List of Coronation Street Characters (2005) - Ronnie Clayton

Ronnie Clayton

Veronica "Ronnie" Clayton is played by Emma Stansfield. Ronnie, as she likes to be known, first appears on the show in late October 2005. She is formerly married to gangster Jimmy Clayton and works for his cab firm. In an attempt to escape his bullying nature, she leaves him and starts working under Steve McDonald at Streetcars. Steve and Ronnie start a relationship, but Ronnie's presence puts the entire Streetcars workforce under risk from the vengeful Jimmy. Ronnie refuses to back down and go back to him, with Steve supporting her.

Jimmy is eventually able to trick Ronnie into driving out to a deserted farm. He holds her at gunpoint, and she agrees to give their marriage another try when he nearly kills her and Steve. Lloyd Mullaney rescues them, but Ronnie is then distant with Steve since the ordeal. She moves out of his house and into a flat of her own to show her independence.

On 31 May 2006, after having a row with Steve, Ronnie calls Steve on her mobile phone whilst driving, and not concentrating on the road, runs over an elderly man and kills him. Instead of calling an ambulance, Ronnie drives away. The next day Ronnie sees in the paper the news about the dead man and feels even more guilty. She tries to blame Steve for the accident, but is eventually caught and arrested.

Sarah Manners was originally offered the part of Ronnie, but turned it down because of her other work offers. Emma Stansfield was only contracted until Christmas 2005, but had her contract extended for another 12 months because her character initially proved popular. She was then axed by new producer Steve Frost.