Leanne Battersby
Leanne Battersby (also Tilsley and Barlow) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Jane Danson. It was announced in February 1997 that a "family from hell" would be introduced to Coronation Street. This included Les (Bruce Jones) and Janice Battersby (Vicky Entwistle), Les' daughter Leanne and Janice's daughter Toyah (Georgia Taylor). Leanne made her first appearance on 4 July 1997. Danson left the series on 23 August 2000 and returned on 7 June 2004. Danson later took maternity leave in 2006 and returned in early 2007. Danson took another maternity break in 2009 and returned in the same year. On 27 September 2017, Danson took an extended break from the show and returned three months later on 15 December 2017.
Leanne Battersby
1997–2000, 2004–present
Episode 4223
4 July 1997
Brian Park (1997)
Tony Wood (2004)
Leanne Tilsley
Leanne Barlow
Leanne Tilsley
Leanne Barlow
- Sales assistant
- Lap-dancer
- Waitress
- Escort
- Business owner
- Restaurant manager
- Kebab shop assistant
- Barmaid
- Personal assistant
- Drug dealer
Toyah Battersby (step)
Greg Kelly
Chesney Brown (adoptive)
Nick Tilsley
(1998–1999, 2013–2014)
Peter Barlow
(2010–2012)
Gloria Price
Betty Battersby
Josie Battersby
Susie Price
Rose Battersby (adoptive)
Leanne's storylines include numerous affairs, prostitution, drug abuse, insurance fraud, discovering her biological mother was Stella Price (Michelle Collins), a miscarriage, an abortion and a custody battle for Peter Barlow's (Chris Gascoyne) son, Simon (Alex Bain). Leanne has had numerous relationships within the show. She married Nick Tilsley (Adam Rickitt/Ben Price) in 1998, but they temporally divorced for a while. She married Peter Barlow in the show's live 50th anniversary episode, but divorced him in 2012 in reaction to his affair with Carla Connor (Alison King) being exposed. After a volatile reconciliation, she and Nick married for the second time in January 2013, but they divorced the following year. After a one-night stand, Leanne becomes pregnant with Steve McDonald's (Simon Gregson) baby and gives birth to a son, Oliver Battersby, who dies in 2020 from mitochondrial disease. Leanne reunites with Nick again in 2016 and 2018.
Storylines[edit]
1997–2000[edit]
Leanne moves to Coronation Street with her father Les Battersby (Bruce Jones), stepmother Janice and stepsister Toyah in July 1997. She starts dating Nick Tilsley (Adam Rickitt), despite his mother, Gail Platt's (Helen Worth) disapproval. Nick proposes and he and Leanne go to Scotland to get married. In an effort to become more responsible, Leanne quits her hairdressing course and starts work with Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox) in the Kabin. Nick, however, continues at college and they move into No. 4 with Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold), his girlfriend Zoe Tattersall (Joanne Froggatt) and Zoe's daughter, Shannon. Nick and Leanne's relationship becomes strained when Leanne gets pregnant. Insisting they are not ready for a baby, Nick persuades Leanne to have an abortion and tell people that she miscarried. Leanne reluctantly agrees and the relationship begins to deteriorate.
Nick learns that his father's killer, Darren Whateley (Andy Robb), will soon be released from prison. He persuades Leanne to befriend him, intending to send Darren back to prison. Things do not go according to plan and Leanne's safety is threatened when Darren breaks into her house. He returns to prison for breaking his parole conditions, despite the fact that Nick caused the situation. Their relationship breaks under the trauma and they split up. Now single, Leanne begins dating Vikram Desai (Chris Bisson). Excessive partying and late nights take their toll and Leanne resigns from The Kabin, following a row with Rita's foster daughter, Sharon Gaskell (Tracie Bennett), over missing money and starts work as barmaid at The Rovers Return Inn for Natalie Horrocks (Denise Welch). Leanne starts taking drugs and ends up owing her drug dealer a lot of money, but refuses to rob the Rovers. Leanne ends up in hospital after a fight with one of Jez Quigley's (Lee Boardman) thugs. Leanne is scared and decides to leave Weatherfield.
2004–present[edit]
In June 2004, Les finds Leanne working in a lap dancing bar while on a night out with Steve McDonald. She returns to Coronation Street and moves in with Janice, but soon causes trouble for her ex-husband, Nick, and his new girlfriend, Maria (Samia Ghadie), after learning about Maria's affair with Toyah's ex-boyfriend John. Leanne and Maria's sparring culminates in a brawl in The Rovers Return and Nick leaves Weatherfield. Leanne dates Jamie Baldwin (Rupert Hill) and despite briefly dumping her for Maria, they reunite. However, in 2005, Leanne has an affair with Danny Baldwin (Bradley Walsh), Jamie's father. After the affair is exposed in January 2006, Jamie dumps Leanne and disowns his father. Danny moves in with Leanne and they get engaged, plotting to change Mike's (Johnny Briggs) will, so Danny will inherit his father's fortune. Leanne eggs Danny on and he inherits everything upon Mike's death in April 2006. However, in July, Leanne finds another will that leaves everything to Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson). Leanne blackmails Danny with the new will for £100,000. Danny rejects her threats so Leanne gives the will to Adam and he has Danny arrested but drops the charges when Danny offers him a 40% share in Underworld. Danny evicts Leanne and she leaves Weatherfield.
Leanne returns eight months later, secretly working as an escort. Her stepmother, Janice, is disgusted. When Leanne starts dating Liam Connor (Rob James-Collier), Janice insists she choose between a loving relationship and her new career. Leanne is shocked to find her new client is Liam's brother, Paul (Sean Gallagher) and he threatens to tell Liam so she threatens to tell his wife, Carla Connor (Alison King). Following the incident with Paul, Leanne chooses to buy a restaurant with Carla, who pulls out after learning that Leanne is an escort and met Paul once. Refusing to believe that they did not sleep together, Carla leaves Leanne £10,000 in debt and dumps Paul. An angry Paul kidnaps Leanne, putting her in the boot of his car before accidentally crashing into a truck. Leanne suffers minor injuries but Paul is killed. Carla tells Liam about Leanne's escorting so he ends their relationship. Leanne borrows £10,000 she needs from Janice's plumber boyfriend Roger Stiles (Andrew Dunn), and pays him back throughout the year.
Leanne hires Paul Clayton (Tom Hudson) as a chef and he develops feelings for her, which she rejects. However, after realising that Valandro's is losing money, she and Paul burn the restaurant down for the insurance money in March 2008. Leanne sleeps with Paul to persuade him to torch the restaurant, which he does on 31 March 2008. Meanwhile, Leanne is dating Dan Mason (Matthew Crompton). When the police question her and Paul about the fire, Dan gives her an alibi. Paul, however, is arrested and released on bail, but goes on the run to avoid being imprisoned. In September, Dan needs £10,000 to buy the betting shop from his father, Harry (Jack Ellis), and Leanne offers him the money after Janice won £25,000 in a lottery scam. However, when Dan learned where the money came from, he breaks up with Leanne. Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) returns to the Street with his five-year-old son, Simon (Alex Bain), and buys the betting shop. On 17 December 2008, a drunken Peter tries to kiss Leanne but she rejects him. However, she forgives him when he promises to give up alcohol and they start dating. In early 2009, Peter struggles to stay sober and starts a rehabilitation programme which Leanne supports, running the betting shop in his absence. Leanne thinks that he is having an affair and confronts him in the Rovers, but is mortified to learn that he was planning to propose. The reappearance of Leanne's ex-fiancé, Nick (now played by Ben Price), is another challenge to her relationship with Peter. After an explosion at the bar and a tram derailment, Nick, Peter, and Ashley are trapped in the office. Peter is seriously hurt and taken to hospital where he and Leanne marry but moments later, Peter goes into cardiac arrest brought on by a pericardial effusion and has to be resuscitated. To Leanne's relief, he survives and successfully comes through surgery to stop internal bleeding, but it is later revealed that he has damaged his spine and it could be some time before he can walk again. Noticing that Carla has romantic feelings for Peter, Leanne warns her to stay away from them and takes Peter on an impromptu honeymoon on New Year's Eve.
Upon their return, they move back to their flat but Peter is depressed about his injuries and hates being treated like an invalid. Leanne finds herself under great stress, having to look after both Simon and Peter and run the bookies with Nick, who continues to pressure her to leave Peter. Leanne later suspects that Peter and Carla had been having an affair but they were, in fact, supporting each other as alcoholics. Leanne and Peter argue and Peter refuses to forgive Leanne because she did not trust him. Leanne plans to leave Weatherfield for London but Peter stops her at the station. After a weekend spent talking through their problems, the couple agrees to give their marriage another try and head off, with Simon, on the honeymoon Peter had booked. The new landlady at The Rovers, Stella Price (Michelle Collins), is revealed to be Leanne's biological mother but Leanne rejects her. Leanne is overjoyed to find that she is pregnant but although Peter seems happy, he admits to Ken that he is not sure they are ready. Peter and Leanne celebrate in the Rovers and Carla overhears Deirdre and Ken congratulating them and forces Peter to confirm that Leanne is pregnant. Leanne is furious when she realises Carla knows about her pregnancy, especially when Carla drops hints to Simon about it. She confronts Peter and they argue about it, which ends with Leanne hurling vicious insults at Peter about his alcoholism and him storming out of the flat. Feeling guilty, Leanne runs after him but trips and falls down the stairs, where she is later found by Stella. Leanne miscarries and reconciles with Stella. Dr Carter (Oliver Mellor) tells her she is unlikely to get pregnant again without IVF treatment and while she is discussing this, Peter begins an affair with Carla. When Leanne learns of this, she leaves Weatherfield, despite Stella begging her to stay. She stays with her sister in Liverpool, but when she returns, Leanne decides to go for custody of Simon after she believes that Peter and Carla cannot take care of him. Simon ends up in hospital after drinking a bottle of wine, and Peter hands Simon over to Leanne.
Leanne later reconciles with Nick, and she and Simon move in with him after Peter and Carla leave Weatherfield. Leanne receives her decree absolute, but manipulation from Leanne's jealous half-sister, Eva, leads Nick to propose to Leanne, which she initially rejects but later accepts. Peter and Carla return from Los Angeles and Simon insists that he stay with his father, forcing them to cancel the wedding. Nick re-books the wedding but calls it off when Eva tells the congregation that Leanne visited Peter. Leanne attacks Peter and attempts to win Nick back, after realising he is the one she wants and re-books the wedding. Leanne sells her share of the bookies to Carla, for £90,000 and refuses to lower the price.
Nick falls into a coma, following a car accident with David. Leanne supports Nick when he is released from the hospital. He becomes argumentative and short-tempered, which Leanne finds difficult. Leanne discovers that Nick slept with David's wife, Kylie Platt (Paula Lane) on Christmas Day and that David caused the car crash. Following weeks of indecision, she allows Nick to look after Simon. He loses his temper and Leanne decides to reconcile with him and support his recovery. Despite Nick punching Leanne during an angry outburst on Christmas Day 2013, they stay together for another month, after which they split up, after Nick realised their marriage was based on nothing.
Leanne develops an attraction to Kal Nazir (Jimi Mistry). They initially attempt to distance themselves from one another fearing a relationship would ruin Nick's recovery from brain damage. When they start a relationship, Nick fires Leanne. She and Kal overcome problems in their relationship and she files for divorce from Nick. Nick behaves harshly towards Leanne and informs Kal's family about Leanne's prostitution past. Leanne begins work at the kebab shop and halts her divorce fearing the stress will take its toll on Nick's health. Nick admits that he faked the effects of his injury after Leanne confronts Nick and smashes items in his restaurant, during Kylie's birthday party, she then returns to working there in December 2014.
In May 2015, Kal is killed in a fire at the Victoria Court flats moments after proposing to her. Later that summer, Leanne recognises Liz McDonald's (Beverley Callard) new boyfriend, Dan Jones (Andrew Paul) as an old client from her days working as a prostitute. He threatens her, but she still tells Liz about his past. He then holds Leanne, Liz and Simon hostage in Leanne's flat and informs Simon about Leanne's prostitution. An angry Simon hits Leanne and continues to be abusive towards her, but promises to stop. On another occasion, he pushes her over knocking her unconscious and she is taken to hospital. Leanne then sends Simon to stay with Peter but his behaviour worsens when he returns from Plymouth and she confides in Eva about the abuse. Simon continues to hit Leanne, refuses to go to school, vandalises property and drunkenly causes a scene in the Bistro with his friends. Leanne forces Simon to live with his grandfather, Ken. When he tries to hit his cousin Amy, Leanne tells the truth about the domestic violence. They agree to help Simon with counselling, but when he deliberately injures a fellow football team player, Leanne reports him to the police. Simon initially refuses to forgive Leanne but after he visits Peter, they live together again.
Leanne sleeps with Steve in June 2016 and becomes pregnant with his baby. She fears it could be her final chance to be a mother and tells Steve she is keeping the unborn child. Steve chooses to have no role in his unborn child's life to protect his relationship with Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh). When a plan to go into business with Nick fails to happen, Leanne returns to work as the manager of the Bistro. After rejecting his attempts to rekindle their relationship, Leanne is hurt when Nick flirts with a customer. Leanne finds out that Liz knows about her pregnancy and Leanne is furious that Steve told her. Leanne makes it clear to Liz she is nothing to do with her baby and Leanne decides to move to Liverpool with Simon. At the coach station, Simon secretly phones Nick and Leanne admits that she loves him. Nick arrives, knowing about the baby and persuades Leanne to stay. Nick accompanies Leanne to her first scan. Leanne and Nick decide to move in together and for Nick to raise the baby as his, which doesn't impress Gail. Leanne admits to Nick that Steve is the father and he struggles to accept it. Nick decides to stay with Leanne. Leanne learns Steve may have inherited myotonic dystrophy from his father Jim and she and Nick want Steve to be tested for it, however; he refuses to do so. Leanne encourages Michelle to get Steve to take the test and also tells Tracy about it. Michelle is annoyed with Leanne's interference and reveals that he took the test. Leanne sees Peter at the hospital after Ken suffers a stroke. Leanne finds out she is expecting a boy.
Toyah returns on Christmas Day 2016, telling Leanne that she has left her husband Toby Chapman (Andrew Dowbiggin), as she has been having an affair. Toyah later meets with Leanne's ex-husband, Peter, with whom she is having the affair, and they agree to tell Leanne they are together. Toby visits Toyah to save their marriage, but Toyah refuses to listen or reconcile. Toyah then accompanies a pregnant Leanne to the hospital after she suffers a migraine. Toyah and Peter decide to keep their relationship a secret, but Simon witnesses them kissing whilst playing with his drone. Peter tells Toyah that Simon knows and they ask him to keep it a secret for Leanne's sake. Leanne figures out Peter is Toyah's boyfriend, after Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) inadvertently reveals to Leanne about Peter's new girlfriend. Leanne is hurt that Eva knew and they involved Simon and she disowns both her sisters. Nick proposes to Leanne, and she accepts. Leanne forgives Eva, witnessed by Toyah and Toyah confronts her. Leanne and Toyah get stuck in the lift and Leanne goes into labour. Toyah helps deliver Leanne's baby and Leanne forgives her. Leanne and Nick name the baby Oliver. Leanne tells Nick she has decided not to put his on the birth certificate, but changes her mind. At a family party organised by Gail at The Bistro to celebrate Oliver's birth, Steve announces that Oliver is his son and Michelle punches Leanne.
In June 2017, Nick then leaves Weatherfield, leaving her devastated and Gail blames her. Leanne ends her friendship with Steve. After Nick's departure, Leanne stays in his Victoria Court flat until Nick decides to sell it. Due to Michelle intercepting the post informing Leanne of the new tenants, Leanne is forced to make a quick move with Simon and baby Oliver which prompts Peter to offer her space at the Rovers. At the same time, Toyah is emotionally suffering from her failed IVF attempts and having baby Oliver around after learning she would never have her own child proves too hard for Toyah. After Nick sends Leanne a cheque for £25,000 from the sale of the flat which Leanne tries to give to Toyah for IVF. After learning Toyah's news, Leanne offers to move out to make life easier for her sister. This causes her to move into Steve's flat after Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford), Peter's half-sister and enemy of Leanne, has a conversation with Steve in response to his concerns of a stable environment for Oliver. Moving into the flat with Steve brings the pair closer together as they try to co-parent, leading to Steve proposing to Leanne, which she initially rejects but after drinking with her sisters; she decided to return home and accept the proposal. Leanne wakes up the next day, unsure of the night before, and tries to find Steve to clear everything up. Amy overhears Leanne and Liz talking about the engagement and confronts Leanne and also sends a text, letting Simon know of the engagement. Leanne then leaves Oliver with Liz to look for Simon to clear the ordeal up and is met with Simon, Eva, Toyah, Amy and Peter on the cobbles, when Steve pulls up with Liz and Oliver in a babygrow that says "Marry my Daddy". After an awkward proposal, Leanne accepts and they celebrate in the Rovers. However, after a heart-to-heart discussion with Toyah, Leanne realises that she isn't in love with Steve and they both decide to end the engagement.
In September 2017, Leanne finds out that Michelle's ex-boyfriend Will Chatterton (Leon Ockenden) is stalking her and plans to take him down with Michelle. When they arrive at his house, Will grabs Leanne's ankle and she falls down the stairs hitting her head leaving Michelle in danger. Shortly after, Steve sneaks in the house and punches Will after he attempts to rape Michelle and calls Leanne an ambulance. Leanne leaves the street for a while but returns in December 2017.
In August 2018, she has a brief fling with Imran Habeeb (Charlie De Melo) unaware he is also seeing her sister, Toyah. When Sally informs them that he is dating them both, they very publicly pretend they want to be in a polygamous relationship with him and have a threesome. A few weeks before Steve's wedding to Tracy, Leanne has sex with him after they get drunk together. They both insist it was a drunken mistake and Steve goes on to marry Tracy, however just before Tracy marries Steve she threatens Leanne, which causes Leanne to think she knows about her sleeping with Steve. When Leanne tries to apologise to Tracy about the one-night stand, Tracy says she was talking about Oliver's outfit (as she wanted him to wear a kilt), meaning Leanne has accidentally revealed that she slept with Steve to Tracy. After Tracy punches Steve in front of the wedding guests, she insults Leanne and her past relationships, causing a fight between the two of them. On the way back from the wedding Leanne comes across Ryan Connor's (Ryan Prescott) bloodied body after he was hit by Ronan Truman's (Alan McKenna) car following a car chase between him, Michelle and Ali Neeson (James Burrows), Leanne gets out of her taxi but Ronan reverses his car in the process, knocking down Leanne. She is admitted to hospital, in need of heart surgery and when Toyah arrives Nick is by her bedside, having been called as her emergency contact. He wants to get back together with her, but she can't bring herself to forgive him.
In 2020, Oliver begins having seizures. After multiple trips to the hospital, it is revealed that he is suffering from Mitochondrial disease. Leanne fights to save his life despite doctors opinions, eventually going to court in order to prevent the hospital from turning off his life support machine. Eventually after much persuasion from Steve, Nick and others, she agrees to turn off the machine, with Oliver passing in November 2020. During this time, it is also revealed that Nick had a son with Natasha, which he did not know about, he eventually meets his son Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan), which causes a rift between himself and Leanne.
Following Oliver’s death, Leanne falls into depression, asking Nick to move out of the flat, even going as far as to tell him she’s going away to France, but instead becoming a hermit in the flat. Simon confronts her, and agrees to help with the bills. He begins working as a delivery man at For Your Fries Only. Leanne begins calling psychic hotlines, in order to try and contact Oliver, pushing herself further into debt. Whilst at work, Simon is pressured by his colleague Jacob Hay (Jack James Ryan) into delivering drugs, he does various dodgy jobs including, threatening to set a guy, who had apparently stole from them, on fire. After this event is witnessed by Nick's newly discovered son Sam, Nick confronts Simon and eventually, Leanne discovers the truth. Over several weeks, Leanne pleads with Simon to stop dealing, Jacob ends up getting attacked after it is revealed that he was cutting the drugs, this leads Simon to replacing him and becoming further involved. Simon begins answering directly to Jacob’s former boss, Harvey (Will Mellor), who begins threatening Simon. In order to protect Simon, she offers to take his place, and she begins dealing herself, telling Simon that she was able to pay Harvey off. Simon discovers the truth after following Leanne during a drug deal, but she soon decides that enough is enough, and she goes to the police. Leanne gives a statement, but does not mention Simon’s involvement. The police begun watching her as she meets with Harvey and deals and eventually, they set up a sting operation, involving Simon. Harvey escapes the trap and when Leanne is in the flat packing her backs, Harvey bursts in and informs her that he knows Simon talked to the police. Leanne admits that it was her and he pulls her outside to his car. Before anything happens the police pull up and arrest Harvey. After Leanne makes a police statement against Harvey, she decides to go into hiding, out of fear, taking Simon and Nick with her. They inform family members that they should not be contacted.
On 21 April, Sharon Gaskell makes a surprise return. It soon becomes clear that she is Harvey's aunt, and that he is using her to find Leanne. She begins talking to Sam, in order to find out their location, through Nick. On 28 April, Sam manages to call Nick.
On 30 April, Peter is called into hospital to receive a donor liver, he tries to make contact with Simon by calling him, meanwhile Sharon informs Sam that Simon’s father is receiving a transplant, she convinces him to phone Nick to inform him of the news. Simon overhears Nick informing Leanne about Peter's surgery, and he runs off to see his dad. Whilst visiting Peter in the hospital, the doctor reveals the liver is unviable. A man is then seen informing someone over the phone of Simon’s location, and when the pair are leaving, Peter overhears the man mention Simon’s name and tells him to run, Peter is attacked, whilst Simon successfully escapes back to Leanne and Nicks secret flat, however he leaves the address with his dad. Peter is then told that the attack makes him appear unstable and therefore likely not a candidate for a transplant. When Peter is discharged from hospital, the same attacked man is waiting in the car park to follow them, however, Carla manages to slip away to visit Leanne and Simon, to inform him that his dad is okay. Sharon later manages to find the address on Carla's phone, but when she sends the attacker to the address, it is empty. Sharon continues to find ways to track them down, eventually leading to Nick’s son Sam getting kidnapped. Nick returns to the street upon hearing the news and when Sam is safe, Nick enters a taxi whose driver is revealed to be working for Harvey. He warns Nick that if Simon and Leanne give evidence against Harvey that he would harm Sam.
Development[edit]
Relationship with Nick Tilsley[edit]
Danson said that she was "intrigued" by the decision to re-introduce Nick Tilsley played by a different actor, Ben Price.[6] Leanne was married to Nick from 1998 until 1999. Leanne and Nick split in 1999 and Nick started dating Maria Connor (Samia Smith).[6] Speaking about Nick's re-introduction, Danson said it's interesting when an old character is re-introduced because even though it's a different actor, the previous baggage remains. Danson said that Nick has been involved with both Leanne and Maria and said obviously his family are there too so there is potential scope for that character. Danson said she doesn't know whether they will make anything of Leanne and him or not because she seems quite settled where she is. Danson revealed that there's always a possibility of revisiting it but Leanne would just wind up Nick.[6]
Reception[edit]
A writer for the Sunday Mirror called Leanne "tough"[51] while another writer called her "loud-mouthed" and a "mouthy Manc".[52] A Coronation Street insider said: "Leanne packs a mean punch. It's no holds barred."[51] Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy described Leanne as "love-torn".[53] Danson won the award for the "Best Dramatic Performance" at the British Soap Awards 2011.[54] Danson was additionally nominated for "Best Dramatic Performance" at the Inside Soap awards for marriage to Peter at his deathbed but lost out to Emmerdale's Danny Miller.[55] She was also nominated for "Best Actress".[56][57] In December 2010, following the show's critically acclaimed live episode, Jane Danson's performance was singled out by many Digital Spy forum members.[58] The Guardian columnist Grace Dent commented on Danson's decision to return to the show in 2007 saying that viewers knew Leanne would come back. She described Leanne as "one of those rare thesps who knows which side her bread's buttered on".[59]