BOLT from the blue CAIT FITTON on her shock return to Corrie, and the future for Lauren Bolton

There were gasps up and down the country when Weatherfield's Lauren Bolton missing and presumed dead not only reappeared but was revealed to be pregnant by Dee-Dee Bailey's lawyer fiancé Joel Deering, who we now know has been sexually exploiting the vulnerable teen.

- ALISON SLADE

CORONATION STREET MON, WED & FRI, 8PM, ITV1 SOAP

For actor Cait Fitton, who was initially brought into Coronation Street for just three months as part of Max Turner's far-right extremism storyline, the shocking plot has put her front and centre of the ITV1 soap, and also made for a few hairy moments.

Here, in an exclusive interview, Cait, 22, talks to TV Times about Lauren's 'death', hiding in the boot of a car, and why it's important for her cobbles character to find joy after her pain...

You were off-screen for over four months. What did you do during your break?

I was very much in work mode, making sure I had the knowledge I needed for Lauren’s return and composing myself before getting back to the madness! Things move so quickly in a soap, so it was amazing to have the time to do as much research as possible so that when I came back, I could apply that knowledge to the script – because the Lauren we saw before she left Weatherfield is completely different to the one we’re seeing now.

To help keep the secret, you put on your Instagram description that you were ‘previously Lauren in Coronation Street’. But did you tell anyone the truth?

The only person who knew was my mum, because I still live at home. I had to start filming again and there’s only so many times you can say, ‘I’m going out for the day…’

Did you keep tabs on all the fan theories about the identity of Lauren’s attacker?

Yes – people were talking about Bobby, Max, Rowan, Damon. A few got it right and said Joel [played by Calum Lill], but I think it was a surprise for most viewers.

I had some lovely messages on social media while I was away. I used to get quite a lot of hate, so to have people saying, ‘I thought there was a lot ahead for Lauren, it’s a shame she’s gone,’ was nice.