John Stape returns to Weatherfield tomorrow, as Fiz's trial approaches.
He's heard his wife is in the dock for his crimes and has a twisted plan to save her.
Here actor Graeme Hawley lets us in on what's going on in John's head. Plus watch the video montage to bring you up to date with John's story so far.
What brings John back to Weatherfield?
Inevitably Fiz’s trial! He was unaware she’d been arrested but then he finds out that she has and she’s going on trial for the murders. He’d been hiding away so he brings himself out of hiding and as usual he’s got a cunning plan for how he’s going to make everything all right!
Do we know where he’s been all this time?
We do, I believe he’s been in Anglesey, it’s been a nice warm summer over there. Coincidentally I’ve been in Anglesey this summer as well so it seems I’ve actually been living out the character’s life!
How does he feel about Fiz standing trial for his crimes?
He’s mortified that she’s up in the dock instead of him. He we absolutely unaware of it and when he finds out she’s up for trial he immediately thinks ‘right I’ll sort this’. But preferably he’d like to sort it without going to prison himself because he’s still going by that mantra that he wouldn’t survive prison again, it nearly killed him last time and would almost certainly kill him this time. So he’s got to try and get Fiz out of prison without putting himself in!
Why is John watching Rosie?
Well it’s all part of a cunning plan! As usual with John Stape there are two things you can be certain of; one his cunning plan will be not be very cunning and two somewhere along the lines it will involve doing something bad to Rosie Webster and this plan is no different. He thinks that Rosie Webster can help him get Fiz out of jail.
What happens when he finds out that Rosie is selling Jason’s flat?
It plays very much into his hands and this is when his plan starts to take shape. The fact that Rosie’s selling the flat presents an opportunity for him to have a little bit of time on his own with Rosie.
What does he plan to do with her?
He needs some time on his own with Rosie, where she’s not going to run off, and where he can explain to her in very clear terms what he needs her to do. It’s not for him it’s for Fiz and he very naively thinks that with a bit of persuasion Rosie might help him.
Does he intend to hurt Rosie?
He doesn’t intent to hurt Rosie but in a John Stape style there’s always the possibility that Rosie will get hurt. He’d rather Rosie got hurt than Fiz but as always with him he’s not going in meaning to hurt her. His plan doesn’t involve anybody getting hurt or injured in any way but that it is unlikely to be the way it goes.
How does Rosie react when he kidnaps her?
She’s really calm and understanding about it or possibly the complete opposite! She goes crazy Rosie style and surprisingly John doesn’t seem to have planned for that, you’d think he’d know her well enough to know how she’d react to him ‘ring-fencing her’, I think is what he calls it rather than kidnapping. He doesn’t like the word kidnap, it’s a bit of one on one private tuition, under forced circumstances!
How does John react when Kevin and Jason break into the flat to try and free Rosie?
At the point when Kevin and Jason break into the flat then his plan is all up the spout and his main aim is to try and get away.
What happens when John makes a run for it?
He manages to disarm Jason but Kevin has had enough now and gives chase, he’s not going to give up until he gets hold of John Stape this time! So decide for yourself who’ll win out of that one!
There’s a crash and John ends up in hospital. What happens at the hospital, is his aim still to help Fiz?
Absolutely, the whole reason he’s back there is to help Fiz. He wants to stay out of jail, he’s determined to stay out of jail, but he’s primarily he’s back there to get Fiz out. So even once he’s in the hospital his main concern is to get Fiz off, see he’s a nice guy really! He doesn’t want Fiz to pay for his crimes and he doesn’t want his daughter’s life to be ruined by his crimes.
How does John react when Fiz visits her?
There’s some really emotional stuff between them and a lot of honest things are said between them about what’s gone on over the last few years. Those scenes in the hospital are probably the most honest conversations they’ve ever had with each other. They’re very good scenes.
How does he feel about seeing Hope again?
He desperately wants to see Hope and have a cuddle with his daughter. He realises that this might not happen again so it’s very emotional for him.
John says he had no idea that Fiz has been arrested for his crimes – is that true?
Yep he had no idea that she’d been arrested and as soon as he does know he comes back.
Does he still love Fiz?
Absolutely yes he loves Fiz. Fiz and Hope are the two good things in his life and he totally loves them both.
How did you feel about filming back at Corrie?
It was very nice because on my first day back rather than coming in in the morning when everyone is there I came in a 10’o’clock at night on my own so I was able to get my bearings again, then when I came in the next day everyone was really nice. The most bizarre thing is that you can be away from somewhere for 3 months then within 10 minutes it’s like you’ve never been away, which is strange but also lovely and a measure of how nice it is to come back to the place.
What kind of reaction have you had from viewers since John’s disappearance?
Yeah it’s been lovely and bizarre at the same time, you’d think people would be coming up saying he’s nasty and a wrong-un but people are still bizarrely feeling sorry for him. Lots of people saying ‘crikey you must have had a strong head to survive that fall’, I think they’re quite surprised he survived the fall. Also lots of people, especially on Twitter, not saying are you coming back but when is he coming back. For the viewers there was an inevitability about it and a level of expectancy. I guess it had been deliberately left in that way, that the character still had to be wrapped up, which is a good thing because I think people knew that there was another chapter to come. Hopefully what that means is that people will be pleased with this next chapter
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