Toyah Laverne Habeeb is a character in Coronation Street from Ep 4223 - 4 Jul 1997 to 2003 and again from Christmas 2016 onwards. She was the daughter of Janice Battersby who was married to Les Battersby, after she split from Ronnie Clegg who was Toyah's blood father. Toyah is the step sister of Leanne Tilsley. She is played by Georgia Taylor.
Biography[]
Backstory[]
Toyah Laverne Lee was born on the 28th May 1982, the daughter of Janice Lee and Ronnie Clegg. Janice and Ronnie split and he moved to London. In 1993 Janice met the roguish Les Battersby and they married in 1994. Toyah gained a step sister Leanne Battersby.
1997-2003[]
Toyah Battersby.
Toyah moved with her notorious family, the Battersby's (which included her mother Janice, step-father Les and stepsister Leanne) when they were relocated by the council to 5 Coronation Street. They moved in in July 1997. Percy Sugden complained about Toyah playing her radio in the street loud. The family proved to be trouble for the residents due to their troublemaking ways, although this did slightly start to die down overtime, especially with Toyah who began a friendship with pensioner Emily Bishop. She developed a crush for Emily's nephew Spider Nugent, who introduced her to environmentalism.
In April 2001, Toyah was raped by Phil Simmonds in the back alley. One of the suspects was Duggie Ferguson as he had feuded with Toyah and told her she will get what is coming to her.
Toyah and Spider eventually became a couple and lived together at Emily's house, although she ended up putting them out due to them disobeying her house rules, especially regarding sex. They ended up splitting when Spider decided to take a trip to India, but Toyah couldn't face going that far away.
In 2003 Toyah and Spider reconciled, and the pair of them moved to London together.
Off-screen: 2003-2016[]
Toyah and Leanne kept in contact. At some point Toyah and Spider separated, although the exact time is unknown also was pre-2015. In 2011 Toyah was unable to make it to Leanne's 30th birthday. By 2014 Toyah moved to Liverpool, and met a man named Toby whom she married. In mid-2016 Toyah went through relationship troubles and Leanne planned to go and stay with her, taking her former step-son Simon Barlow with her, but changed her mind as Leanne decided to reconcile her relationship with Nick Tilsley.
2016-[]
Leanne, Nick and Simon planned to travel to Liverpool for Christmas to spend time with Toyah and her husband Toby, however this plan never went ahead as Toyah made an unexpected return on Christmas Day, informing Leanne that Christmas is off. She claims that Toby got nasty which forced her to walk out and come back to Weatherfield.
Toyah and Leanne witness a fight between Nick and Peter Barlow in the street, with Nick claiming Peter loves Leanne. After the fight is over Peter leaves and heads to a hotel, where he waits at the bar. Toyah meets him there, and it turns out she is his secret woman. The pair kiss, and later sleep together in their hotel room.
Toyah and Peter later bought The Rovers Return and Toyah once looked back at the stroppy teenager she was 20 years earlier when she first encountered Coronation Street, and now she owns a part of the street, the pub. However her being landlady did not last that long.
In 2024, Toyah revealed that she had a premature stillborn child in 2001 after being raped by Phil Simmonds. In June 2024 she was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Memorable info[]
Appearances: 4 July 1997-5 February 2003, 25 December 2016-
Born: 28th May 1982
Full Name: Toyah Battersby
Parents: Ronnie Clegg and Janice Battersby
Siblings: Leanne Tilsley (step)
Spouse: Toby Chapman (2011-2017) Imran Habeeb (2022)
Children: Stillborn child with Phil Simmonds (c2001-2002), Stillborn son with Peter Barlow (2018)
Stepfather: Les Battersby
Grandfathers: Rod Lee
Grandmothers: Dottie Lee
Aunts: Janet Lee