Kayleigh Morton
| Kayleigh Morton | |||||||||||||||
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| Coronation Street character | |||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Jessica Barden | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2007–08 | ||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 18 March 2007 | ||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 29 September 2008 | ||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Steve Frost | ||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Student | ||||||||||||||
| Residence | Spain | ||||||||||||||
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Kayleigh Morton is a fictional character on the British soap-opera Coronation Street. She is a member of the Morton family and lived at No. 6 with the rest of her family, until her father Jerry moved the family to Spain. The character was played by Jessica Barden.
Storylines
Kayleigh first arrived on Coronation Street on 18 March 2007 with her dad, grandad and siblings Jodie, Mel and Darryl. Her family were giving their neighbours headaches after just a few hours on the street with their loud music. On her first day at Weatherfield High Sophie Webster and Chesney Battersby-Brown told her about the teachers and Sophie told Kayleigh how the teachers would take her rings off of her. Instead of going to school she went home and when Jerry found her he asked why she wasn't at school. An argument ensued and Kayleigh snapped that she wished she could go back and live with her mum. Realising he couldn't keep her with him against her will, Jerry was forced to agree to Kayleigh's wishes and phoned Teresa. Kayleigh was delighted to be going back to live with her mum but it was clear that Jerry was devastated. Kayleigh left the following day. A pattern soon emerged of her regular and lengthy visits to her father's house. Jodie noticed how Kayleigh was very quick at eating her breakfast and that she kept requesting money. After several days, Jerry offered to drop her off as he was suspicious of the situation. It turned out that Teresa had gone on holiday and left Kayleigh to look after her six-year-old half-brother Finlay whilst she was away. As a result of this, she has temporarily moved back into her dad's house with Finlay. Teresa turned up a few weeks later. Jerry had taken her TV away and several other electrical items. She didn't seem that bothered about her kids and only wanted her TV back. She agreed to let Jerry keep the kids if she could have her telly back. Jerry agreed to this.
Kayleigh is furious when she finds out that Jodie has stolen Chesney's dog Schmeichel. Jodie has been involved in a feud with Chesney's mum Cilla Battersby-Brown for weeks as the Mortons' takeaway business has stolen the chip shop's (where Cilla worked) customers. Kayleigh finds out and returns the dog to Chesney. On 3 September 2007, Kayleigh gets drunk with her friends. The girls are alone in a house and Jodie is annoyed when Kayleigh phones asking to be picked up. Jerry is on his date with Eileen Grimshaw and is unable to pick her up. (Jodie can't do it as she's had a drink). Lloyd Mullaney offers to pick Kayleigh up in his taxi. When they arrive back, it is revealed that Kayleigh has been sick in the back seat. Jerry is furious when he finds out and tells Kayleigh that she is grounded. Kayleigh acts up when Eileen Grimshaw, Jerry's new girlfriend babysits her while Jodie goes out on a date with local cabbie, Lloyd Mullaney. Kayleigh tries to sneak out of the house but is caught. She later lies to Jodie about Eileen hitting her. She shares a kiss with Chesney later in August, but Chesney was later saved by Kayleigh from her boyfriend, Kenzie Judd, who beats Chesney for taking Kayleigh out in May 2008. In September 2008, Kayleigh was last seen waving out of a taxi window as she departed Weatherfield for a new life in Spain with her father and Finlay.
Development
In April 2008 she was axed by new producer Kim Crowther which led to her on-screen departure in September along with the rest of the Morton family (except Darryl and Teresa).