ITV Coronation Street 'confirms' Carla Connor and DS Swain romance twist

Soap fans have expected Carla Connor to find love again with DS Lisa Swain, months after Peter Barlow's exit from Weatherfield - and romance could be imminent.

The Underworld factory boss portrayed by Alison King has slowly been moving on from her marriage with Peter Barlow after the cabbie decided to leave Coronation Street to travel around the world.

While this left their marriage in the balance, Carla has since met DS Lisa Swain ( Vicky Myers ), as the detective went above and beyond to bring Lauren Bolton's attacker and abuser Joel Deering to justice in recent months, and the chemistry between both women has led numerous ITV viewers to hope they could get closer - and this may become a reality on-screen.

Due in court for ABH next week, Carla receives bombshell news from her husband abroad and Lisa decides to comfort her before the pair get cosier, sharing a tender moment that will leave Carla confused.

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In scenes due to air, both women, known for being two of the strongest ladies on the cobbles, will let their guards down and explore their vulnerabilities as a single mother and a divorcee. But when a seemingly gentle touch feels electric, Carla wonders what she’s just experienced and if Lisa even feels the same.

Speaking about her Weatherfield alter ego's relationship with Lisa Swain, actress Alison King said: "I think Carla’s still in shock and she’s very much in the moment. There is a real friendship growing between them and the fact that she's come around to check on her really means something to Carla."

And Lisa's daughter Betsy Swain ( Sydney Martin ) has had her own part to play in the budding romance, as Carla has recently taken the mischievous teen on at the Underworld factory. "I think because she's taken Betsy on, there's kind of kindred spirit forming. We’ve seen Lisa have a bad day and Carla being a shoulder to lean on.

"She's got a lot of understanding about how difficult Betsy is, she's just come out of a relationship herself so she understands some of the loss Lisa is feeling after Becky. It's been a long time since Carla has had a female friend, somebody who's actually leaning on her but is also a powerhouse in her own right. Now Lisa is there for her, she’s leaning on Lisa for the first time and it's becoming quite a confusing friendship."

"Lisa keeps appearing, she’s always there because of that link through Betsy, and there’s a bond growing between them that Carla can’t quite define." Alison also claimed: "I think every step of this friendship is taking her by surprise. The closeness between them for Carla comes from concern yet at times she can’t really put her finger on what this is." But could it really lead to something long-lasting?

While this remains to be seen, Coronation Street has yet to find a lesbian couple that could match Kate Connor and Rana Habeeb, both of which were due to be married before a roof collapse at the Underworld factory led to the latter's death in March, 2019. The couple were firm favourites among viewers of the Manchester-based programme.

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