Coronation Street spoilers follow.
Coronation Street star Kel Allen has spoken about the show's Laura Neelan twist for the first time.
Friday's episode saw Laura make a major sacrifice as she handed herself in to the police over the murder of her ex-husband Rick, despite knowing that Gary Windass was the true culprit.
As Laura is terminally ill and doesn't have long left, she believed she was doing the right thing to secure a stable future for her daughter Kelly. But with more drama to come for Laura in the coming weeks, has she really thought it through?
Here, Kel shares her thoughts on the big shift in the storyline.
How shocked was Laura when Gary crumbled and admitted that he killed Rick?
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"It was a massive shock to Laura. She can't believe that Rick's dead. She hadn't even considered that as an option, so she's grieving for the loss of a man that she had already lost. But now she knows he is dead and it is Kelly's dad, how is she going to break the news to her?
"Laura is so angry. But you've then also got the fact that she had planned her daughter's future with Gary, and now he has told her that he killed Rick but it was in self-defence. Now she is questioning the real reasons that Gary took Kelly under his wing and realises it was motivated by guilt."
What drove Laura to change her mind and take the fall for the crime?
"I think in the scenes between Laura and Gary, you saw the progress and the moment she saw the truth. What Gary did, he did in self defence. Rick was a bad person and she knows that more than anyone.
"Laura never agreed with the lifestyle that Rick lived. That's why they split in the first place. She didn't want that. Now she has the chance to leave a legacy for her daughter and know that Kelly is with a man who is more decent than her father was.
"When Laura heard the conversation between Kelly and Simon, where Kelly was talking about how happy she feels with Gary and Maria, she knew she couldn't take that away from her. She hasn't done it for Gary or his family, she has done it for Kelly's future."
Has Laura really thought it through – especially the heartache for Kelly of thinking that her mum is a murderer?
"I think personally all Laura has thought about is Kelly's future and she's not considered herself in it. And no, I don't think she initially considers that. When the realisation of that hits, those scenes where she is talking to Kelly were so emotional.
"Oh my God, I was sobbing. I couldn't stop even when they shouted 'cut'. It is the realisation for Laura that her daughter is going to hate her and that throws her off because she loves Kelly.
"But Laura is still determined to make this sacrifice, even if she dies with her daughter believing she is a murderer. She has had to make the person she loves the most hate her in order to help her."
Next week, Laura does everything she can to convince the police that she killed Rick. Did she realise it would be this difficult?
"At the forefront of Laura's mind is her confession and making sure that Kelly's secure, so she is determined to do this right. She has got all the information she needs from Gary about the murder to be able to repeat it and make them believe she did it.
"Laura even knows where the body is buried and how Rick died. It is harder than she thought because the police are sure she is lying. They have had their eye on Gary for this for some time and just needed the proof, but here is this woman who knows all the detail and wants to take the rap."
What happens on the day of Laura's court appearance?
"She is very unwell, but she drags herself out of bed and is determined to go to court and face the music. She has perfected her story and she knows she hasn't got long left, so she has nothing to lose."
Does Laura have any idea Gary has told Maria that he can't let her take the rap and he's planning to confess himself?
"I think Laura can see Gary is riddled with guilt. There are the scenes just after the court scenes where she tells him that he can't ever let Kelly know the truth. This is so important to her, as Kelly would lose another family if Gary went to prison.
"Before Laura was arrested, Gary had started saying his goodbyes to Maria and Liam and was preparing for prison and now he feels guilty that she has saved him. She just hopes he holds his nerve and lets her go through with it."
How do you think viewers will react to Laura taking the rap for Gary?
"People are bound to have been shocked to start off, as they have wanted Gary to pay, but you've also got people seeing the other side of Gary and the redemption for his character.
"I genuinely hope that people see why Laura is doing it, which is to secure Kelly's future. I also hope that people see the redemption for Laura, that she is finally doing something good, finally putting her daughter's needs before her own.
"The whole storyline for Laura has been built so it will show that it's this relationship which is at the heart of it. It's about families, about love and it's about making sure that her daughter is finally getting what she needs from her as a mother, even though it might hurt her too."
We know that you have filmed your final scenes now. What was that like?
"Oh my God, it's emotional. I get emotional and start filling up just thinking about it. What a way to go. When they asked me to come back for this final storyline, I couldn't believe it, it was too good to turn down.
"As an actor to get your teeth stuck into something so heartbreaking, dramatic and even with humour thrown in is just incredible. It's been three years in the running and people have been desperate for the truth to come out, but I don't think they were expecting that twist.
"Because of that twist, the death scenes when they come are even more emotionally charged."
What has working on Coronation Street meant to you?
"For me it has been an incredible job playing a brilliant character and being part of a storyline that has really engaged the audience. The biggest thing I have taken from it is the relationships with the people there.
"Millie [Gibson, who plays Kelly] is incredible, such a talented actor and she is the daughter I never had. I knew Georgia [Taylor, who plays Toyah] before I joined as we trained together many years ago so it has been brilliant working with her again.
"Also I loved working with Samia [Longchambon, who plays Maria], Charlie [de Melo, who plays Imran] and Mikey [North, who plays Gary]. We are like one big family and I feel blessed to be part of that and I will never forget this experience."
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV and streams on the ITV Hub.
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