Coronation Street’s Paula Wilcox hints Geoff’s abuse ex Elaine will decide Yasmeen’s fate

Coronation Street star Paula Wilcox has hinted her character will play a crucial role in Yasmeen Nazir’s fate, as she remains behind bars for attacking her husband Geoff.

The actress, 70, told Christine Lampard on Tuesday’s Lorraine she was keen to play the character of Geoff’s abused ex-wife Elaine, as it was revealed on Monday that she is also Tim’s long-lost mother. 

Earlier this month it was revealed that Paula actually made her Weatherfield debut back in 1969, as teen runaway Janice Langton, who was no stranger to drama after clashing with battleaxe Elsie Tanner.  

Paula told Christine that Elaine will help to decide whether Yasmeen will spend years behind bars for attacking her husband, as the storyline reaches its climax in the coming months. 

She added: ‘I think so there is a big climax coming for sure and I don’t think anymore will see that one coming.’ 

During the Lorraine appearance, viewers saw a clip from Paula’s debut over half a century ago, playing runaway Janice who arrived on the Street after fleeing her children’s home.

Reflecting on her three-week stint, she told Christine: ‘I was playing a 15 year old but I was 18, but I remember what it was like to be 15!’

‘I think Janice had escaped from a borstal children’s home and she was on the run and she comes to find her brother Ray to get some money out of him and continue on her merry way, and then she disappeared a couple of weeks later.’ 

Last week Paula made her first appearance on the soap as Geoff’s embattled ex-wife Elaine who revealed to Yasmeen she had also been abused and controlled by him.

Currently Yasmeen is awaiting trial after defending herself from Geoff by stabbing him with a wine bottle.

But on Monday night, Elaine also revealed that she is the long-lost mother of Geoff’s son Tim, and she fled the household to escape his abusive behaviour.

It remains to be seen whether Tim will discover the truth about his parentage, as a preview clip hints that Elaine will drop the bombshell in scenes to air on Wednesday night.

Paula also chatted to Christine about her role as Elaine, explaining she was keen to play the character after reading about Yasmeen’s abuse ordeal.

She said: ‘When I was asked to do it I was so thrilled I immediately started watching Corrie, it’s a wonderful story I was hooked, Shelley and Ian were just brilliant, I was so keen to be a part of that story.

‘It’s extraordinary because I think Elaine was almost thinking it will be OK, after almost 50 years of keeping this secret.

‘Finally finding out where Geoff lived and because of Yasmeen finding out what he was up to, and then wondering what Geoff’s situation is and seeing him coming out of the house with Tim and then going to face him, I mean it’s massive isn’t it.’