Izzy Armstrong

Izzy Armstrong is the daughter of Owen Armstrong and currently a machinist at the Underworld sewing factory in Coronation Street, Weatherfield. Izzy was born with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and uses a wheelchair to get about.

In April 2010, Izzy met Kirk Sutherland online via a dating service and agreed to meet him at the Rovers Return Inn. It was only when Izzy arrived at the pub that she realised that Kirk had used Jason Grimshaw's picture on his dating profile to attract interest. Izzy mouthed off at Kirk before leaving the pub. Despite this, she agreed to see him again on 7th May, whereupon she was no less prickly, snapping at David Platt and Graeme Proctor for spying on them and then bossing Kirk into applying for a job at Underworld. When Kirk failed the interview with factory boss Carla Connor, Izzy went to see Carla and challenged her assertion that Kirk couldn't do the job. Carla was impressed by Izzy's gall and after seeing that she was a skilled sewing machine user offered her the job. Izzy accepted and, upon reflection, Carla offered Kirk a job at the factory after all.

Izzy had a rocky relationship with her dad Owen as she thought he was too interfering. Izzy blamed him for the end of a promising relationship and afterwards refused to speak to him. On 9th June 2010, Owen tracked Izzy down to the Rovers but found her unwelcoming. He tried to make reparations by asking the landlady Liz McDonald to pass on a gift to Izzy. Izzy was annoyed at his underhanded method of getting to her but upon his arrival in the Rovers later that day agreed to talk to him, providing he accepted that her life was her own.

Although a wheelchair user, Izzy didn't like receiving special treatment and was cheeky to Anna Windass when Anna spoke to her in a patronising tone when Izzy bumped into Gary Windass.

In November 2010, Izzy was shocked to discover that Gary has been injured in Afghanistan and one of his best friends Quinny had been killed. Gary returned home a few days later and Izzy stuck by his side. She became very concerned about Gary's aggressive behaviour and withdrawn manner as it was clear he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

In January 2011, she asked Owen to give Gary a job at the Builder's Yard. He complied with Izzy's request but Gary was accidentally locked in the van by Jason Grimshaw, Gary then got out and attacked Owen. Owen told Izzy that he wouldn't report him if she ended her relationship with him. Izzy was defiant and refused to break up with Gary, as it was clear he was still traumatised. In July 2011, Izzy was robbed by a gang of teenagers.

After learning of this Gary began to be over-protective of her and took away her wheelchair and refused to let her leave the house. When Katy and her boyfriend Chesney Brown turned up at the house asking to speak to Izzy, Gary told them that she was asleep, Katy spottd there was something wrong and told her father Owen about Gary acting strange. Owen later went round to the house and knocked on the door but no one answered, so kicked the door down and spotted Gary with Izzy in the corner crying, Gary later let Izzy go and went back to live with his mum, Anna for a few weeks.

Background information

 * On her introduction to the programme, the character of Izzy was promoted as Coronation Street's first disabled regular, although Maud Grimes, who first appeared in 1993, also used a wheelchair.
 * Izzy's surname was initially intended to be Butterfield, although by the transmission of her first episode it had been changed to Armstrong.