Rosie Webster is a character in Coronation Street from Ep 3165 - 25 Dec 1990 to 2012. She returned in February 2017 - five years following her departure. She departed again in June 2018. Rosie is the daughter of Kevin Webster and Sally Webster.
Rosie is played by Helen Flanagan.
Biography[]
1990–2012[]
Rosie was born to Kevin Webster and Sally Webster in December 1990, where Sally gave birth to her in the back of Don Brennan's cab on Rosamund Street. She was named Rosie as a result of her birthplace. David Platt was born the day following Rosie on Christmas Day.
Rosie's sister Sophie was born in 1994. In the late 1990s their parents went through marriage troubles due to Kevin's affair with Natalie, and they divorced by the start of the millennium, although they would later reconcile and remarry in 2002.
When Sophie began to start her snobbish stage she wanted to live her ambitions through Rosie by enrolling her in private school, although Rosie wasn't best pleased as she didn't like just living to please her mum. When she tried to defy Sally Rosie ended up slapping her, much to Kevin's frustration who wanted to abide by Rosie's wishes. Rosie began dating Craig Harris and went through a goth phase, although they ended up separating in October 2006 when Craig moved away for a new life.
Rosie began going through a bitchy side in 2007. She slept with Sally's private tutor John Stape (who was also dating neighbour Fiz Brown), although the affair was exposed on Christmas Day in which Kevin attacked John. This resulted in Kevin getting a short prison sentence for assault, and John leaving the area (although he would return in the near future). Rosie also began working at the Underworld factory as a PA for boss Carla Connor. Tony Gordon would later become the new co-owner of Underworld in 2008 after he began dating Carla and managed to remove Liam Connor from the business.
In 2008 Rosie videoed Carla and Liam (who were involved in an affair at the time) outside of Carla's apartment snogging, which she gave to Tony, who had already suspected something was up. This inadvertently signed the death warrant of Liam. Rosie wasn't pleased when John returned to the area and began working as a taxi driver. He had enough of her spiteful behaviour and he bundled her into a taxi whilst she was in town and took her to an abandoned area where he threatened her. He returned Rosie home but played down her hysterics as her attention seeking, and even managed to convince her parents as well as her sister.
Rosie ended up being kidnapped for real by John and imprisoned in his dead grandmother's attic in the countryside. John came to regret the decision but found it hard to let Rosie go, despite her pleas. He kept her stocked up on food and drink. During this time Rosie also learned that Liam had died in a hit and run, unaware (along with everyone else) that Tony was behind the death.
After spending five weeks in the attic, Rosie planned an escape. She hit John over the head with a plank and made her escape, where the police arrived to arrest John. John was given two years in prison, and Rosie carried on with her life at Underworld, although her attitude remained the same. After Carla left for Los Angeles Luke Strong came along to replace her, whom Rosie became smitten with overtime.
Rosie went to see John in prison in 2009 and he gave her £90,000 compensation for what he put her through. Luke, who planned to leave after finding out Carla was returning, wooed Rosie with a proposition of her buying into the factory and them entering into a relationship. Rosie transferred all the money over to Luke, who then promptly left the country for a new life. Rosie was left broke and humiliated as a result.
2017–2018[]
Rosie returned in February 2017 after five years away.
After 2018[]
Rosie was mentioned in November 2022, in which it is revealed she is aware of a book that had been released about her former captor John Stape. Sally mentioned that Rosie was enjoying the attention and hoped the book would lead to her big break, and that if a John Stape film was to be released she hoped to play herself.
Relationships[]
Parents[]
Sophie Webster[]
Atypical of sibling relationships, Rosie and Sophie would often bicker and fight. Whilst Rosie was selfish when growing up, Sophie was a lot better natured and kinder. When Sophie decided to become a Christian in 2009, Rosie would tease her for her choice. But as Rosie began to mature out of her bratty behaviour, she toned down any antagonism towards Sophie. When Sophie came out as gay in 2010, Rosie supported her sister.
John Stape[]
John Stape was Rosie's teacher at school who she developed a crush on and they began a secret affair. This was exposed in late 2007, resulting in Kevin punching John. By the time John returned later in 2008 Rosie lost interest in him. She ended up being kidnapped and locked in an attic by a vengeful John, who blamed her for "ruining" his life. After weeks of pleading with him, she attacked John and escaped and he was sent to prison. When he returned to the street and started living with his wife Fiz, Rosie attempted to set John up by claiming he tried to touch her. John proved the claims were false, and Rosie was forced to apologise and the two decided to move on with their own lives. Rosie rarely had anything to do with John during his time on the street. Following John being exposed as a serial killer in 2011, he kidnapped Rosie once again but only to force her to testify in court to help Fiz get out of prison, due to her being accused of his crimes; John was unable to testify due to being on the run. John was later caught out by Kevin and forced to flee the scene, and ended up dying after being caught in a car crash.
Her ordeal with John did little to traumatise Rosie completely, and she ended the fame and publicity when a book based on John's crimes was released in 2022.
Jason Grimshaw[]
Rosie and Jason knew each other due to both living on the street. They began dating in 2010. In February 2012 the pair split up as Rosie left the area, although the both of them left on good terms. By the time Rosie returned five years later in 2017, Jason had already left Coronation Street the previous year.
Behind the Scenes[]
- Helen Flanagan reprised the role of Rosie in 2017 after a five-year break. She was initially signed up to a three-month guest stint, however, it was reported in February 2017 (a few days after the character's return) that her contract was extended to the end of the year.
- Helen Flanagan departed in 2018 in order to take maternity leave. Although the character was expected to return later on, this is yet to still happen, making her final appearance being on 8th June 2018. Helen announced her pregnancy to her third child in September 2020, making a return for Rosie unlikely at any point in the future.
Appendices[]
List of addresses[]
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Employment history[]
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Memorable info[]
Appearances: 24 December 1990–10 February 2012, 6 February 2017–8 June 2018
Born: 24th December 1990, Rosamund Street, Weatherfield
Full Name: Rosie Webster
Parents: Kevin Webster and Sally Webster (Nee Seddon)
Siblings: Sophie Webster (Full), Jake Webster, Jack Dobbs (Half, same father)
Grandfathers: Bill Webster, Eddie Seddon
Grandmothers: Alison Webster, Elsie Seddon
Great Grandfathers: Jim Webster
Spouse: None
Children: None
Aunts/Uncles: Debbie Webster, Gina Seddon
Great Aunts/Uncles: Velda Seddon, Tom Hopwood, Bertha Croston