“She’s a smart woman.”
Coronation Street star Channique Sterling-Brown has spoken about the drama ahead for her character Dee-Dee Bailey as Joel Deering’s secrets start to catch up with him.
Dee-Dee is sure to face a turbulent time in the coming weeks, as fans eagerly await the moment that Joel is caught out for his crimes.
A recent Corrie flashback episode explored how Joel was responsible for grooming and abusing Lauren Bolton, which culminated in him brutally attacking the teenager in her flat.
An oblivious Dee-Dee is currently planning to marry Joel in a few weeks’ time, but as upcoming episodes see her start to notice clues to his guilt, it’s unclear whether they’ll ever make it down the aisle.
Channique spoke to us about Dee-Dee’s future while taking part in a photoshoot for the Inside Soap Awards 2024.
Digital Spy was granted exclusive video access to Corrie’s nominees photoshoot and you can watch our behind-the-scenes footage in full at the top of the page.
Discussing Dee-Dee’s upcoming scenes, Channique told Digital Spy: “We’ve been filming all the lead-up to Joel’s downfall. I think he’s playing a very dangerous game and he’s walking on thin ice.
“It’s been fun, because it’s been like planning a wedding but also exploring this different side of their relationship, where he’s really deliberately deceiving her to keep his lies and his other life undercover.
“Obviously Dee-Dee is a smart woman, so she’s definitely picking up on his signals.”
She continued: “I think it’s going to be a real time of turmoil for Dee-Dee whenever the truth does come out. I think she will be questioning her judgement of character – and her judgement in general.
“But it’s been really important for me personally to protect the integrity of the character. In so many situations, people are deceived. While it might not be to the extent of the kind of person Joel is, if someone has deliberately pulled the wool over your eyes, it doesn’t make you stupid – you’re a victim too.
“I really hope people are able to relate to someone being manipulated in that way and how you reconcile who you are after that.”
Channique admitted that the recent revelations over Joel’s guilt came as no surprise to her, as the storyline twists had been in the works when Calum Lill first took on the role last year.
She laughed: “We did know right from the start! Calum’s screen test was a great scene where Joel gaslights Dee-Dee, then he manipulates her a bit more, then he loses it at her.
“So straight from the off, we knew that this is where the character was going. But it’s been really lovely to build the characters’ journey. It’s sad and it’s a shame because I loved Joel and Dee-Dee, but I think it’s a really exciting twist of events.”
Channique is nominated for Best Actress at this year’s Inside Soap Awards following her central role in recent storylines. Her Corrie co-stars Samia Longchambon (Maria Connor) and Georgia Taylor (Toyah Habeeb) are among the other soap favourites in the running.
