Amy was created by executive producer David Hanson and Slanina-Davies was offered the role whilst looking for work as an extra.

Amy's storylines have included underage pregnancy which resulted in the birth of daughter Leah Barnes and the subject of domestic abuse in her relationship with Ste Hay, portrayed by Kieron Richardson.

In January 2017, it was revealed that Amy would be departing later in the year in a "whodunit" storyline which would see the character killed off after being murdered.

Amy appeared again for a final time in a flashback episode which aired on 10 October 2017, where her new husband Ryan Knight (Duncan James) strangled her, revealing him as her killer.

Actress Ashley Slanina-Davies was looking for work as an extra at the time, but her audition secured her the regular role of Amy.

This was confirmed at the same time as Garnon Davies (Elliot Bevan), Glen Wallace (Malachy Fisher) and John Pickard (Dominic Reilly) announced their departures.

A spokesperson for the serial stated: "We're all sad to be losing yet more friends from the cast [...] Nothing's been firmed up yet storyline-wise but one thing's for sure, they'll all be memorable exits.

He and Ashley [Slanina Davies] are delivering brilliant performances as two young kids portray the reality of so many 16- and 17-year-olds as they struggle to make a life for themselves and repeat the mistakes of their parents.

[10] Slanina-Davies and Richardson then fronted a charity campaign called "Expect Respect" in order to combat domestic violence.

At the time Slanina-Davies released a statement reading: "Domestic abuse takes many forms, it can be physical, sexual or mental.

"[11] In 2010 Amy was involved in a special week of episodes, battling to save her two children Leah Barnes (Jessica Croft-Lane) and Lucas Hay (Jude Hawley) in the blaze.

Series producer Emma Smithwick told Digital Spy's Kilkelly that Amy often did not "care for herself and her own wellbeing" because she was too busy helping Ste and her children.

Richardson told a writer from Inside Soap that "when Ste comes to her rescue, Amy's emotions are all over the place after splitting up with Ally.

[18] Further storyline developments were announced seeing Ste's abusive stepfather Terry Hay (Conor Ryan) befriending Amy.

Kilkelly from Digital Spy reported that Amy's partner Ryan would return home and find her dead in a "devastating" and "dark" storyline.

[1] Slanina-Davies made her final appearance as Amy on 29 March 2017, where her body was discovered by Ryan and her father Mike Barnes (Tony Hirst).

Amy befriends Michaela McQueen (Hollie-Jay Bowes), Jamie "Fletch" Fletcher (Sam Darbyshire) and Josh Ashworth (Sonny Flood) and begins a relationship with Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson).

She develops labour and delivers her daughter, Leah Barnes (Ela-May Demircan) on her kitchen floor, to the surprise of Sarah and Mike.

Amy's mother Kathy Barnes (Sarah Jane Buckley) decides to raise Leah as her own child, ashamed of her daughter's underage pregnancy.

However, she suffers from post-natal depression and leaves to stay with her grandmother for several months, whilst there she ends her relationship with Josh once more, eventually returning at Sarah's funeral.

She begins life as a student and starts dating Olly Larkin (Oliver Watton), who tries to force her into having sex until Ste saves her.

Amy becomes friends with fellow students Jem Costello (Helen Russell-Clarke) and Lee Hunter (Alex Carter).

Gabby Sharpe (Phina Oruche) asks Amy to babysit for her, a fire is started in Il Gnosh downstairs by Dominic Reilly (John Pickard).

A couple of days later, serial killer Silas Blissett (Jeff Rawle) puts a pawn chess piece into her flat and becomes one of his targets, making Lynsey Nolan (Karen Hassan) guess who his next victim will be however it is later revealed did not intend to kill Amy.

Following this, Amy returns to live in the village with Ryan, Leah and Lucas, engaging in a custody battle with Ste and his boyfriend Harry Thompson (Parry Glasspool).

At their engagement party, Harry inadvertently gives Goldie's mobile phone to Amy, and she shows the footage of Ryan and Mercedes kissing to everybody.

However, an argument between Ste and Harry at the wedding reception leads to Amy's dress getting ruined, she agrees to leave for America with Ryan and the children.

There are six suspects in the frame: Ste, Harry, Ryan, Mercedes, James Nightingale (Gregory Finnegan) and DS Gavin Armstrong (Andrew Hayden-Smith).

Amy was devastated that Ryan cheated on her on their own wedding day and expressed disbelief that she fell in love with another gay man.

Two years later, Ste, who joins the members of Far Right Radicalisation, regrets listening to Jonny Baxter (Ray Quinn) and Stuart Sumner (Chris Simmons).