Bethany's storylines have included her taking ecstasy tablets when her uncle, David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd), hid them in her doll.

Her return storyline saw her running away from home in Milan back to Weatherfield, and since then, her storylines have included the character's infatuation with David's enemy Callum Logan (Sean Ward) in the midst of his conflict against her family; being a victim of school bullying; developing a crush on her mother's boyfriend Gary Windass (Mikey North); her dangerous relationship with local pimp boss Nathan Curtis (Christopher Harper), who subjugates Bethany in child grooming and sexual exploitation; becoming a lapdancer in the follow-up of her grooming ordeal, which involves building a friendship with Craig Tinker (Colson Smith); being stalked and kidnapped by the daughter, Kayla Clifton (Mollie Winnard), of one of the men who abused her; dating Ryan Connor (Ryan Prescott); and helping her colleague Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard) with the death of his wife Sinead (Katie McGlynn) and falling in love with him.

When Sarah-Louise Platt (Tina O'Brien) begins to worry about gaining weight and starts being sick, she is horrified to discover she is five months pregnant just after her 13th birthday in February 2000.

Just hours after her birth, Bethany is kidnapped by Alison Webster (Naomi Radcliffe), whose baby son Jake has just died.

Sarah struggles to find boyfriends who will accept that she is a teenage mother but things come to a head when she begins dating Aidan Critchley (Dean Ashton) in 2002.

When Aidan crashes the stolen car he is driving and Sarah is badly injured, she realises Bethany was nearly left motherless and resolves to put her first.

However, Todd is secretly struggling with his sexuality and the shock of discovering his affair with Karl Foster (Chris Finch), sends Sarah into premature labour.

Bethany gets a new father figure when Sarah begins dating Todd's brother, Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas), soon after their split.

When Gail comes in, she reveals Bethany's identity and age, horrifying landlady Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh).

Bethany pleads to stay, claiming she hates Milan and Sarah virtually ignores her in favour of work and her new boyfriend, but Gail still books a return flight for her.

However, Bethany hides her uncle Nick Tilsley's (Ben Price) car keys and runs away to ensure she misses her flight.

The pair later reconcile and recall fond memories of their time in Milan, with Sarah agreeing they can stay a few days and that she will find her a new school when they return.

Bethany causes further trouble when she shoplifts from a boutique, forcing Sarah to get help from David's arch-enemy Callum Logan (Sean Ward).

Callum takes photos and videos of Bethany delivering his drugs and pretending to smoke cannabis which he uses to blackmail Sarah when she splits with him over his dangerous lifestyle.

Sarah and David realise Bethany has intercepted letters and emails from the school about her absence to prevent her family from knowing about it.

At school, Bethany is ganged up on by a group of girls, who make cruel remarks about her and Sarah and threaten her, pulling her hair.

Bethany arranges for Gary to come to Nick's empty flat after she overhears him talking to his ex-girlfriend Alya Nazir (Sair Khan) about someone he's met, thinking it's her.

Craig and his colleague, Jess Heywood (Donnaleigh Bailey), are called to a lap dancing bar after a reported disturbance and he is shocked to find Bethany working there under the name of Madison.

[11] Katie Redford was initially cast in the role,[12] but was sacked just days later before filming began after it was revealed that she was 25 years old, not 19 as she and her management had claimed.

[15] Bethany is introduced in 2000 when the show tackled the controversial subject of teenage pregnancy, using the character of 13-year-old Sarah-Louise Platt, recently recast to 16-year-old Tina O'Brien.

Speaking of the announcement, Redford said: "Until I'm actually on set, I genuinely don't think it will sink in that I'm joining the cast of Coronation Street.

Speaking of her casting, Fallon commented: "Walking onto the set was surreal and nerve-wracking, but everyone has been really welcoming and I am thrilled to have been given this great opportunity."

"[22] In December 2016, it was announced that Bethany would be "gradually groomed into a world of sexual exploitation" after "falling for charming" Nathan Curtis, played by Christopher Harper, in a storyline starting in early 2017.

Harper said that "it's very interesting to have someone as bright and cynical as Bethany be duped by this adult who is manipulating her" and "child exploitation isn't just about what is happening to young children – that emotional hotpot we all remember of being 16, 17, 18 years of age, being clever, being open but also still vulnerable.

"[23] Tina O'Brien discussed scenes when Sarah finds Bethany "clearly drunk and dressed provocatively" at Nathan's flat".

Fallon filmed a scene "where Nathan takes Bethany to his flat where there are a lot of men" and added it "was so uncomfortable, it was horrible.

Fallon maintains the storyline is "really important" and hopes girls in a similar situation might think "what's happening to me isn't normal" or that "parents might start talking to their daughters about a relationship."

"[26] Charities praised the storyline, with Barnardo's saying they are "shining a light on this serious but little discussed issue" whilst a spokesperson for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children added "Soaps play an important part in highlighting abuse and in giving victims the courage to speak out" and they "hope it will raise awareness of the signs of grooming and encourage more victims to come forward and seek help.

[4] Upon the character's return in 2015, The Guardian's Hannah Verdier thought that Fallon was "perfect" for the role and that her comedic skills were a "reincarnation of Joan Rivers, only with a Mancunian accent".

[28] Steven D Wright from the same newspaper, however, felt that Fallon was "far too old for her part" and that Bethany didn't sound like someone who spent half of their life in Italy.