Coronation Street executive producer Iain MacLeod has revealed that he is planning a "fantastic and unique" love story for Roy Cropper's niece Nina (Mollie Gallagher).
The character has become a firm favourite since her debut in November 2019 and is now a regular fixture behind the counter at Roy's Rolls.
Speaking to reporters about storylines for 2021, MacLeod described the new plot for resident goth Nina as one that will touch on the issue of "tolerance" and highlight the struggles faced by "minority communities".
"The love story will turn into a massive social issue story that deals with things like the tolerance of people that are part of minority communities and don't look like everybody else," he said.
"In the real world sometimes if you don't look like everyone else that can be incredibly challenging, so we're going to explore that a little bit in the show to heartbreaking effect, I hope.
"And also it will turn into a story that kind of draws in Roy and Abi and Kevin and just becomes this huge sort-of emotive community story with some of our favourite actors in the middle of it."
Nina has previously shared chemistry with Dev's daughter Asha (Tanisha Gorey), although Asha is currently involved in a relationship with teen bad boy Corey (Maximus Evans).
Discussing the future for Asha and Corey, MacLeod added: "We're going to see more of Corey, someone we've seen intermittently over the past couple of years, who will reveal himself to be every bit as unpleasant as we perhaps expected in his dealings with Asha earlier in the story."
Coronation Street continues Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV.