WITH five children at home and a poorly brother fighting motor neurone disease, Gemma Winter is crumbling under pressure.
The character portrayed by Dolly-Rose Campbell makes a devastating confession to Rita Tanner next week in Coronation Street.
Gemma Winter is crumbling under pressure
She recently found out her brother is suffering from motor neurone disease
She is also at the head of an illegal child-minding business
Gemma and her husband Chesney Brown (played by Sam Aston) have had severe financial woes as they try to provide for their five children with a modest income.
The pair recently tied the knot and their wedding was on a strict budget – although Linda Hancock insisted she could contribute.
Their big day was perturbed when Gemma’s twin brother Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) revealed he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).
Gemma has been left reeling by the announcement, knowing her brother has a limited amount of time left in Weatherfield.
He found out later on he wasn’t eligible for a potential treatment, leaving him to live out his days with the illness.
To top it all off, Gemma accepted to take care of several children in Weatherfield to help fellow parents and earn some cash but her business is illegal.
The pressure is piling up on Gemma and her husband but it all comes to a head next week on ITV.
Coming up, when Chesney explains they can’t afford for him to attend summer club with his mates, his son Joseph (William Flanagan) is gutted.
Gemma, on the other hand, says she’ll ask Rovers Return landlady Jenny for more shifts at the iconic pub.
In later scenes, Chesney heads off to work leaving Gemma stressed out with five kids to look after.
Overwhelmed, she breaks down to Rita Tanner (Barbara Knox), admitting that she’s utterly exhausted, struggling to deal with Paul’s illness.
She also reveals that she feels like she did when she had postnatal depression.
Rita urges her to talk to Dr Gaddas but it all backfires on Gemma later on.
Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard) and Michael Bailey (Ryan Russell) drop Bertie and Glory at No.5 for the day.
They leave and an exhausted Gemma surveys the room full of kids, wondering how she’ll cope.
Having heard about the antidepressants from Chesney, Bernie Winter (Jane Hazlegrove) offers to help for an hour while Gemma goes to the café.
But when Beth Tinker (Lisa George) tears a strip off Gemma for slacking, she rushes home, fighting back tears.
While Gemma briefly closes her eyes, Bertie empties her bag and finds the pack of antidepressants.
Daniel and Daisy Midgeley (Charlotte Jordan) arrive and they’re unimpressed to find Gemma asleep on the sofa.
But they’re soon horrified as they realise that Bertie has eaten the tablets.
Is Bertie in danger?
Coronation Street airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8pm on ITV.
Bertie is thrown in an overdose horror next week
How will Gemma cope with the chaos around her?
