As his partner Katy comes to a life-changing decision, offering to be a surrogate mum for his sister Izzy and her boyfriend Gary, Chesney faces conflicting emotions and pressure from all sides.
Sam Aston, who plays the young dad, talks about how Chesney reacts to the news and the impact on his relationship with Katy.
Q: How does Chesney react when he fist hears about Katy’s surrogacy plans?
Sam: Initially, he is very cautious and just wants to make sure that Katy is making the right decision.
Q: Is Chesney against the idea?
Sam: He is at first, because he is worried about what Katy may go through. But he understands the reason she is doing it - to help her sister at a time when she needs it most. Izzy wants a baby more than anything else in the world.
Q: Owen thinks the whole idea is ridiculous. Does he influence Chesney at any point?
Sam: They have a talk in the builder’s yard after Owen voices his concerns. Owen isn’t happy about any of it and warns Katy that she will never be able to give a baby up. Owen sees it as Chesney’s responsibility to help him talk Katy out of it.
Q: Does Chesney feel that Owen is trying to make him do his dirty work?
Sam: No. Their relationship has always been strained, but they seem to see eye to eye on this. However, Owen goes in all guns blazing, whereas Chesney just wants to be sure that Katy is aware of what she is doing and the reasons why. Owen wants Chesney’s support and Chesney understands his concerns, so I don’t think he sees it as doing his ‘dirty work’.
Q: So Chesney eventually supports Katy?
Sam: Chesney slowly starts warming towards the idea, as he realises that Katy just wants to help her sister in the same way that Chesney has always supported Fiz. They would both do anything for their families.
Q: Do you think Chesney will support Katy in the same way he did during her previous pregnancy?
Sam: I doubt it, as the baby isn’t theirs. Chesney will look after Katy, because he loves her, but as far as the pregnancy goes, he understands that Izzy and Gary will be much more involved than they were first time round. At the end of the day, Chesney respects the person Katy is and the decisions that she makes.
Q: How will Chesney cope if the surrogacy goes as planned?
Sam: I think he may struggle with the birth as it would bring back memories of baby Joseph. This may lead to problems with giving the baby to Izzy and Gary, as Katy and Chesney may grow attached.
Q: How have you found being part of the new Windass/Battersby/Armstrong family?
Sam: We have some fantastic scenes and it’s really fun to film, especially since I’m so used to filming with just one or two people. There is so much potential with so many different relationships and the surrogacy storyline proves it.
More about this story
Find out what Georgia May Foote thinks about Katy's offer to be a surrogate mum for sister Izzy.
Watch Mike North talk about Gary's surrogacy battle in a new backstage video.
See Izzy and Gary's adoption clinic meeting and baby Joseph's christening in picture previews.
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