INTERVIEW WITH KIERON RICHARDSON
Monday 5 May

We caught up with Kieron Richardson (Ste) to chat about his bad boy character Ste and his long suffering girlfriend Amy.

What do you think was the turning point for Ste's recent violent behaviour?
I think the abuse stuff started after Pauline turned up really. She went over old ground, reminding Ste how bad his upbringing was and telling him that he was exactly like his step-dad Terry. When Amy tells Ste that he's bad at things as well he can't stand it because to him that means that he has turned out like Terry which is not what he wants.



Ste comes from a background of violence and alcohol abuse. How much of an impact do you think this has had on his perception of family life?
Ste had a bad upbringing with no presents, no going out and no time or love from his own parents. He now has to show that he's not like them by trying to go out and get a job and trying to bring back presents-even if he steals them he thinks he's still tried. When Amy mocks him for doing it that's when it all kicks off.<./br>

Ste has been involved in far more detailed storylines since you came back last year. What has this been like for you as an actor?
It's easy to play a character that is a villain and bad all the time but I didn't want it to be like that. I wanted to show an upset kid who's messed up. Fair enough he's hitting his girlfriend and that is bad but he's not bad all the way through. He is emotional too. The response from the viewers is to feel sorry for Ste. When someone hits their girlfriend you're not supposed to feel sorry for them but it's worked out exactly the way that I wanted it too.

What has been like filming the domestic violence scenes?
When we do slaps and punches we have a fight coordinator who comes in. Luckily I haven't ever hit Ashley (Slanina Davies who plays Amy) but she has accidentally caught me a few times! It's weird, you have to think about the lines and what you're supposed to be doing then you've got to do the punch but away from the face so it looks like you're not even hitting her at all. At the time you think it will look awful but when I watch it back it looks amazing.

Do you find it hard to shout at Ashley?
It is hard to shout at Ashley because she's so lovely and so sweet, you think she's going to burst into tears or break. But I think because we've worked together for so long we just kind of bounce of each other and it's quite easy to do.

Have you done any research into domestic violence for the storyline?
We have researched it on the internet and we asked if we could meet up with some people who have either been abused or abused others in the past. We haven't managed to do this yet but I think that it's something that may happen in the future. It's important because I personally don't want to portray it badly for people that are in that situation.

What would you like to see happening to Ste in the future?
I don't want him to just turn good. I want him to be naughty...not just all the slaps and punches but I want him to do a few burglaries, maybe go on a lads holiday to Spain so we get to film abroad. Also stuff that's funny, I've not really had an opportunity to do any comedy yet!

Ste has told a huge lie about Leah having leukaemia. What is the worst lie that you have ever told?
Once when I was in the Trafford Centre with my friend we thought it would be funny to go into a sandwich shop in the food court and pretend that we were head managers from a big food chain. We managed to get in the back way, get some free drinks and we went around with a clipboard saying 'yeah that’s alright'. We got away with it for about half and hour and then just left - they didn't have a clue.

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