Coronation Street spoilers follow.
Coronation Street star Charlie de Melo has spoken about Imran Habeeb and Toyah Battersby's big Christmas storyline for the first time.
Heartwarming scenes airing over the festive season will see Imran and his partner Toyah (Georgia Taylor) enjoy their first experience as foster parents, as they're asked to take in a baby boy called Mason for a short time.
This will be one of the main plots taking centre stage in Corrie's hour-long Christmas Day episode, which shows Imran and Toyah exhausted but over the moon after their first night looking after Mason.
Speaking to Digital Spy and other media about the scenes, Charlie explained: "It's panic stations initially, because it's a very last minute placement so this idea of a foster child coming in is quite abstract.
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"Then when it's like 'here's a baby', it's like 'what!' It's the reality of it, and if there are any parents who are watching, they'll probably be like 'yeah, it's difficult'.
"I think Imran has got the makings of a good dad. He's professional, he's able to provide a stable base, and I think he would balance quite well – as would Toyah. Toyah works in mental health so I can only imagine that would be helpful."
As Mason will only be staying on a short-term basis, one concern on Imran's mind is how Toyah will cope when the time comes to hand him back.
Charlie continued: "I think that would be something that would be in the back of his mind. Toyah's relationship with children, and her want to have children, has been such a huge part of her life and it's quite a destructive part of her life – even though steps have been made and she's healthier in that regard.
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"But I think it would be irresponsible of Imran not to at least consider that – especially having a short-term fostering situation where you come in, you bond and then they're gone.
"To have that rip and tear dynamic, that's difficult for anybody, particularly someone who's been wanting a child in their life for so long."
In the week after Christmas, Imran and Toyah go ahead with giving Mason back.
Imran then receives a call about taking on another foster child, but rejects the opportunity without even consulting Toyah – fearing that it's too soon after her sadness over saying goodbye to Mason.
Related: Coronation Street reveals Christmas storylines in 52 new spoiler pictures
Asked whether Imran is doing the right thing, Charlie replied: "Probably not. He's trying to do right by Toyah, but he's also making an executive decision about them as a couple and with the best will in the world, that's only going to lead to upset.
"It's a mistake he has made with Toyah in the past, so it's the 'road to hell paved with good intentions'. He's trying to do right by her, but by doing so, he's essentially being at best, patronising."
Coronation Street airs an hour-long special on Christmas Day at 7pm on ITV.
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