Abi Franklin (played by Sally Carman) is going to relapse in an upcoming episode of Coronation Street after being accused of sabotaging Michelle Connor’s (Kym Marsh) car.
The mechanic will turn to her vices – drink and drugs – to cope with the situation, but it leads to heartache.
When word gets out to local authorities that she has fallen back into her old habits, Abi is refused contact with her twins (Charlie and Lexi).
The mother-of-three is going to be told contact with the twins has been suspended due to her drug relapse.
The news will destroy Abi, as she has worked incredibly hard to straighten out her life and get off the booze and drugs.
Actress Sally Carman, who plays the recovering addict, said the news will come as a “blow” to the Weatherfield resident.
She said: “That’s a different kind of blow because it’s that thing where someone can’t quite believe their luck so they think that something will go wrong.
“It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy and that’s what has happened with her. When she gets that news she is devastated but she knows it is coming.”
With the twins temporarily out of reach, Abi will try her best to prevent her oldest child Seb (Harry Visinoni) from getting into trouble.
This week, Abi will find Seb trashing the flower shop after she tells him she plans to put the twins up for adoption.
Desperate to protect Seb, Abi will stop him in his track, but the commotion is heard by Ken Barlow (William Roache), who spots her and assumes she is responsible for the damage.
However, when the police arrive Seb runs into the back room, while Abi grabs a hand full of cash from the till to distract the officers.
She is arrested on the spot, but actress Sally says her character does not fear jail or punishment at that moment.
“After everything that has gone on, she is so down anyway so she is not bothered,” Sally explained.
“Part of her feels like she deserves it for being such a bad mother and doing what she has done because she doesn’t think much of herself.
“But the fact that she has saved her son from being arrested is keeping her on the right side of it.”
Speaking about her character’s need to look after Seb, she added: “With Seb, the best she can do for him is to protect him from a life like hers so this is her way of doing that.
“She doesn’t want him to go down because she has been to prison herself.”
The TV star concluded: “She can handle it and she does not want that for her son so she feels she is doing the right thing.”
Coronation Street continues tonight on ITV at 7.30pm and 8.30pm.
