Corrie star's 'ruthless and brutal' steamy affair plot with ex-footballer

27 January 2024 , 20:17

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Kate Ford is having fun getting racy as Tracy Barlow embarks on an affair with a Corrie newcomer (Image: Getty Images Europe)

After a decade of good behaviour, Corrie’s former man-eater Tracy Barlow is set to play away again as she has a steamy affair with hunky ex-footballer Tommy Orpington.

But for actress Kate Ford, swapping Tracy’s usual dowdy onesies and turning up the heat in her fifth decade is proving no mean feat.

The mother of one says: “It’s not easy turning on Tracy’s sexy side – that’s difficult for a 46-year-old woman. I’ve got to be honest, I think that’s a lot less challenging to play in your 30s... I’m trying not to be too vampy with it, because that would be a bit too much.”

Since Tracy’s trysts with Rob Donovan (played by Marc Baylis) and Tony Stewart (Terence Maynard) 10 or 11 years ago, fans of the ITV soap have got used to seeing her and hubby Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) slob about in matching loungewear while fretting over daughter Amy (Elle Mulvaney).

Tracy gives into passion in Corrie

So, locking lips with Weatherfield County ace-turned decorator Tommy (Matt Milburn) is quite a departure. But despite her nerves, Kate welcomes her love scenes, saying: “I haven’t had a storyline as meaty as this for quite a long time.

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“Me and Simon haven’t done any kissing scenes for about 10 years, so I was a bit nervous. There’s that initial thing of, ‘Oh, gosh, I’ve only known this person for five days, this is quite strange.’ Once you’ve done it then you feel OK but I’ve had to come out of my comfort zone a little.”

The star also understands Tracy’s decision to spice up her life with decorator Tommy – especially after Steve bought her a microwaveable neck pillow for her birthday.

Kate reveals: “Massively underwhelmed, she looks at him and thinks, ‘I’m done with this. Is that what I’m worth to you, a heated bag that you got yesterday on offer at the garden centre? How old do you think I am?’ It’s a turning point. She realises how fed up she is with her life.”

Steve and Tracy have hired Tommy to

And Kate is thrilled that the one-time man-eater’s more predatory side is reasserting itself, adding: “I’m pleased to revisit this side of Tracy.

“She’s being ruthless and brutal. Tommy is good looking. He’s got a bit of glamour as an ex-footballer and she fancies him. She’s like ‘God, yeah, I’m really bored, this is fun!”

A single mum to son Otis, 15, since her marriage ended nine years ago, Kate lives in South London and commutes to the Corrie set in Manchester.

And unlike Tracy, who she first played in 2002, she is very content with her lot. She says: “My passions in life are my family, my son and my home. I’m never happier than when I’m at home and I’ve got my family around me. I’m not trying to be saccharine but I really think that’s what matters most in life."

Sue Crawford