On a soap rife with sex predators, domestic abusers and Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard), it’s nice to have lighten the mood with a spot of romance. That’s exactly what is on the menu when two Coronation Street residents find love…
The eligible bachelor in question is none other than local charmer Ollie Driscoll (Raphael Akuwudike), the chef of the Rovers’ Return and Weatherfield’s answer to Gordon Ramsay.
He’s still nursing a broken heart from bidding adieu to his long-time girlfriend, lawyer Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown). They had possibly the cutest meet you could wish for in a soap opera – he was charged with careless driving and hired the girl he fancied to represent him in court.
But it sadly ended in heartbreak when Dee-Dee accepted a job in Singapore and departed Weatherfield with Laila, leaving poor Ollie in Dumpsville. Poor lad. All he wants is a nice girl…
Enter Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton). Hers would be a very fun dating profile to write. She’s brassy, sassy and tough as nails, with more baggage than Heathrow. Then again, that’s pretty much what you’d expect from the daughter of a far-right extremist group leader who groomed her into extremism.
To say Lauren has a colourful history on the cobbles is something of an understatement.
If the whole ‘far right extremist’ dad thing wasn’t enough drama, she was groomed into selling adult content online by evil solicitor Joel Deering (Calum Lill) and became pregnant with his child.
This toxic relationship ended with Lauren bashing Joel’s head in with a rock to stop him from pushing her friend Max Turner (Paddy Bever) off a bridge.
That’s all behind Lauren now. She’s working at the Rover’s Return as a barmaid, where eagle-eyed fans might have spotted a bit of light flirtation lately between her and Mister Driscoll.
The cobbles couple have been dancing around each other of late, but upcoming scenes will see them getting awfully close to sealing the deal.
When, Ollie asks Lauren on a date and over dinner in the bistro, Lauren is delighted and the banter is soon flowing like wine. Is love in the air?
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After a successful date together, Ollie invites Lauren to a student party in Fallowfield. When Lauren excitedly gushes to Betsy Swain (Sydney Martin) and Carla Connor (Alison King) about her upcoming second date, Betsy offers to lend her some clothes.
Will this be the start of a new romance in Weatherfield? Will we need to come up with a decent shipping name? How about Lorrie? Oren? Biscoll?