Leanne Battersby (also Tilsley and Barlow) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Jane Danson. It was announced in February 1997 that a "family from hell" would be introduced to Coronation Street. This included Les (Bruce Jones) and Janice Battersby (Vicky Entwistle), Les' daughter Leanne and Janice's daughter Toyah (Georgia Taylor). Leanne made her first appearance on 4 July 1997. Danson left the series on 23 August 2000 and returned on 7 June 2004. Danson later took maternity leave in 2006 and returned in early 2007. Danson took another maternity break in 2009 and returned in the same year. On 27 September 2017, Danson took an extended break from the show and returned three months later on 15 December 2017.
Leanne's storylines include numerous affairs, prostitution, drug abuse, insurance fraud, discovering her biological mother was Stella Price (Michelle Collins), a miscarriage, an abortion and a custody battle for Peter Barlow's (Chris Gascoyne) son, Simon (Alex Bain). Leanne has had numerous relationships within the show. She married Nick Tilsley (Adam Rickitt/Ben Price) in 1998, but they divorced a year later. She married Peter Barlow in the show's live 50th anniversary episode, but split from him in reaction to his affair with Carla Connor (Alison King) being exposed. After a volatile reconciliation, she and Nick married for the second time in January 2013, but they divorce the following year. After a one-night stand, Leanne becomes pregnant with Steve McDonald's (Simon Gregson) baby and gives birth to a son, Oliver Battersby, who dies in 2020 from mitochondrial disease. Leanne reunites with Nick again in 2016 and 2018.
Storylines
1997–2000
Leanne moves to Coronation Street with her father Les Battersby (Bruce Jones), stepmother Janice and stepsister Toyah in July 1997. She starts dating Nick Tilsley (Adam Rickitt), despite his mother, Gail Platt's (Helen Worth) disapproval. Nick proposes and he and Leanne go to Scotland to get married. In an effort to become more responsible, Leanne quits her hairdressing course and starts work with Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox) in the Kabin. Nick, however, continues at college and they move into No. 4 with Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold), his girlfriend Zoe Tattersall (Joanne Froggatt) and Zoe's daughter, Shannon. Nick and Leanne's relationship becomes strained when Leanne gets pregnant. Insisting they are not ready for a baby, Nick persuades Leanne to have an abortion and tell people that she miscarried. Leanne reluctantly agrees and the relationship begins to deteriorate.
Nick learns that his father's killer, Darren Whateley (Andy Robb), will soon be released from prison. He persuades Leanne to befriend him, intending to send Darren back to prison. Things do not go according to plan and Leanne's safety is threatened when Darren breaks into her house. He returns to prison for breaking his parole conditions, despite the fact that Nick caused the situation. Their relationship breaks under the trauma and they split up. Now single, Leanne begins dating Vikram Desai (Chris Bisson). Excessive partying and late nights take their toll and Leanne resigns from The Kabin, following a row with Rita's foster daughter, Sharon (Tracie Bennett), over missing money and starts work as barmaid at The Rovers Return Inn for Natalie Horrocks (Denise Welch). Leanne starts taking drugs and ends up owing her drug dealer a lot of money, but refuses to rob the Rovers. Leanne ends up in hospital after a fight with one of Jez Quigley's (Lee Boardman) thugs. Leanne is scared and decides to leave Weatherfield.