Yahoo Movies Coronation Street's Harriet Bibby explains Summer's guilt over Seb and Nina
Coronation Street spoilers follow.
Coronation Street star Harriet Bibby has opened up on her character Summer Spellman's reaction to the recent hate crime attack on Seb Franklin and Nina Lucas, explaining that Summer feels "partly to blame" about what happened that night.
Summer was part of a group of teens who encountered Seb (Harry Visinoni) and Nina (Mollie Gallagher) by the canal on an evening last month, but Summer decided to head home when some of the group started to insult Nina.
After Summer's departure, things took a turn for the worse and a small gang, led by Corey Brent (Maximus Evans), followed Seb and Nina home and brutally attacked them, resulting in Seb's tragic death.
Related: Corrie airs dramatic arrest for Corey Brent
Summer has been struggling with anxiety ever since the incident, having difficulty sleeping and eating, and actress Harriet has told Digital Spy and other media that her character feels "guilty" over the fact that she wasn't able to stop the attack.
"I think each character reacted differently to the events of what happened that night, whether it was guilt or grief or regret," she said. "None of them have been coping well and I think Summer falls into that category, I think actually she has quite a strong moral code that she doesn't like to stray from and I think she feels guilty about leaving before she could help.
"So I think she feels she was partly to blame because she didn't stay and stop something that she could see turning sour."
The actress added that she thinks Summer "should be proud of the fact that she noticed something happening that she didn't want to be involved in so left", but that Summer sees things differently and wonders whether she could have prevented the attack if she had stuck around.
Related: Corrie hints at new love interest for Aadi Alahan
With Nina now turning to alcohol to cope with the loss of her boyfriend Seb, and many other Street residents grieving for him, Harriet believes that Summer has been left scarred by the incident.
"Every character has taken something away from that night and I think actually the effects on everyone has kind of made her think twice about situations that she's in: 'Is this me having fun with my mates? Is this actually a safe situation?'" Harriet explained.
"It's quite sad really to think that everyone from that night will go away thinking, 'That wasn't fun, that wasn't having a laugh with your mates, it was quite damaging and actually they were the people I trusted, who were my friends and something awful has happened.' So yes, I think definitely she'll take something away with her."
As for the audience reaction to Summer following that fateful night, Harriet has noticed a lot of sympathy for Summer as she battles her guilt and anxiety.
Related: Corrie star speaks out on Todd Grimshaw's downfall
"The reaction has been quite insane to the storyline and I think it's made quite a lot of people think and have those difficult conversations," she said.
"I think people feel quite sorry for (Summer) and sort of go, 'It's not your fault', and the way that Kelly (Neelan, played by Millie Gibson) had spoken to Summer before the attack actually had happened, people could see things turning for the worst... Actually I think Summer is quite a sweet, kind person and she's got wrapped up in this horrible situation. From what I can see, people feel quite sorry for her."
Not only has Summer been diagnosed with anxiety and been struggling with her schoolwork, but she will also be diagnosed with diabetes in upcoming scenes.
Coronation Street airs Summer's diabetes diagnosis scenes on Sunday, June 20 at 8pm, Monday, June 21 at 9pm and Wednesday, June 23 at 9pm on ITV.
Anyone who has witnessed or experienced a hate crime is urged to call the police on 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit the True Vision website. In an emergency, always dial 999.
Coronation Street has worked on the current storyline alongside The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, which was set up to challenge prejudices and intolerance towards people from alternative subcultures, and extend UK hate crime legislation, following the murder of Sophie Lancaster in 2007.
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