Coronation Street’s Leanne Battersby will be struck another blow this week when her baby is left fighting for his life.
The restaurant manager – portrayed by Jane Danson – hasn’t had much luck recently after it was revealed married man Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) was the biological father of her son Oliver following a steamy one night stand last year, but it looks like things are set to take another turn for the worse over the next coming days when the tiny tot develops a fast-travelling rash over his body before the new mum discovers her little one unconscious in his cot.
An insider told Inside Soap magazine: "It’s a terrifying moment for everyone. The little lad has been poorly and ha d rash but Leanne just put that down to something minor.
"However, when she finds Oliver and realises how dangerous the situation is, Leanne knows it’ll be a race against time to get him medical help. They all have to face the thought that they could lose their little boy."
The hospital dash will hit Steve hard as just a few months ago he and his wife Michelle (Kym Marsh) – who split up after his infidelity was exposed – were forced to come to terms with the death of their son Ruairi, who was born prematurely at 24 weeks old.
The source explained: "Little does Steve know that he’ll soon be rushing to the hospital and once again face a heartbreaking wait to find out the fate of his child. The memories of little Ruairi must weigh heavily on him."
Although the situation is tense for Leanne, her partner Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) and Steve, it’s thought the worrying time will actually bring all three of them together, despite the latter two being at loggerheads since the birth of Oliver.