Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney has addressed her character Cassie Plummer's ongoing manipulation of Ken Barlow.
The two characters are currently taking centre stage in a slow-burn storyline, as Cassie continues her efforts to make Ken reliant on her.
Cassie started spiking Ken's drinks with antihistamines last year in order to keep her job as his unofficial carer.
Her twisted plan has made Ken drowsy around the house, and he recently asked Cassie to move in permanently so that she could keep a close eye on him.
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Speaking to Digital Spy and other press at the TV Choice Awards 2025, Claire insisted that her character is complicated and her dangerous actions shouldn't be seen as purely "evil".
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Praising the tense storyline, Claire told us: "It's fabulous, isn't it? I love the way they're writing for the character. They're writing great stuff.
"There's humour, it's brilliant, and I feel honoured to be working with Bill Roache as well."
She continued: "It's the way they're writing it. She's not being totally evil. She's doing it because she needs him, she wants him to care for her. So she's not being evil.
"It's nice, they're writing humour for her. I've got the stuff with Bill Roache, great stuff with Tracy Barlow as well. I feel very lucky. I've watched the show since I was a kid, so to be part of it, I feel very honoured."
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Coronation Street's producer Kate Brooks previously named the Cassie and Ken story as one to watch this year.
Speaking to Digital Spy and other media at a recent press event, Brooks commented: "The friendship is genuine and real, but Cassie has had a bad life. She's had a terrible upbringing. She's made mistakes in the past and it's sometimes hard to shake off that persona.
"That's what we'll see with Cassie. She'll be struggling with the good angel and the bad angel on her shoulder, and which way is she going to go?
"She does stir up a lot of trouble and a lot of bother, not just with the Barlows but within No.9 [Tyrone and Fiz's house] as well. So, Cassie and Ken, keep your eyes on them because it's going to get good!"
The TV Choice Awards 2025 took place at the Hilton Park Lane on Monday evening (February 10).
The ceremony saw former Coronation Street star Peter Ash take home the Best Soap Performance prize for his character Paul Foreman's exit storyline.
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
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