Next week, Coronation Street will make history in a move that might surprise even some of the most loyal of viewers.
Manchester’s most famous cobbles will host a spectacular lesbian wedding between Carla Connor and Lisa Swain in what will be a first for the ITV soap. But it’s not the first time two women have attempted to marry on the soap – it just so happens to be the first one that’s expected to take place successfully.
Back in 2011, Sophie Webster was jilted at the aisle, whilst Rana Habeeb was crushed in a factory collapse on her wedding day seven years ago before dying in the arms of her lover. It’s been quite the dramatic ride since Corrie’s first gay kiss in October 2003 but, thankfully, Carla and Lisa – played by Alison King and Vicky Myers – are set to make it down the aisle for real this time round.
“It is so powerful to have this celebration of lesbian love onscreen,” Roxy Bourdillon, the editor-in-chief of DIVA, the world’s leading magazine for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people, tells the MEN. “Alison and Vicky give such brilliant performances. They’ve captured the hearts of so many viewers and we’ve loved watching their relationship blossom. This is a joyful, special moment for queer Corrie fans.”
With the soap wedding taking place during Lesbian Visibility Week (April 20-26), Roxy believes the scenes will resonate with viewers and could be really significant in terms of on-screen lesbian representation. “The fact that this is happening on one of the UK’s most beloved soaps makes it even more impactful,” Roxy explains.
It’s hoped the wedding will help step away from ‘homophobic’ tropes of lesbian characters on screen(Image: ITV)
“Queer representation changes lives. It helps LGBTQ+ viewers feel less alone and more able to embrace our true selves. At the same time, it shows straight audiences that we aren’t all that different to them, which leads to greater empathy and a kinder society. Just like straight people, us lesbians fall in love, we navigate the challenges life throws at us, and sometimes we get hitched.”
Of course, as any soap fan will know, drama is never far away and the same can be said for Carla and Lisa’s wedding. The pair will be forced to change their dream venue at last minute, but The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle author Matt Cain says this dose of soap dramatics could actually prove to make the ceremony even more poignant to viewers.
“I think the plot twist of the wedding having to move to Underworld shows the union of the two women to be about emotional connection and intimacy rather than flash or formality,” the Bury-born writer explains. “This focus on intimate queer love could make a big impact on Corrie’s mainstream audience.”
‘Swarla’ fans have been sharing their excitement for the authentic on-screen moment(Image: ITV)
Matt, who was appointed a MBE for services to LGBTQ+ culture in 2025, says he also ‘applauds’ the soap’s handling of Carla’s journey since her debut in December 2006. Once described as the ‘new Elsie Tanner’, Carla has been married five times, including to Peter Barlow and Nick Tilsley, with a variety of storylines spanning kidnapping, affairs, escaping fires, and being accused of murder.
“Carla’s a beloved character but one who’s often been self-destructive or self-sabotaging in her relationships,” Matt explains. “This can sometimes fit the experiences of queer people who only truly understand themselves later in life as it reflects the influence of fear and shame on their actions. I applaud the multi-layered, nuanced and compassionate portrayal of this particular aspect of the LGBTQ+ experience, including its examples of a late-in-life blooming and coming out.”
The marriage, which will air on April 23, comes at a time when LGBTQ+ representation on screen is so important but can often still revolve around problematic moments or outdated clichés – especially in productions aimed towards general audiences. Sometimes, characters will be introduced only to add a bit of camp humour, whilst the common ‘Dead Lesbian Syndrome’ TV trope involves the killing off of queer women characters once they have finally found some happiness or satisfaction.
Corrie stars Alison King and Vicky Myers have been praised for their ‘such brilliant performances’ of Carla and Lisa(Image: PA)
“Historically, lesbian TV characters have often been portrayed negatively, as tragic figures or violent predators,” Roxy, who is also the author of What A Girl Wants: A (True) Story Of Sexuality And Self-discovery, says. “In the old days, this seemed like a deliberate tactic to scare women, reinforcing homophobic stereotypes and keeping lesbians on the fringes of society.
“After all, what could be more threatening to the patriarchy than two women finding happiness together, with no need or desire for a man? That legacy of negative lesbian storytelling lives on to an extent, although thankfully we are starting to see more positive representation too.”
Agreeing with Roxy, Matt also praises Coronation Street for its track-record in terms of LGBTQ+ representation – and for its ability to showcase on-screen relationships authentically through both their highs and lows.
The wedding between Carla and Lisa will take place on April 23(Image: ITV)
“Lesbian relationships don’t have a great track record on Corrie but let’s be honest, nor do most relationships,” Matt, who will release his latest book The Castle of Stories at the end of April, said. “Steve McDonald has been married seven times to five different women while Gail Platt was married six times – once to a serial killer!
“Certainly outside soapland, lesbians have experienced much more than their fair share of tragedy and there’s long been a tradition that they have to be punished for their desires; in a patriarchal culture they can’t be seen to be happy without men. But the situation is improving, on TV at least, and Corrie has a great track record with its LGBTQ+ characters in general.
“It didn’t get going till later than Eastenders but it has had some iconic queer characters such as Sean Tully, Hayley Cropper, Marcus Dent, Billy Mayhew, Sophie Webster – all of them with gripping and engaging storylines.
Actress Vicky Myers said she hopes the storyline will ‘spark essential conversations’(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
“What’s also brilliant is the producers haven’t neutered or sanitised the queer experience, in as much as this is possible before the watershed. We’ve been seen to experience sexual attraction, to fall in love, to be heartbroken. And we’ve often been presented as the empathy figures rather than warped, twisted, bitter villains, which is what used to happen on TV.
“Coronation Street has made a huge contribution to the positive representation of queer people on British TV and this has had a massive influence on the attitudes of the British public and the lives of everyday queer people up and down the country.”
Speaking about the responsibility of portraying characters like Carla and Lisa authentically on screen, especially during Lesbian Visability Week, Coronation Street star Vicky recently told the MEN: “The power of this storyline, centering on two women falling in love, despite surrounding circumstances, and becoming each other’s safe space, can spark essential conversations.
Coronation Street has been praised for its ‘great track record with its LGBTQ+ characters in general’(Image: ITV)
It’s particularly impactful that this happens during Lesbian Visibility Week. This relationship promotes understanding and change, especially considering the persistent issue of homophobia and the current gradual retraction of rights despite past progress.”
Roxy says she has also heard from many DIVA readers recently about how they have been championing Carla and Lisa’s on-screen relationship, with diehard fans even coining the nickname Swarla to describe them both. On social media, fans have already been thanking show bosses for the upcoming moment.
“It is so important that sapphic TV characters get to have happy endings,” Roxy explains “It shows us all that it’s entirely possible to be queer and fulfilled. I hope that viewers enjoy this storyline, and that it helps them to appreciate the beauty and relatability of lesbian love.
“It’s a rare treat to see our love celebrated onscreen. It really does mean so much to so many.”
Coronation Street is on ITV with Carla and Lisa’s wedding set to take place on April 23. The soap is also available to watch on ITVX.
