Bethany Platt
Bethany Platt is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She was born on-screen during the episode broadcast on 4 June 2000. She was played by Mia Cookson in 2000 and by twins Amy and Emily Walton from 2000 until 30 December 2007, when the character departed. The character was reintroduced with Lucy Fallon taking over the role, and Bethany made her return on 20 March 2015. On 2 May 2019, Fallon announced that she had quit the show. She filmed her last scene on 16 January 2020 and Bethany departed on 4 March 2020. In August 2023, it was announced that Fallon would be reprising the role after three years away. Bethany returned on 31 December 2023. In February 2025, Fallon went on maternity leave after the birth of her second child. Departing on 10 February and returning on 3 October.
Bethany is the daughter of established character Sarah Platt and her classmate Neil Fearns, half-sister of Billy and Harry Platt, granddaughter of Gail Platt and Brian Tilsley, and great-granddaughter of Audrey Roberts. Bethany's storylines have included her taking ecstasy tablets when her uncle, David Platt, hid them in her doll. Bethany departed Weatherfield with her mother Sarah for a new life in Milan. Her return storyline saw her running away from home in Milan back to Weatherfield, and since then, her storylines have included the character's infatuation with David's enemy Callum Logan in the midst of his conflict against her family; being a victim of school bullying; developing a crush on her mother's boyfriend Gary Windass ; her dangerous relationship with local pimp boss Nathan Curtis, who subjugates Bethany in child grooming and sexual exploitation; becoming a lapdancer in the follow-up of her grooming ordeal, which involves building a friendship with Craig Tinker ; being stalked and kidnapped by the daughter, Kayla Clifton, of one of the men who abused her; dating Ryan Connor ; and helping her colleague Daniel Osbourne with the death of his wife Sinead and falling in love with him. She left Weatherfield to start a new life in London, before returning three years later. Since her return her storylines have focused on reconciling her relationship with Daniel, a short feud with Daniel’s love interest Daisy Midgeley, involvement in the disappearance of Lauren Bolton, being diagnosed with sepsis after flying to Turkey to have cosmetic surgery done, resulting in Bethany being left with a lifelong colostomy bag.
Casting
Amy and Emily Walton shared the role of Bethany 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 2015, Blackpool-born Lucy Fallon was confirmed as her replacement. She returned on 20 March 2015.Development
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 praised Granada TV "on having the courage to include a storyline in Coronation Street about teenage pregnancy."File:Lucy Fallon.jpg|thumb|Lucy Fallon was cast as Bethany as a last minute replacement for Katie Redford, after it was revealed that Redford lied about her age, when being considered for the role.
In 2007, a storyline involving Bethany's uncle, David Platt, planting ecstasy tablets in one of her toys 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 Kieran 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 (2015)
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!" 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 2015, 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-boyfriend of David's wife, Kylie Platt, portrayed by Paula Lane, and the arch-enemy of David. "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."Grooming and sexual exploitation
In December 2016, it was announced that Bethany would be "gradually groomed into a world of sexual exploitation" after "falling for charming" Nathan Curtis in a storyline starting in early 2017. 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."Tina O'Brien discussed scenes when Sarah finds Bethany "clearly drunk and dressed provocatively" at Nathan's flat". She added that Sarah "has no idea about the extent" of Bethany's situation
Departure (2020)
On 2 May 2019, it was announced that Fallon had quit the soap after four years. Speaking of her departure, Fallon commented "It's hard to put into words how much this show means to me. I've made lifelong friends with some of the most talented and hardworking people in the industry, I've had some terrific and immensely important storylines and I've laughed with the best people everyday. I’m so thankful to Iain and everyone at Coronation Street, I owe everything to them and I will miss them greatly." On 16 January 2020, Fallon announced that she filmed her last on-screen appearance via Twitter. Fallon made her on-screen departure on 4 March 2020.Return (2023)
In August 2023, it was announced that Fallon would return to the role of Bethany after Christmas and would film her first scene in the coming weeks. She returned on 31 December 2023.Storylines
2000–2007
When Sarah-Louise Platt begins to worry about gaining weight and starts being sick, she is horrified to discover she is five months pregnant just after her 13th birthday in February 2000. It is too late for an abortion, so after first considering giving her baby up for adoption and a plan for her mother Gail to pretend the baby is hers, Sarah decides to raise the baby herself and gives birth, on 4 June 2000. Just hours after her birth, Bethany is kidnapped by Alison Webster, whose baby son [|Jake] has just died. Alison and Bethany are found but Alison commits suicide by running in front of a lorry after handing Bethany over. Sarah originally plans to call her daughter Britney after her favourite pop star Britney Spears but is persuaded not to by her grandmother, Audrey Roberts. 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 in 2002. 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, more trauma is in store for the family. In March 2003, Gail's husband Richard Hillman, having been revealed as the killer of Maxine Peacock, tries to kill Bethany, Sarah, Gail, David Platt 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, 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, is killed in a car accident in late 2003, Sarah decides to take Bethany to the funeral. Neil's mother, Brenda, is pleased to meet Bethany and asks to be part of her life. Neil had decided when Bethany was born that he wanted nothing to do with his daughter.
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 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, sends Sarah into premature labour. Bethany's half-brother, Billy Platt, dies shortly after birth in June 2004. Bethany gets a new father figure when Sarah begins dating Todd's brother, Jason Grimshaw, 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.
In September 2007, an increasingly unstable and 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 to make her be 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. However, on the day of Sarah and Jason’s wedding, David ruins it in an attempt to kill himself by driving his car into the same canal that his stepfather Richard Hillman did in attempt to drown himself, Gail, Sarah and David back in 2003. David ultimately survives. When Sarah's uncle, Stephen Reid 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.