Rob Donovan - Alison Soames

Alison Soames, played by Dawn Hope, made her first screen appearance on 24 May 2012. The previous month, Natalie Gumede revealed that Kirsty Soames' parents would be introduced to Coronation Street. The actress commented that seeing Kirsty's parents would give viewers "more of a clue as to what made her the way she is." Hope's casting was announced on 18 May. Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy reported that Alison and her husband Edwin (David Lonsdale) are invited to their daughter's birthday party, where they discover she is engaged and pregnant. Kilkelly added "Both Kirsty and Alison appear fearful of Ed, which is explored further when Kirsty later opens up to Tyrone about her troubled past…" In August 2012, producer Phil Collinson revealed that Alison and Edwin would be making nother appearance the following month. In January 2013, Kilkelly reported that Alison would be returning, in the wake of Kirsty's accusations that Tyrone was abusing her.

Edwin and Alison arrive at their daughter's surprise birthday party, after being invited by her fiancé Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall). The couple are shocked when they learn that Kirsty is engaged and pregnant. They leave after Edwin learns that Kirsty has been dismissed from the police force. Kirsty reveals to Tyrone that she and Alison have been subject to Edwin's domestic abuse for years and Kirsty resents her mother for sticking by him. Alison returns to Weatherfield a few months later. She reveals to Kirsty that she has left Edwin, after they disputed over going to see her and their granddaughter Ruby. Kirsty and Tyrone invite Alison to live with them, in return for help in caring for Ruby. However, a few days later, Edwin arrives and kidnaps Ruby, as a mean of blackmailing Alison to come back to him. Kirsty pleads with her mother not to go, but Alison returns home with Edwin.

Alison returns on 4 March 2013, when Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) and Fiz Stape (Jennie McAlpine) went to look for her. They tell her everything about Kirsty's domestic violence against Tyrone. Alison refuses to believe it and storms out. But, she came to Kirsty's and decides to play along with the lie. However, after a few hours, she demands Kirsty to tell the truth, which she then does. Alison persuades Kirsty to tell the truth in court, saying that she'll be free of the nightmare she is living and she'll be proud of her no matter what. Kirsty agrees to do so, but then, she saw Alison walking out of Tina's flat, and now refuses to go to the police. Kirsty then tells Alison about Fiz being Tyrone's girlfriend. Tina and Fiz beg Alison to tell the police for Tyrone and Ruby's sake, but she refuses, saying that she won't choose them over her daughter. Alison returns while Kirsty is giving evidence against Tyrone. She tells her she is ashamed of her. Alison meets Kirsty at the café and offers to help her in the house, on condition that she tells the truth. Kirsty angrily refuses and tells Alison she is not welcome into the house anymore.