Coronation Street’s Hope Stape is a diminutive troublemaker who is determined to stir up trouble wherever she goes. And now that Alina is back on the scene, that can only become worse.
It may be recalled by viewers that Hope was the reason behind her cousin Joseph Brown’s disappearance. Hope’s parents, Fiz Stape and Tyrone Dobbs, believed she was improving following her time at a special school in Birmingham, but Hope showed them otherwise.
Recently, Hope split up with Sam and turned her attention towards fellow fire starter Jack Webster… But, what does Hope’s past look like?
Who plays Hope Stape in Coronation Street?
Hope has been played by young actress Isabella Flanagan since 2017. She took over from twins Faith and Nicole Holt, who shared the role.
Isabella comes from a showbiz family. Her twin brother, William, is also in Corrie. He plays Hope’s cousin, Joseph Brown.
And the twins’ older sister Amelia Flanagan is beloved to Emmerdale fans for her portrayal of April Windsor.
Hope Stape in Coronation Street – Her cancer history and killer father
Hope was born back in 2010, after the dramatic tram crash that rocked Coronation Street.
Her dad, John Stape, was in the middle of his murderous rampage at the time and, in fact, killed one of his victims – Charlotte Hoyle – on the same day Hope was born.
Fiz was oblivious to her husband’s awful deeds, until the truth was revealed several months later, and he tried to scarper with baby Hope.
To add to poor Fiz’s trauma, he legged it and left her to take the rap for his crimes. She even went to prison for a while as she waited to go on trial.
Not the best beginning for little Hope!
Hope’s also suffered with cancer in 2015, being diagnosed at the age of four with Neuroblastoma after a lump was found on her abdomen.
She fortunately made a full recovery, going into remission in 2016, and then went on to develop behavioural problems that sent her to a special school in Birmingham.
Hope and her sister
Though Hope and Ruby have been raised as sisters, they’re not biologically related. Ruby is Tyrone’s daughter with his violent ex, Kirsty.
Instead Hope discovered she had a real half-sister, Jade Rowan. She’d met Hope when she was at the special school and followed her to Weatherfield, intent on revenge on Fiz.
Jade was also John’s daughter, and convinced Fiz was responsible for his death.
She made it look like Fiz was abusing her little girls and worked hard to get social services to let her look after Hope.
But fortunately Jade’s evil deeds were eventually revealed, and Hope was returned to her mum.
Is Hope Stape a pyromaniac in Coronation Street?
Hope has a history of setting fires.
She set fire to the factory and was almost trapped inside. She also set the family trampoline alight.
When Tyrone left the family to set up home with Alina Pop last year, Hope reacted badly.
She especially freaked out when Alina fell pregnant and set fire to the flat she and Ty shared.
Although Alina survived, she lost the baby.
Hope was eventually reported to the police, but was spared time in Young Offender’s, instead being told she needed therapy and the help of her family to help control her behaviour.
Hiding Joseph
Hope hiding cousin Joseph in Fiz’s attic as his family worried when he went missing.
Fortunately, Joseph was eventually found and returned home.
Since then, Hope’s scheming ways have seemed to come to and end although with Alina back on the scene (with Tyrone’s son – Dorin), will her bad behaviour soon resurface?
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