Scarlett.
25-02-2013, 10:34 AM
http://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/news/crazedkarlssabotage/3f98efda-b398-4f2e-9820-1024c693cb9e/PreviewFile.jpg.ashx?q=70&v=1&w=630
Hell-bent on winning back Stella, an obsessive Karl plunges to dangerous new levels as he kidnaps Stella and sabotages Jason's van. John Michie reveals just how far a bitter and twisted Karl will go to get what he wants, and whether he'll ever forgive Sunita.
(Warning, this interview contains storyline spoilers)
Q: How far do you think Karl is prepared to go to win Stella back?
A: He will do whatever it takes to get her back. He will go to the extremes.
Q. How does he feel about Stella’s relationship with Jason?
A: He’s really, really jealous. Jason is the young, good looking, fit guy that Karl used to be when he was a professional footballer, and he still has it in his head that he should have been the golden boy. He is consumed with jealousy and anger.
Q. Karl makes a pass at Stella and she rejects him. Does he believe she still loves him?
A: Yes, he’s so arrogant and big-headed that he absolutely believes that she still loves him.
Q. What happens when Stella climbs into Karl’s taxi?
A: He feels like he has to get her on her own to talk to her. He wants her to see that deep down she knows that they should be together, and he wants to do that in a calm, controlled way. He believes that taking her out of Manchester to the wasteland is the right thing to do to make her listen.
Q. Does he genuinely get quite emotional about what’s happened in the past?
A: Karl’s an interesting character because he’s full of self belief, even though he’s a total failure. He will not take no for an answer and he starts to become a little obsessive, more obsessive than he thinks he is. His behaviour gets a bit weird and creepy, but he just cannot see it. There’s almost something a bit psychotic in his behaviour towards Stella, but he can only see one side of it all.
Q. When they return to the Street, Stella’s furious at him. Does Karl accept that it's over?
A: No. He just thinks he’ll let her have her say and let her calm down before he starts on again at her. Really, he knows she wants to be with him. To him it’s just a question of time, he needs to break her down and get rid of Jason.
Q. How does he manage to get Gloria to defend him?
A: He and Gloria are two of a kind in a way, they both think the world owes them a living and they both have high opinions of themselves, despite constantly messing up. They feel allied in that way. Our back story is that they’ve always been close and it really upsets Gloria when she realises Karl has not been very nice, but she’s very quick to come back on his side at the slightest opportunity.
Q. What kind of welcome is Karl expecting when he turns up at the Rovers after the kidnap?
A: He’s not stupid. He knows there is going to be some kind of reaction. Karl is who he is, he thinks he will be able to charm his way out of it by explaining it all and it will be fine. Unfortunately Jason is there, and Jason is the one person who has the ability to make Karl lose control. He cannot control his anger or jealousy when he’s around...
Q. How much does Karl blame himself for losing Stella, and how much does he blame Sunita?
A: Karl blames Sunita, full stop. He’s one of these guys who thinks the world owes him a living. He thinks he’s a good guy that’s been tempted by a temptress.
Q. How does he feel when he realises Sunita’s watching his downfall and enjoying it?
A: He despises her. He blames her entirely and vows to make her pay.
Q. What is it that’s making him behave like that? Is it love for Stella or obsession?
A: His love is obsessive; he certainly sees it as love anyway. He can’t see how weird it is.
Q. What makes him decide to go and sabotage Jason’s van?
A: It’s not just about getting revenge or getting his own back. Jason’s a builder so without a van he won’t be able to do a great deal. He wants Jason to fail as the boyfriend so it’s vindictive and nasty, there’s a definite plan.
Q. Stella refuses to believe Jason when he says that Karl was behind the burnt van. Does Karl feel quite smug about that?
A: Yes, he certainly thinks he has done a good job. He’s quite proud of his plan and how he took the van, where he blew it up and that nobody saw anything. He got a bit of a thrill out of that sort of devious behaviour.
Q. Are you excited by the villainous turn your character is taking?
A: I am, actually. It’s always interesting to play the bad guy. He’s essentially not evil, he just gets caught up in situations and events certainly take over, then he has to deal with the consequences.
Initially he has a plan and a calculation but it all goes horribly wrong, and then he has to catch up with the events. It’s the events themselves that turn him bad; deep down he himself isn’t a bad person he’s just obsessed and in love. The best thing for Karl would be to leave Stella alone and not be with her.
Q. If you personally could give Stella advice, would you tell her to get back with Karl?
A: I would say...do not go anywhere near him!
Hell-bent on winning back Stella, an obsessive Karl plunges to dangerous new levels as he kidnaps Stella and sabotages Jason's van. John Michie reveals just how far a bitter and twisted Karl will go to get what he wants, and whether he'll ever forgive Sunita.
(Warning, this interview contains storyline spoilers)
Q: How far do you think Karl is prepared to go to win Stella back?
A: He will do whatever it takes to get her back. He will go to the extremes.
Q. How does he feel about Stella’s relationship with Jason?
A: He’s really, really jealous. Jason is the young, good looking, fit guy that Karl used to be when he was a professional footballer, and he still has it in his head that he should have been the golden boy. He is consumed with jealousy and anger.
Q. Karl makes a pass at Stella and she rejects him. Does he believe she still loves him?
A: Yes, he’s so arrogant and big-headed that he absolutely believes that she still loves him.
Q. What happens when Stella climbs into Karl’s taxi?
A: He feels like he has to get her on her own to talk to her. He wants her to see that deep down she knows that they should be together, and he wants to do that in a calm, controlled way. He believes that taking her out of Manchester to the wasteland is the right thing to do to make her listen.
Q. Does he genuinely get quite emotional about what’s happened in the past?
A: Karl’s an interesting character because he’s full of self belief, even though he’s a total failure. He will not take no for an answer and he starts to become a little obsessive, more obsessive than he thinks he is. His behaviour gets a bit weird and creepy, but he just cannot see it. There’s almost something a bit psychotic in his behaviour towards Stella, but he can only see one side of it all.
Q. When they return to the Street, Stella’s furious at him. Does Karl accept that it's over?
A: No. He just thinks he’ll let her have her say and let her calm down before he starts on again at her. Really, he knows she wants to be with him. To him it’s just a question of time, he needs to break her down and get rid of Jason.
Q. How does he manage to get Gloria to defend him?
A: He and Gloria are two of a kind in a way, they both think the world owes them a living and they both have high opinions of themselves, despite constantly messing up. They feel allied in that way. Our back story is that they’ve always been close and it really upsets Gloria when she realises Karl has not been very nice, but she’s very quick to come back on his side at the slightest opportunity.
Q. What kind of welcome is Karl expecting when he turns up at the Rovers after the kidnap?
A: He’s not stupid. He knows there is going to be some kind of reaction. Karl is who he is, he thinks he will be able to charm his way out of it by explaining it all and it will be fine. Unfortunately Jason is there, and Jason is the one person who has the ability to make Karl lose control. He cannot control his anger or jealousy when he’s around...
Q. How much does Karl blame himself for losing Stella, and how much does he blame Sunita?
A: Karl blames Sunita, full stop. He’s one of these guys who thinks the world owes him a living. He thinks he’s a good guy that’s been tempted by a temptress.
Q. How does he feel when he realises Sunita’s watching his downfall and enjoying it?
A: He despises her. He blames her entirely and vows to make her pay.
Q. What is it that’s making him behave like that? Is it love for Stella or obsession?
A: His love is obsessive; he certainly sees it as love anyway. He can’t see how weird it is.
Q. What makes him decide to go and sabotage Jason’s van?
A: It’s not just about getting revenge or getting his own back. Jason’s a builder so without a van he won’t be able to do a great deal. He wants Jason to fail as the boyfriend so it’s vindictive and nasty, there’s a definite plan.
Q. Stella refuses to believe Jason when he says that Karl was behind the burnt van. Does Karl feel quite smug about that?
A: Yes, he certainly thinks he has done a good job. He’s quite proud of his plan and how he took the van, where he blew it up and that nobody saw anything. He got a bit of a thrill out of that sort of devious behaviour.
Q. Are you excited by the villainous turn your character is taking?
A: I am, actually. It’s always interesting to play the bad guy. He’s essentially not evil, he just gets caught up in situations and events certainly take over, then he has to deal with the consequences.
Initially he has a plan and a calculation but it all goes horribly wrong, and then he has to catch up with the events. It’s the events themselves that turn him bad; deep down he himself isn’t a bad person he’s just obsessed and in love. The best thing for Karl would be to leave Stella alone and not be with her.
Q. If you personally could give Stella advice, would you tell her to get back with Karl?
A: I would say...do not go anywhere near him!