User:Herz123/Rowan Cunliffe

Rowan Cunliffe
Coronation Street character
Portrayed by	Emrhys Cooper
First appearance	Episode 11,215 15 March 2024
Classification	Present; regular (departing)
Introduced by	Iain MacLeod
In-universe information Occupation Cult leader Wife Una Cunliffe

Rowan Cunliffe, played by Emrhys Cooper, made his debut on Friday 15 March. His casting was announced by Digital Spy on Tuesday 5 March. He met Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) and Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) at the Chariot Square Hotel where they attend an event together. After Simon confessing to drink driving with Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) in the back of the car, Leanne decides to help Simon by taking him to a seminar at the hotel being held by a mysterious group called 'The Institute'. Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) advises Nick goes along with them as there's a wedding fayre on local to the hotel. On the 12 July it was confirmed that Rowan would be departing from the show after 4 months.

Storylines

Leanne started to pay to watch Rowan's videos but her sister Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor) and Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) think that she is being scammed by the institute. Toyah sees Leanne telling someone that she loves the, Toyah tells Nick and he went to confront Leanne and he finds Rowan and Leanne holding hands. Leanne told him that she wasn't speaking to Rowan and she shows him at he laptop and it was an AI recreation of her son Oliver Battersby.

Toyah tried to ruin them on social media. Toyah received a letter informing that the institute was going to sue her for defamation and taking out an injunction. Toyah tells Leanne that the institute’s lawsuit but Leanne said it was coming to her. Toyah later received a gift of yellow roses from Rowan, just like the rose's she left on Rose's grave and she realised Leanne told Rowan about everything.

Rowan presented Toyah with a copy of the NDA at a presentation at the Bistro and gives her another chance to sign and bring an end to her woes but Toyah made it clear to him that she won't be blackmailed by him. Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney) shared an interest in the institute and she spoke to Leanne about joining and Amy brought up missing her Nan Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride) and Leanne showed her the AI Oliver and Amy stormed out of the Bistro.

Development

Casting and characterisation

Emrhys Cooper portrays Rowan

On Rowan's character, Digital Spy reported that "Rowan approaches Leanne and offers her some unsolicited advice. Leanne is initially taken aback by Rowan's approach, but she drops her guard when he encourages her to share her deepest thoughts and feelings. When Rowan leaves and flashes Leanne a smile, she can't help but blush. Does this Weatherfield newcomer have a hidden agenda?"

See also

• List of Coronation Street characters (2024)