Coronation Street to expand the Bailey family as soap boss reveals whether DeeDee will finally make debut
CORONATION Street is going to expand the Bailey family – but it won’t be with absent sister DeeDee.
Head of continuing drama at ITV John Whiston has revealed plans to grow the cobbles’ first ever black family with an “important new member”.
And the soap will be exploring racism in a new in depth storyline.
“Following on from the racism storyline the show told in recognition of Stephen Lawrence Day, we’ve got a more in-depth look at the effects of racism coming up,” John told Digital Spy.
“There’s also an important new character joining the Bailey family.”
However The Sun Online can confirm that it will not be sister DeeDee – who has yet to appear on the cobbles in person.
That means there will be another family member joining builder Ed, nurse Aggie and sons Michael and James.
Earlier this year viewers cheered as Ed Bailey took down a racist bully with an epic speech in the Bistro.
The character confronted the idiot at the venue’s fancy launch party after hearing him looking over at him sneering: “You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.”
But Ed replied: “Ahh, you were just having a laugh. I was being too sensitive. I am so weary – I’ve had a lifetime fighting people calling me names and I have heard every name and every stupid comment you can think of.
“I’ve had people like you ask me if I can read, if I went to school, if I can swim. I’ve had people like you assume I’m a criminal, that I can get them stolen goods or ganja.
“I’ve been asked if I came in on the Windrush. I’ve been asked what I eat. What cricket team I support. I have heard it all a thousand times. But I don’t think any of these good people in here have… so let’s hear it again one more time.”
When Don stayed silent, Ed roared: “No? Then I will say it for him. He said: ‘If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.'”
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To hushed shock around the room, he added: “As a wise young man once said to me, if I give up, then I’m just leaving the fight for someone else. So I’m not giving up, Don.”
The bistro manager insisted: “A little joke and you’re kicking off like this – it’s ridiculous” before adding quietly: “I’m sorry.”
Ed rejected it out of hand saying: “Shove your apology – it’s as pathetic as you are.” Then, sweeping out with his family, he concluded: “Let’s go.”