Coronation Street star Andrew Still shocked by future of stalker story
Coronation Street spoilers follow.
Coronation Street newcomer Andrew Still has spoken about his role in Daisy Midgeley's stalker storyline for the first time.
The former Hollyoaks and Waterloo Road actor has recently been appearing as Justin Rutherford, a stranger who has left Daisy terrified with his obsessive behaviour.
Later this month, an altercation between the two characters escalates when Justin touches Daisy's arm and she sees red by punching him. Showing how manipulative he can be, Justin reports Daisy to the police.
Digital Spy and other media recently caught up with Andrew to hear about the future of the story.
How would you describe the character of Justin?
"I see Justin as a troubled guy and we are meeting him at the lowest point in his life. His mum, who he has been caring for, is dying of cancer and they've just spent their last Christmas together. He met Daisy when he was in an emotional state and he latched onto her.
"In terms of Justin as a character himself, I think he's intelligent, he's forward and quite proud. His emotional and damaged state has played a lot into his thought process and decision making."
How has the situation with Justin's mum affected him?
"Justin has put his life on hold with his mum and obviously he's happy to do that, as he loves his mum incredibly. But there's a conflict under the surface about maybe putting so much care into her that he's not taking proper care of himself. I don't think it's a conscious thing, but that resentment is there.
"Another thing with Justin is that he latches onto others for a sense of himself. That has played out in how he views Daisy – he sees himself as a carer of his mum, he's Daisy's future partner, and he's struggling to see past those definitions he has given himself."
How has your research informed how you view Justin?
"There are different types of stalking and Justin is an intimacy-seeking stalker. He can't see that the messages that he's sending could seem intimidating or threatening. He thinks it's just showing what Daisy means to him.
"It's like self-gratification – every message, every piece of contact that he makes with Daisy is a gratifying experience for him. So he's chasing that, and he's obviously disappointed by her rejection. But again, he just sees that as a wall that he has to break through so they can finally be together.
"Justin has got these repetitive thought patterns, which can happen with stalkers. They can lead into impulses.
"There are other things about Justin that I don't think he would recognise in himself, but others might – like narcissism, being manipulative, being jealous and showing controlling behaviour.
"But honestly, I think Justin sees himself as the ultimate good guy. He thinks the world maybe is out to get him – that's how he views stuff. In his head, it justifies a lot of his actions – he's got this delusional romantic destiny, which some stalkers can develop."
What did Justin make of Daisy when he first met her?
"I think he was reaching out and it just so happened that Daisy was there at the hospital. Justin finds Daisy attractive, but the most important thing that really connected him with her is that she really saw him in that moment.
"It's the most difficult moment of Justin's life and Daisy saw that pain and cared about what he's going through. I think he's quite isolated at this point, so that's something he sees in her. That planted a seed, which has grown. As things deteriorate with his mum, it's easy for him to hide in that fantasy.
"For Justin, Daisy is the one good thing in this horrible situation. He sees her as an island – someone who can protect him from the outside world beating down on him.
"I feel that Justin's mum would usually be the tether to bring him down to earth, but he's losing that. He's maybe reaching out for another tether and he sees Daisy as that person. He's built his life around his mum and now he's trying to do the same with Daisy, whether she'll take that or not."
As viewers, we can see that Justin's behaviour is totally wrong. Does he recognise that?
"Ultimately, no. At the start, he was love-bombing Daisy from afar with the flowers, the chocolates and all that sort of stuff. When he showed up in person, he was expecting it to play out like a rom-com, which obviously didn't happen. Again, that's part of his delusional thinking.
"When Justin showed up at the wedding fair, he genuinely thought that him and Daisy were going to run off together. Now that it hasn't played out that way, he decides that he's going to have to be more strategic and play more of a long game."
What is the end goal for him? To be in a relationship with Daisy?
"Yeah, I think so. Obviously, he has this distorted view of love and what that romantic relationship would be, but I think that is the end goal for him."
What are Justin's thoughts towards Daniel?
"At the start, I think Justin was nonplussed by Daniel. I don't think Daniel really came into his considerations. Justin thought that once he saw Daisy again in person, that would be it, they'd be away and everything would be good.
"When that doesn't happen, Justin starts to see Daniel as a roadblock. Justin thinks Daniel is the one getting in the way of them being together, and also that's going to build into resentment and jealousy.
"There was a brief period where Daniel reached out and you thought maybe they did have have a connection. But the minute Justin realises that doesn't align with his goals, it's put to the wayside."
Why is Justin convinced that Daisy is in love with him?
"It's delusion, it really is. He has convinced himself that they're meant to be together, and that they have a bond which is stronger than what she could ever have with Daniel. Justin's thinking is that all he needs to do is show Daisy that they are meant to be together and win her affections. But it's all delusion, it's a fantasy."
What lengths do you think Justin will go to when it comes to his harassment of Daisy?
"He's laser focused, I think he'll go to whatever lengths he feels are necessary."
Later this month, Daisy is scared when she sees Justin with a bouquet of flowers. Can you tell us what happens?
"Justin is heading to the funeral home to make arrangements after his mum has just passed away. Daisy sees Justin and assumes the flowers are for her, as they have been in the past. There's a confrontation on the street, and then George intervenes."
What is Justin's reaction when Daisy punches him?
"It's obviously another super heightened moment for Justin. Emotions are running high, as his mum has just died. He's not happy with Daisy.
"From Justin's deluded perspective, he has been nothing but kind and loving towards Daisy. This is the first time we see some pushback from Justin and see another side to him that's lingering at the surface – a slightly vindictive side."
Why does Justin decide to go to the police and report Daisy for assault?
"I think he's really hurt. He feels like he wants to get back at her and it's the first time we see something more than infatuation for Daisy.
"Again, it shows a glimpse of what's going on beneath the surface – I think it's a subconscious way of controlling her, although he wouldn't see it that way."
What were the punch scenes like to film?
"We spoke to the director because it was one of those situations where, in Justin's head, they already have a relationship. Justin sees it as like the fight you would have with a partner.
"Charlotte [Jordan, who plays Daisy] and I are close so it's fun to do slightly more physical stuff. They had a fight choreographer, Kate Waters, who helped us with that. It's fun to mix it up and try something a little different."
What were your initial thoughts when you heard about the stalker story?
"I knew the beginning of the arc at first. I knew about Justin coming in as a stalker and that he could get obsessive. He was pitched as someone who has misplaced affections, but also with this possible darker edge in the future.
"What you've seen on screen recently are as much as I knew about where the story was going. Then I came in and they said: 'Well, this is maybe what we've got planned down the road'. It was a bit of a shock when I heard what's going to be happening further down the line…"
You've been in Hollyoaks, Waterloo Road and Granite Harbour. How did your previous characters compare to Justin?
"I think I'm getting typecast as someone who plays damaged individuals – I don't know what that says about me! Justin has that darker edge in a way that maybe some of the other characters didn't. But I tend to play vulnerable young men."
You've also done a film called Nobody Has To Know. How does Corrie compare to a film set?
"Corrie is a lot faster, it's like a well-oiled slick machine. There's so much to learn as well, so it's a real challenge in that way because you're constantly on the move and doing new things.
"On a film it's a much slower pace and that was way up in Lewis in the outer Hebrides so a lot different to Manchester. They're very different types of things but both really enjoyable."
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage
We would encourage anyone who identifies with the topics raised in this article to reach out. Call 999 if you or anyone you know is in immediate danger, or report any concerning situations using UK government resources or the Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service. The National Stalking Helpline is open 9.30am-4pm on weekdays (and until 8pm on Wednesdays) on 0808 802 0300.
Coronation Street has been working on Daisy's storyline with support from The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, which works to reduce the risk of violence and aggression through campaigning, education and support.
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