List of Coronation Street characters introduced in 2016
The following is a list of Coronation Street characters introduced in 2016, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by series producer Stuart Blackburn, or his successor Kate Oates.
Marta Zarek
Marta Zarek, played by Edyta Budnik, made her first on-screen appearance on 5 February 2016. The character and casting was announced on 29 January 2016. Marta is introduced as part of a modern slavery storyline. Mark Jefferies of the Daily Mirror reported that producers consulted experts to ensure the storyline would be accurate. A spokesperson commented, "Obviously, Coronation Street tries to tackle difficult subjects and has done storylines about serious illnesses and violence before. But this is the first time slavery has appeared."Aidan Connor and Eva go to a party at the O'Driscolls and drive there in the Underworld van. Marta hides in the back of the vehicle, which takes her to Weatherfield. Once there, she makes her home in the factory, hoping to make herself inconspicuous, but desperation causes her to steal from the staff's belongings and make them believe that there is a thief among them. Eva Price finds and takes pity on her, and starts bringing her food. Marta tells her about how she has been forced into slavery, and that her family in Poland are being threatened by her slavers, later revealed to be Richie and Julia O'Driscoll, Underworld's new clients. She is almost found by Kirk Sutherland, whose claims of noises from the back of the factory were being ignored by everyone. Before she can be found, she flees through the assembled group wearing Sean Tully's new coat and pushing over Izzy Armstrong in her escape.
Marta disappears into the streets, but comes back after several weeks because she is ill and needs help. She is given shelter at 18a Victoria Street but refuses medical attention and attempts to flee again. Billy Mayhew helps Eva stop her from leaving, and Marta tells them her full story and the identity of her persecutors. Eva vows to help the girl retrieve her passport from the O'Driscolls. Eva goes to a dinner party at the O'Driscolls with Aidan to look for it, but she is caught and sacked after the O'Driscolls claim that the girl had stolen from them and been fired. Marta leaves St. Mary's Rectory, and steals £20 from Billy and his mobile phone. Using the tracker app installed on the phone, Billy and Eva find Marta and demand answers. Billy takes her back to the O'Driscolls where Julia greets her and takes her inside, leaving him outside. A few days later, Billy and Eva check on Marta and are told that she had gone home but as they are leaving, Eva believes she sees Marta through an upstairs window. Aidan's suspicions are raised when he sees Julia padlocking a bedroom door during a visit. Billy and Eva try to rescue Marta when the O'Driscolls are at a trade fair, breaking into the house, and find Marta locked in the bedroom. They are caught when the O'Driscolls return early. Richie assaults Billy and Eva, but they are rescued by Aidan who had followed them there. The police are called, and the O'Driscolls are prosecuted for offences under section 1 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. A few days later, a happy and smartened-up Marta is brought into the Rovers by Aidan to say goodbye and "thank you" to Eva before she returns home to her family.
Rana Habeeb
Rana Habeeb, played by Bhavna Limbachia, made her first on-screen appearance on 19 February 2016. The character and casting was announced on 8 January. In regards to her casting, Limbachia commented "I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining the show. Being a proud Northerner, it's a dream come true." Rana was introduced as a love interest for Zeedan Nazir and an old friend of his sister Alya. Following a visit to catch up with Alya, Rana found employment at the local medical centre. The show's former series producer Stuart Blackburn described Rana as "sharp, funny, utterly gorgeous and not a little manipulative." In January 2019, it was announced Rana would be killed off after Limbachia quit the role, and the character was written off on 20 March 2019.Rana first appears having a meal with Alya in the bistro, and the latter's brother, Zeedan, becomes attracted to her. Rana flirts with him and Andy Carver. She leaves, and Alya's grandparents, Sharif and Yasmeen Nazir, ask her to return soon as she brought a lot of happiness back into Alya's life. Rana wants to have sex with Zeedan, but he prefers to wait until after marriage, which they break up and reconcile regularly over. They agree to take their relationship slowly, but Zeedan becomes jealous when she talks to other men. After Zeedan argues with Sharif, he and Rana have a heart-to-heart, which ends in Zeedan proposing to Rana, and her running off. Later, Zeedan asks Rana to forget his proposal, but she says she wants to marry him, and they seal their engagement with a kiss.
Rana supports Zeedan when Sharif is discovered to be having an affair with [|Sonia Rahman], but the revelation forces Zeedan to question his beliefs in marriage, and after an awkward meal with Rana's parents, breaks off their engagement. Rana is crushed and is adamant that this is the end of her relationship with Zeedan, but Leanne Battersby helps the pair reconcile. Zeedan and Rana marry immediately, with Rana's parents, Yasmeen, Leanne and Nick Tilsley witnessing the ceremony.
Zeedan is keen to start a family, but Rana is less certain. Rana secretly begins taking contraceptive pills without his knowledge. When Zeedan refuses to talk to Alya after learning she knew of Sharif's affair, Rana tries to act as peacemaker. She is successful at first, but when the gym where Zeedan works—partly owned by Sharif—shuts down due to Sharif embezzling money to give it to Alya, he makes it clear he cannot forgive his sister. Upset to see her family not getting along, Yasmeen also pressures Rana to have a child, hoping it will bring everyone together. Rana snaps and reveals she is not ready for children yet after Yasmeen buys her an ovulation predictor kit.
In September 2017, Rana falls out with her close friend, lesbian Kate Connor, when Kate thinks Rana is homophobic. Rana keeps out of Kate's way until she breaks up with her girlfriend, and they make up. After getting drunk Rana kisses Kate admitting to her she is confused about her feelings although she tells Zeedan she wants to try for a baby. Despite having feelings for Kate, Rana tries to move on and gets married properly to Zeedan, as their first marriage was not officially legal and on the wedding day deletes a voicemail Kate leaves telling her that she loves her. A few weeks later, Rana and Kate confess their love for each other and they passionately kiss, with Rana telling Kate she will tell Zeedan. She does not, and when Luke Britton finds out he tells her to tell Zeedan, herself. She lies and says she is pregnant to get him off her back. Rana and Kate continue their affair, but they are discovered when Kate's cousin, Michelle Connor, robs the bistro and spots them together. Michelle blackmails Kate, saying that if she goes to the police about her committing the robbery she will tell Zeedan about the affair. Michelle and Kate later make up and Michelle starts letting Rana and Kate use her and Robert Preston's flat for them to continue their affair. Robert discovers the two together one night, but keeps it a secret. In January 2018, Rana confesses her love for Kate to Zeedan, and he ends their marriage, and forces her to give her wedding ring back to him. A few days later Zeedan forces Rana to confess about her affair to her parents, disgusting the both of them. Rana's father Hassan makes a deal with Zeedan: if he and Rana pretend to be married for the next year in order to maintain the family's reputation, he will make Zeedan's business venture happen. Although initially reluctant, Rana agrees. In March 2018, Kate visits Rana and they kiss which Zeedan sees. After she picks Kate over her family, Hassan disowns her. When Hassan has a stroke, Rana's mother Saira stops her from seeing him in hospital and she has to lie that she is no longer with Kate to see him just as he dies.
Later in 2018, Kate and Rana propose to each other at the same time. The engagement is called off when the two discuss having a child; Rana does not want a child, causing the two of them to split up. They eventually get back together as a couple on New Year's Eve and re-plan their wedding and life together.
On 20 March 2019, Rana dies with Kate by her side on their wedding day after being trapped under the rubble in the Underworld factory collapse. During the investigation into the roof collapse, the cause is determined to be sabotage. On 31 May 2019, her ghost returns to haunt Carla Connor, who knew the factory roof was unsafe because of fire damage and whose mental health was spiralling out of control. On the same day, her murderer is revealed to be Gary Windass.
Lauren
Lauren, played by Shannon Flynn, made her first on-screen appearance on 4 March 2016. Lauren and Shelley bully Bethany Platt : Lauren pulls Bethany's hair and makes remarks about Bethany and her mother Sarah Platt ; sends cruel messages with Shelley to Bethany online; and follows Bethany home with some of her friends, but Luke intervenes and forces them to leave. When Sarah learns of Bethany's bullying, she visits Lauren at her home and confronts both Lauren and [|Lorane]. Lauren and her friends steal Bethany's phone and on another occasion, they insult Bethany's brother, Harry, calling him unplanned and ugly, which causes Bethany's uncle Nick to lose his temper at Lauren, shouting at her and throwing her swim bag on the pavement, damaging an expensive bottle of shampoo. Lauren apologises to Bethany, but the latter learns it is insincere when Lauren and her gang taunt Bethany about Sarah's mental health, but leave when Anna arrives.Later in 2016, Lauren harasses Bethany at the local gym, causing Bethany to lash out at her. The gym's manager and Anna's son, Gary Windass, appears and forces Lauren to leave. During a meeting at school, Lauren and Bethany are suspended after Lauren tricks their headmaster into thinking that Bethany is bullying her. Lauren later harasses Bethany at her great-grandmother Audrey Roberts' salon, but Bethany's uncle David Platt offers to bury the hatchet by giving Lauren a free haircut. After sending Bethany out to get coffee, David cuts off Lauren's hair and threatens to cut her throat if she hurts Bethany again, causing Lauren to flee the salon. Lauren later calls the police on David, but he lies that Lauren changed her mind on her haircut halfway through, with his story being backed up by Gemma Winter. Lauren is later expelled from school after several other girls in Bethany's year group come forward and admit that Lauren has been terrorising them as well. Lauren's father [|Phil] later beats up David for hacking off Lauren's hair.