Coronation Street has confirmed the identity of the show’s latest newcomer known recently as ‘Sabrina’s mate’. Betsy will be played by Sydney Martin and she is the daughter of DS Lisa Swain.

Viewers of the ITV soap were first introduced to the new character last week and she’s already made a beeline for Joel Deering. The solicitor, however, is not to be trusted after it was revealed the solicitor is behind the disappearance – and assumed death – of Lauren Bolton.

With Lauren out of the picture, and Nathan Curtis in the frame for her murder, Joel appears to be setting his sights on new victims. In previous scenes, Joel conveniently bumped into Sabrina in the precinct, where they both had a coffee, after he’d previously offered to help the distressed teen when her brother was arrested. Joel then tempted Sabrina with alcohol as he poured some into her coffee and pretended to pour some into his cup but he didn’t.

Seemingly trying to impress Sabrina, who was a bit of love rival to Lauren when she first arrived in Weatherfield, Joel told her she reminded him of an ex, adding that he was “punching” with his former partner, leaving the teen flattered.

However, later on, Sabrina’s mate headed over and pointed out Joel was a creep, warning she should steer clear. She took his card and pretended to chuck it in the bin, only to keep it for herself. And later, viewers seemingly saw why as the currently unknown newcomer confronted Joel and tried to blackmail him, warning she has a “big gob” and would expose his creepy behaviour.

Joel furtively takes a call from Sabrina’s mate, telling him he has to meet her or he’ll regret it. However, Joel didn’t listen and was seen enjoying an engagement meal with his new fiancée Dee-Dee Bailey’s family And the joy was short-lived when Sabrina’s mate entered the restaurant with Amy Barlow asking if she can help her to which she replies: “I’m here to see Joel.”

Joel spun around and looked panicked as he spotted the young girl. He quickly made his excuses and headed over, warning: “What are you doing here?” The moment was witnessed by Dee-Dee, who looked over and seemed confused.

It’s now been revealed that the same girl, whose name is Betsy, will show up next week at Underworld, wondering when she can start her work experience after Carla Connor told Swain her daughter could do some work with her.

Speaking about the new character for the first time, Sydney, who is 22 and playing 16-year-old Betsy in her first major acting role, told the Manchester Evening News and other press: “So I had a really big description through when I first got [the role], she’s feisty, she’s cocky but she’s such a smart cookie. She’s so intelligent which I definitely think comes from her mum and she’s very street-wise.

“She has had to fend for herself a little bit because Lisa’s gone back to work and they’re having to deal with grief together. As the weeks go on, we do get to see a fun, manipulative side to her.”

Asked if Betsy is anything like she was at 16, Sydney, who got into drama at sixth form, said: “Absolutely not… She’s so confident and so feisty. I’d have loved to have been that confident at that age! But it’s so fun to re-play your teenage years but in different shoes… She’s the completely opposite of me. It’s so fun.”

Vicky Myers, who plays Swain, was involved in the casting process and later pulled out all the stops to welcome her on-screen daughter in the Corrie family. “We have the best conversations in the dressing room,” Sydney, from Rossendale, said of Vicky. “I said in another universe we were definitely mother and daughter. We are so similar.”