Max’s fate is hanging by a thread, after he was found to be the culprit behind the fire at No. 8 in Coronation Street – and his recent antics will have dire consequences on his girlfriend Lauren Bolton. Last year saw 19 year old Max, portrayed by actor Paddy Bever, reigniting old flames with new mum Lauren, age 20, when he stood by her through her traumatic experience with nasty Joel Deering. Yet now, his rash actions have put their dreams at risk. “Max has done what felt right in the moment and not thought about the consequences,” says actress Cait Fitton, who plays Lauren. “Now, he’s either going to prison or he’ll have to run away. He’s not going to have the life he’s always wanted to have with Lauren.” Cait, aged 22, has had quite the exciting journey since she slipped into Lauren’s role in 2022. She made waves from her arrival in Weatherfield, rapidly becoming central to one of the soap’s most enthralling plots. The troubled teen was recently cleared of killing Joel after months of abuse at his hands, which led her to bolt from the cobbles—and then she returned, expecting his child.
Max Turner was revealed to have started the fire at No.8 in Coronation Street – but his actions have left his and Lauren’s future in the balance
The young star sends her gratitude to her cast mates for supporting her during the heavy storyline. “I learned the most from David Neilson, who plays Roy,” shares Cait. “He’s such a wise person. He just makes you laugh on set. It’s the same with Paddy, we have an amazing bond off-screen. This place is full of people with good advice! “. Max recently attempted to cash in on his adoptive dad David’s insurance money by setting the family home on fire, hoping to protect the Platts from gangster Harvey Gaskell’s threats. However, Max’s plan literally backfired when he was caught in the flames while trying to save his sister Lily. After being sent to hospital and placed in a coma, Max woke up only to be angrily confronted by his stepmother Shona, who’d seen him on CCTV footage from Kevin Webster’s garage. Max confessed, but his admission will have serious consequences for Lauren. “There’s frustration more than anything,” Cait reveals. “We had our happy ending and Max made a stupid decision without thinking of the consequences.” Lauren isn’t the only one relying on Max. Her baby boy Frankie is just as dependent on the troublesome teen. “Since having Frankie, Lauren can’t think about herself anymore,” Cait explains. Despite having Roy and solicitor Dee-Dee Bailey to lean on, she doesn’t have a strong support network. “She might have Roy and Dee-Dee but she doesn’t have a support network,” Cait says. “Moving forward, we’re going to see Lauren as an adult. She’s going to see where she fits in.”
Cait Fitton opened up about her bond with Corrie co-star David Neilson, aka Roy Cropper
Lauren is still recovering from her traumatic abuse at the hands of Joel Deering, which ended with Lauren killing her tormentor. Off-screen, however, Cait and co-star Calum Lill got on like a house on fire. Soap star Cait has opened up about her unbreakable bond with a co-star, revealing that their mutual respect stems from sharing their first significant acting job. “We both really respect each other because it was also his first proper job,” she confesses. And while they’ve had some tense scenes together that kept fans at the edge of their seats, they’ve committed to keeping things authentic off-camera too. “We distanced from each other. He was on one side, I was on the other side of the building,” Cait recalls. “Every time we passed each other, we’d be in character because we wanted it to be real.” The on-screen drama is just part of Cait’s career challenges; handling social media criticism has been a journey. Initially seeking approval from ardent viewers left her disappointed more often than not. “I was keen to know what viewers thought about me. I was looking for their approval and, half the time, I didn’t get it,” she admits. However, as time passed, she found confidence in herself, focusing on giving her all during performances.
Lauren was recently acquitted of murdering Joel Deering – but how will she cope with Max’s latest trouble?
Cait’s portrayal reminds some soap enthusiasts of another Corrie icon—Becky Granger, played by Katherine Kelly—and for Cait, this comparison is the ultimate compliment. “I always wanted to play a character like hers and Katherine is a phenomenal actress,” she exclaims. “I used to look up to her. It’s the best compliment ever.” Cait once struggled to unwind after filming Lauren’s emotionally charged scenes, but now she’s mastered the art of switching off. “I’m a very bubbly person, but that was quite hard at first. You’re more your character than you are yourself,” she shared. “I love my job but you can’t let it control your outside life as well. The main thing was putting a plan into place, because I’d never done anything like this before.” These days, Cait’s go-to strategy for relaxation involves quality time with her nearest and dearest and plenty of laughter. Looking ahead, Cait is excited about Lauren’s journey and her potential redemption. Her recent on-screen partnership with Vicky Myers, who plays Lisa Swain, has sparked ideas for Lauren’s future. “Wouldn’t it be such a big turnaround if Lauren went into the police force? ” Cait muses. “For Lauren, having Lisa in her corner made her change her whole perspective on the police force. It would be so interesting! “. Yet, Lauren’s path remains fraught with uncertainty, especially with Max stirring up trouble again. “Max’s choice comes with consequences,” Cait hints, leaving fans wondering what lies ahead for Lauren.
