'Coronation Street' rape storyline was always on the way, says Andrew Lancel

Coronation Street star Andrew Lancel has revealed that he always knew his character Frank Foster would feature in a rape storyline with Carla Connor.

Carla (Alison King) suffers a terrible ordeal in next week's episodes as Frank sexually assaults her after she dumps him on the eve of their wedding. However, the actual rape is not shown on screen.

Frank previously tried to rape Maria Connor earlier this year, but he did not face any charges after the police decided not to pursue the matter.

Lancel told Digital Spy of the upcoming Carla storyline: "I've known about this since the first meeting I had with Corrie - it was always going to be part and parcel of the storyline arc.

"The clues have been there over a period of time, but we've played them in a normal way and I think Frank has become quite accepted and popular. Because of that, I think this is going to be quite a big shock for those people who have forgotten what happened with Maria. But I've always known the A and Z of the storyline."

"Frank has often been very romantic, he's been heroic, he's been charming and he's been funny - but I've always known that within him there's a dormant predator," he continued. "It's nearly surfaced before, but this time it does surface."

Lancel also admitted that it had been a challenge to film the hard-hitting scenes.

"It's certainly been the most challenging storyline that I've done as a TV actor, but I've also been flattered to do it and I think that we've got a responsibility with this," he said.

"It's important to remember that this is still Corrie. While Corrie does tackle issues like rape and domestic violence, it perhaps does it in a way that other dramas don't, because it's Corrie."

Coronation Street's dark Frank and Carla storyline begins on Monday at 7.30pm on ITV1.

> Read our interview with Coronation Street star Andrew Lancel
> Read more from Andrew Lancel in Soap Scoop
> Coronation Street's dark Carla and Frank storyline: Pictures