing Oliver, it’s made her re-evaluate things and she’s not being quite as quick in her decision making as what she once was. It’s almost as if Leanne has had a change of personality overnight!’
She added: ‘In lots of ways she’s very positive about life. The Institute really has made her change her mindset and has made her look at life in a different way and approach things differently to how she has done in the past, but by doing this she’s caused a lot of problems in different areas of her life. So, even though she feels positive, she’s kind of caught in negative outcomes by what she’s doing.’
Pondering over the change in dynamics between Leanne and Nick, as well as Leanne and her sister Toyah, Jane said:
‘What’s really interesting playing this storyline out is that there are some things that happen that actually make you understand why Leanne is getting sucked into this. The Institute is all about positivity, bringing good energy and just being a good person but I think she’s taken it all a little bit too far.
‘Usually Leanne is a strong character who wouldn’t typically make these types of decisions, but for whatever part of her life, she’s decided to go against time and behave differently which is of course going to give Toyah and Nick a cause for concern and start pushing them away.’
One thing we’ve seen alongside this storyline is Nick’s developing connection with Toyah. He was on hand to support Toyah when she opened up about her stillborn baby girl, and she’s also supported him while watching Leanne prioritise Rowan and The Institute over her family.
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‘Oh it definitely could!’, Jane revealed when asked whether the cult could threaten Leanne and Nick’s relationship.
‘I think Leanne is pushing people away without actually realising she’s doing it and is being very self absorbed. I don’t think Leanne see’s the bigger picture of everything because certain behaviours are making her distance herself – which is the total opposite of what she’s actually trying to achieve.
‘Leanne’s new mindset is all about being positive and manifesting but what she’s doing is totally alienating herself leaving everyone thinking that she’s going crackers!’.
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