Gumede: Violence plot 'challenging'

Coronation Street's Natalie Gumede has revealed that she finds her character's domestic abuse storyline challenging.

The 28-year-old actress - who won best newcomer at the British Soap Awards - is currently embroiled in a gritty plot, which sees her policewoman alter-ego Kirsty Soames hitting out at fiance Tyrone Dobbs (played by Alan Halsall).

"It's been a real challenge, this storyline, for me and for Alan too. I hope it's not in my nature to be so negative and aggressive - it's very difficult to understand how one human being could be so awful to another," she told the soap's official website.

Kirsty shows her violent ways when she loses her job, after she and Tyrone went undercover to dish the dirt about Terry Duckworth's lapdancing club.

"She's well and truly devastated. It's all she has ever wanted from a young age, and I think she feels very lost," explained the actress.

"It soon turns to anger, and when you love somebody sometimes, you hit out at the people closest to you. Her temper does explode and it culminates in her hitting Tyrone."

Natalie predicts that the violence could continue and may even get worse in coming weeks.

"I think there's a potential for things to get a lot darker between Kirsty and Tyrone. Until she sorts out her issues, I think the pattern of behaviour may well repeat itself," she said, adding: "Oh. Don't hate me!"