Corrie's Jane Danson: Leanne Barlow is back with Nick ... but I think she's destined to be with Peter

Corrie's Jane Danson: Leanne Barlow is back with Nick ... but I think she's destined to be with Peter

The actress says she likes to think of the troubled former couple like Peter's parents Ken and Deidre Barlow, whose relationship has had more ups and downs than anyone could have thought possible, but they still always end up together.

She said: "I like to think of them as a bit like Ken and Deirdre - they can't live with each other, but they can't live without each other either.

"Further down the line, I hope they're destined to be together, but you just never know how it's going to go."

But before Leanne and Peter can ever be a couple again, Corrie fans will have to see how her relationship with Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) plays out.

Leanne will get back together with ex Nick next week after he confesses he is still in love with her.

The news will cause quite a stir on the Street as Leanne's half-sister Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley), who recently dated Nick, is left devastated.

Peter (Chris Gascoyne) is furious at the thought of Bistro owner Nick playing such a huge role in his son Simon's life.

Simon (Alex Bain) has gone to live with stepmum Leanne after refusing to accept the woman his dad Peter left her for, factory boss Carla Connor (Alison King).

Jane said of Leanne getting back with Nick: "Well, after everything that's happened with Simon and Peter, Leanne is just craving stability and a normal family life - and I think she sees this as an opportunity to get that.

"Nick has got his business, he's got a secure place to live, and he loves her.

"On paper, it's all perfect. But the question is whether Leanne is just settling for him, or whether she actually loves him in return. That's going to be the main issue as they move forward.

"When Nick confesses his undying love for Leanne in the episodes coming up, she's the one in control.

"She's got to decide whether this is best for Simon and whether Nick can provide the continuity and family life that she's craving. In the end, she decides that he can and it would be a good idea."

Jane, 33, also revealed things were going to "get messy" between Leanne and Eva.

She admitted: "Of course, Leanne and Nick's reunion isn't going to go down well with Eva.

"The dust is only just settling on Eva and Nick's break-up, and Eva didn't really take it very well in the first place.

"When she finds out about the reunion, Eva puts two and two together and assumes that Leanne and Nick have been having an affair for some time.

"It all gets a bit messy."

And speaking about Peter's reaction to the news, she said: "The most heartbreaking thing for Peter is that he's seeing his son live with his arch-enemy.

"It's like a red rag to a bull for Peter. He's quite volatile at the best of times, but this is a step too far for him and he's not happy at all.

"Once again, there's a massive reaction from Peter in a really public situation.

"Last time, it was at the wedding when he told everybody about Leanne and Nick's affair.

"This time, he goes mad at Simon's birthday party and it's all a bit dramatic."

Jane also spoke about Chris and Alison's upcoming break from Corrie. Viewers will see Peter and Carla depart Weatherfield this summer.

She said: "I think it will be great and beneficial for our characters to be apart for a while. By the time they come back to the cobbles, hopefully the story will have taken a different direction and it gives us further to go.

"In terms of me still being here, it means that I get to do scenes with people who I might not have worked with before.

"I'm working with Helen Worth (who plays Gail Platt) a lot more at the moment, and I've not worked with her probably for about ten years, so that's always nice."

And in the future, mum-of-two Jane revealed she would like to see Leanne finally get the baby she has always wanted.

She said: "Wherever Leanne goes, drama follows her - she's always been one of those characters. I would like to see her a little bit happier for a while, and I'd like to inject some of the fun back into her.

"Eventually, I think it'd be nice to see if Leanne could get the baby she longs for.

"It's been a bit of a struggle for her, and I think it'd put a few demons to bed if she had a little baby. But knowing Leanne, that'd probably go wrong as well."