Catherine Tyldesley talks about Eva's dramatic discovery on Coronation Street

Catherine Tyldesley talks about Eva's dramatic discovery on Coronation Street and her characters future with Aidan. Coronation Street can be seen on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings on ITV.

Who is Marta? What’s her story? How does Eva discover her?

Marta is a young Polish girl who is hiding and living rough in the factory. She is discovered by Eva after things start going missing in the factory and she finds her one night after everyone else has gone.

Is she being kept as a slave by Richie’s family?

She is but Eva has no idea that this is the case at all. Eva and Aidan have been at a dinner party at the O’Driscolls and unbeknownst to them Marta has jumped into the back of their van as they are leaving which is how she ends up at the factory.

What’s Eva’s reaction? Is she sympathetic?

Eva has no idea that it is the O’Driscolls who are keeping Marta as an unpaid slave. She just tells Eva that she is being kept against her will by a wealthy couple. Eva is very sympathetic and wants to help.

How does she say she’ll help Marta? Does Eva have any idea what she might do in the long run? She must know she can’t keep Marta a secret?

Initially Eva just feels very sorry for Marta and gives her some food and helps her to keep warm. She really doesn’t know what to do for the best especially as the factory girls are still blaming Jenny Bradley for the money and food going missing.

Does she plan to tell Aidan? If it is Richie’s family who have been keeping Marta as a slave, how will this impact on Underworld’s business dealings with them?

Really she just have told Aidan when she first found her and had she known of the O’Driscoll’s connection she would have done but she just wants to buy some time before she decides what to do for the best and then it is too late because Marta is discovered and does a runner. The interesting part of the story from here is that at some point it is going to come out that it is the O’Driscolls who are keeping her a slave so that will really out the Connors in a difficult position with regards to continuing to do business with them, but there is quite a way to go before that all comes out in the open.

Is Eva shocked when Marta makes a break for it in the factory?

Yes but she doesn’t confess to the factory girls that she knew she was there - Izzy is hurt when Marta runs past her so there is a lot going on. Aidan is the only person Eva confides in at this point and he is shocked by what she tells him. But there is nothing they can do now as they have no idea where she has gone.

Will her relationship with Aidan be affected by this? How has it been going with him, btw? Are they serious about each other?

At this point it doesn’t seem like too big a deal - a young girl was simply hiding out in the factory - it is in the coming weeks when the storyline develops that it will have consequences for the factory and potentially their relationship as Eva will make some decisions that could blow up in her face.

Is it nice that Eva’s sticking her neck out for someone else?

Yes it is nice to see that side of Eva - people see her as a bit of a ditzy blonde who was spoiled by her mum but actually she is a very caring person who is there for people if they need her. She is very loyal and cares about the underdog.

Did you have to do much research into Martha’s slavery/homeless story?

No that work is done by the writers and the story team, Eva wouldn’t know much about the situation so I don’t need to know a lot of detail but it is an interesting storyline to be involved and not something that has really been done in a soap before.

What do you make of Eva’s relationship with Aiden?

I think they are really well suited, they had a bit of a rocky start with Aida finding out about Carla, but actually Eva having gone through the same thing with Leanne helped them. It is tricky with him being the boss but Eva quite likes that!

What do you think the chances of a reconciliation with Jason are?

I think that ship has sailed for the time being at least. She and Aidan seem to be getting on very well, once they get embroiled in this situation with Marta it will test their relationship but I’m confident they are a good match.

What does Eva make of Leanne’s nightmare situation with Simon this week, when she reports to him to the police?

Eva really feels for Leanne, she tries to help with SImon as much as she can as she is one removed from the sutuation as his aunty but she knows what Leanne has been going through, She is surprised that Leanne has gone to such extremes but she will stand by her.