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List of Coronation Street characters introduced in 2016
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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, 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 (Shayne Ward) 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 (Catherine Tyldesley) 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 (James Midgley) and Julia O'Driscoll (Malgorzata Klara), 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 (Antony Cotton) new coat and pushing over Izzy Armstrong (Cherylee Houston) 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 (Daniel Brocklebank) 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 (also Nazir), 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 (Qasim Akhtar) and an old friend of his sister Alya (Sair Khan). 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 (Oliver Farnworth). She leaves, and Alya's grandparents, Sharif (Marc Anwar) and Yasmeen Nazir (Shelley King), 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 (Sudha Bhuchar), 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 (Jane Danson) helps the pair reconcile. Zeedan and Rana marry immediately, with Rana's parents, Yasmeen, Leanne and Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) 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.
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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, 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 (Shayne Ward) 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 (Catherine Tyldesley) 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 (James Midgley) and Julia O'Driscoll (Malgorzata Klara), 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 (Antony Cotton) new coat and pushing over Izzy Armstrong (Cherylee Houston) 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 (Daniel Brocklebank) 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 (also Nazir), 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 (Qasim Akhtar) and an old friend of his sister Alya (Sair Khan). 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 (Oliver Farnworth). She leaves, and Alya's grandparents, Sharif (Marc Anwar) and Yasmeen Nazir (Shelley King), 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 (Sudha Bhuchar), 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 (Jane Danson) helps the pair reconcile. Zeedan and Rana marry immediately, with Rana's parents, Yasmeen, Leanne and Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) 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.