Corrie Spoilers 2023

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/cor...iff-discovery/

Coronation Street has hinted at a possible turning point for Max Turner's storyline in January.

The teenager is currently being groomed by extremist gang leader Griff Reynolds, who has been using him to spread racist hatred and propaganda.

Griff sees Max as a useful person to have on board with the gang, believing that he could help them to bring in younger members. He has also been exploiting Max's videography and social media skills in recent weeks.

However, scenes airing in early January see Max finally become concerned over how far Griff is willing to go.

In the New Year, the Weatherfield winter market ? now rebranded as a Peace Market by Maria Connor ? remains a focal point of busy activity.

As Maria, Gary Windass, Alya Nazir, Yasmeen Metcalfe, Stu Carpenter and Daryan Zahawi set up stalls for another day of trading, Max's girlfriend Lauren receives a concerning call from her father.

Lauren's dad, who is part of Griff's gang, warns her to steer well clear from the market all day.

Max panics over this warning, knowing that Griff may be about to endanger his friends and neighbours.

Max suggests that they should call the police and warn people, but will they be in time to stop Griff's shocking plan? And is Max finally ready to turn his back on Griff?

When Coronation Street announced its extremism story earlier this year, show bosses warned that it'd be a long road ahead for Max ? with a second chapter to come.

Producer Iain MacLeod commented: "The story will encompass the 'traditional' recruitment techniques of extremist groups, and we'll see Max befriended in person by older, mentor-like figures that will give him a sense of loyalty and brotherhood.

"Then, later in the story, we will explore a very 21st Century problem: teenagers self-radicalising through watching extreme content online.

"In the end, we wanted this to be a story about communication within families ? what are the right and wrong ways to talk to younger family members who are gravitating towards extreme views?

"For the conclusion of the story, David's misjudged attempts to deal with Max will drive the narrative to a shocking and thought-provoking climax."

[Perdita]

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co...OgP0cNCYtVhxA4


Christmas may have been a slightly more relaxed time in Weatherfield by a soap's standards but the New Year is set to get off to a dramatic start in Coronation Street. Nina Lucas' life is left hanging in the balance when a bat group meeting goes drastically wrong.

On New Year's Eve, Roy joins Evelyn and Brian and reveals that for the last two years he?s been secretly studying for his VBRV, Volunteer Bat Roost Visitor qualification. Then at the start of 2023, Roy arranges to meet Nina, Brian and Asha at the bat group meeting in the woods after dropping Evelyn at a friend?s house along the way. But when Brian and Nina get a message saying the meeting has been cancelled, they realise they have no way of getting in touch with Roy.

Roy arrives at the woods but drops his thermos in the river. Arriving at the woods to look for Roy, Nina Asha and Brian spot his car and head off towards the Rover to look for him but Nina is shocked when she spots Roy?s thermos in the water. Nina makes her way down the bank but horror strikes when she slips, bangs her head and rolls into the river.

Asha and Brian watch in panic before Brian drags Nina?s limp body from the river whilst a fearful Asha calls for an ambulance. Luckily, Nina gets the help she needs and later, as Roy and Nina leave the hospital, Roy continues to blame himself for endangering his niece's life.

Meanwhile, when Sam calls at the cafe and tells Roy how helpful his phone is for his astronomy, Roy heads off to town and returns with a new smartphone. But as Nina and Asha show him how to use it Roy gets completely bewildered, has he done the right thing?

Elsewhere, Lily sits with her new earpods in, watching one of Max?s far-right propaganda videos. Lily shows the propaganda video to Eliza and promises to send her a link. But it's not long before Stu calls round with Eliza?s laptop and shows a shocked David and Shona the video.

Later, with Maria planning to rebrand the Christmas market as a Peace festival, Griff orders Spider to meet him at his flat, believing he is planning something for Maria?s meeting at the Town Hall. However, Spider gets a message from Max asking him to meet him urgently.

Soon Spider comes face to face with Griff who knocks him out cold with a crowbar while Maria, Alya, Yasmeen, Daryan, Stu and Gary set up the stalls at the Peace Market. Having been told by Griff and the gang that the Speed Daal van is now at the bottom of the canal Max is concerned when he sees it back on Victoria Street. When Lauren takes a call from her dad, warning her to steer well away from the market today, a worried Max reckons they should call the police and warn people.

But will they go against the gang and if they do, they be in time? After a successful operation, Spider regains consciousness and Toyah assures him that she?ll learn to put up with the dangers of his job as she can?t live without him.

Also on the street, Billy is shocked when Summer reveals she is back with Aaron and he is fully behind her surrogacy plans. At Mike and Esther?s house, Summer answers the door to the bailiffs and as the bailiffs start gathering up Mike and Esther?s things, Summer?s horrified. When Mike and Esther return, Summer demands to know what is going on.

Later, over tea, Billy tells Summer that he?d like to accompany her to her appointment with the surrogacy consultant as he intends to support her in any way he can. But when Summer, Billy, Mike and Esther attend a meeting with the surrogacy counsellor, Todd confides in Paul that he?s not convinced Mike and Esther are the upstanding Christian couple they make themselves out to be and he intends to do some digging.

And Stephen appears to be in the clear. When Jenny then reveals that she?s had a call from the hospital informing her that Teddy?s taken a turn for the worse, Stephen?s quietly thrilled and not only that, he is relieved to see ?10k in his account. Stephen ends up telling Jenny that just before Teddy?s accident, he confided in him that he saw Leo in Canada and he made it very clear that he never wanted to see either of them again.

As the New Year celebrations begin Tim, Sally, Elaine and Stephen watch the fireworks. Stephen tells Elaine that he?s got a feeling 2023 is going to be a good year. After the celebrations are over and the new year begins, Jenny and Stephen visit Teddy in hospital to find him still unconscious, but when Teddy suddenly opens his eyes, Stephen?s mounting panic is evident.

While in the hospital, Jenny assures Teddy that one day his memory will return and then they?ll all know the full story regarding Leo. Stephen privately hopes she?s wrong. When Jenny reveals that she?s invited Teddy to move in while he recuperates, Stephen?s quietly horrified. And it's not long before Jenny returns from the hospital with Teddy in tow and helps him into the pub while Stephen watches in despair.

[lizann]

stephen will probably kill teddy

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/cor...-protest-2023/

Coronation Street's Gemma Winter to stage big protest in 2023 storyline
Gemma Winter is set to stage a big protest as part of a new storyline in 2023 on Coronation Street.
In scenes set to air on the New Year, Gemma is left concerned after learning that Chesney Brown's son Joseph has gotten into trouble for using sign language at school.
Fans will know that the family have been using sign language since Aled was diagnosed with profound hearing loss back in 2020.
Gemma and Bernie decide to go to the school and confront Mrs York, Joseph's teacher ? however, she is dismissive of Joseph's BSL skills.
This turn of events leaves Gemma and Bernie furious, and they decide to stage a sit-in in the classroom with the demand that BSL is taught to all the pupils.
However, Michael gets locked in with them, having only come by to discuss Glory's start date at the nursery.
News of the protest soon reaches the residents of the street, with many tuning into the livestream that Gemma has created as news reaches Chesney.
In the end, Mrs York decides to lock the classroom door, telling the three that they can sit there overnight.
Will Gemma and Bernie get their way in their protest?
Elsewhere, Coronation Street has hinted at a possible wedding storyline for Gemma and Chesney in 2023 amid the couple's attempts to cover up Tyrone Dobbs's planned nuptials to Fiz Stape on Christmas Day.

[parkerman]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/cor...-protest-2023/

Coronation Street's Gemma Winter to stage big protest in 2023 storyline
Gemma Winter is set to stage a big protest as part of a new storyline in 2023 on Coronation Street.
In scenes set to air on the New Year, Gemma is left concerned after learning that Chesney Brown's son Joseph has gotten into trouble for using sign language at school.
Fans will know that the family have been using sign language since Aled was diagnosed with profound hearing loss back in 2020.
Gemma and Bernie decide to go to the school and confront Mrs York, Joseph's teacher ? however, she is dismissive of Joseph's BSL skills.
This turn of events leaves Gemma and Bernie furious, and they decide to stage a sit-in in the classroom with the demand that BSL is taught to all the pupils.
However, Michael gets locked in with them, having only come by to discuss Glory's start date at the nursery.
News of the protest soon reaches the residents of the street, with many tuning into the livestream that Gemma has created as news reaches Chesney.
In the end, Mrs York decides to lock the classroom door, telling the three that they can sit there overnight.
Will Gemma and Bernie get their way in their protest?
Elsewhere, Coronation Street has hinted at a possible wedding storyline for Gemma and Chesney in 2023 amid the couple's attempts to cover up Tyrone Dobbs's planned nuptials to Fiz Stape on Christmas Day.

Of course. we don't know how this story will actually play out, but, at first sight, it just seems like complete unbelievable nonsense - again!

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/cor...aracters-2023/

Coronation Street boss Iain MacLeod has teased that the ITV soap will be airing a huge storyline in 2023 specifically for the show's younger characters.

MacLeod was speaking to Digital Spy and other media about Coronation Street's 2023 storylines when he revealed that the soap will be utilising its younger cast much more this year.

"We've still got a fantastic cohort of younger cast. There's a huge story we can tell with them right at the heart of it ? it's very relatable and very teenage. We're hoping it's the kind of story that shocks a bit and provokes awkward conversations in front of the TV," MacLeod said.

"The cross-generational appeal of Corrie means that younger people might sit and watch it with their nana. This story, I think, will encourage conversations you'd never normally have in that cross-generational way, because it's tricky tonal territory."

MacLeod continued: "I'm pleased with it. We're working with charities to make sure we get the detail right and fundamentally it's just about those brilliant young actors being the superstars they are, then reaching out into the wider street through people who are connected to them."

MacLeod specifically mentioned the storyline involving Seb and Nina as one of the soap's "best". That storyline concerned an assault on a teenager that then drew in Roy and more cross-generational interactions between the soap's various characters.

"Those are our best stories, the ones that don't live in one demographic corner," MacLeod said.

"This new story is exactly one of those. There's huge stuff for those directly involved ? then parents, loved ones, families, extended friendship groups and ripples spread out across the whole show."

That won't be the only big Corrie storyline in 2023, with Carla and Stephen being involved in a shocking plot and Daisy Midgeley being involved in a dangerous story about her social media presence.

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/cor...spoilers-2023/


Coronation Street had an eventful start to the year as Max Turner's extremism storyline came to a head, but the focus will now shift onto other characters for a while.

Daisy Midgeley's terrifying stalker plot will remain prominent over the next few weeks, while we'll also see the return of bad boy Damon Hay for a new chapter of drama.

The Street's newest serial killer Stephen Reid will also remain central to big storylines, as he's just getting started with his ruthless lying and scheming.

Here, we're recapping the biggest stories to come, all in one place.

1. Justin plans an acid attack

The police and courts have now missed several chances to deal with Daisy's stalker Justin, who continues to pose a sinister threat.

Last month, a tabloid leak revealed that the storyline will build up to some hard-hitting scenes, as Justin plans a horrendous attack.

Although Corrie bosses haven't commented on the reports, it's thought that Justin will throw acid at Daisy at the Rovers Return, after refusing to accept that she wants nothing to do with him.

Corrie's team has reportedly been working with several research partners while planning the challenging scenes.

2. Damon's new romance story

Bad boy Damon will return to Weatherfield imminently, as he seeks legal representation at the solicitor's office following his recent arrest for drug dealing.

Corrie bosses have confirmed that a new love interest will be revealed for Damon upon his return to the cobbles.

Producer Iain MacLeod said in January: "As the year goes on, Damon has a magnetic attraction for a notable high profile female character, who ends up having her head turned. That has far-reaching consequences.

"We're currently working on June storylines. There's a build-up and a colossal explosion in that story, involving Damon and this love story that will be on air then."

3. A new side to Damon

Damon's enemies on the Street may not have to worry too much about his shock return, as Corrie will be exploring a nicer side to his character.

After scaring Jacob out of town and making threats towards Nick and his family, we'll need some convincing before we agree that Damon's just misunderstood, though.

Iain MacLeod told ITV1's Loose Women last month: "What we're doing over the next few months is seeing that [Damon's] got a different side to him. He has got ? I wouldn't say a soft centre, but he's got a heart.

"He will try [to change] ? after making a really, really big mistake ? to try and turn his life around and go straight for a while.

"He's still going to be a bad boy but a reformed bad boy is still kind of sexy though, right?"

4. A new side to Hope

Speaking of sudden changes, Corrie will also reveal a significant shift in Hope's storylines after so many years of lies, schemes and random acts of destruction.

A recent episode saw Hope agree to become Sam's girlfriend, paving the way for a new on-screen double act that the producers have big plans for.

Iain MacLeod recently said: "[Hope is] certainly not going to continue going down such a troubled path, in the short to medium to long-term.

"We thought: 'Actually, we've done some very dark and twisted things with that character, and okay that'll still be part of her, but for the next 12 months we're going to do normal pre-teen stuff.

"We're going to be building a friendship with her and Sam, that will verge on a very innocent pre-teen romance a little bit and they try to navigate those waters."

5. Fiz leaves

Corrie star Jennie McAlpine, who plays Fiz, is pregnant with her third child.

The happy real-life news naturally means that Fiz will take some time away from the cobbles, but the storyliners have opted not to destroy her relationship with Tyrone again.

Iain MacLeod told Loose Women: "What we didn't want to do is split them up because they've been on again and off again and they've just got married.

"Fiz will be leaving to cover Jennie's maternity leave, but it will be not acrimonious. They'll part as friends and they'll try to do the long-distance thing.

"Actually, we've pre-recorded some little bits with Jennie that we're going to play in as video calls, so while she's away we can still see her talking to Tyrone. We're trying to use all the tricks we can to cover it."

6. Amy breaks her silence

Amy has struggled to confide in anyone since being raped by Aaron at the start of this month.

The traumatised student has confronted Aaron over his appalling behaviour, but he has tried to manipulate her by lying about what happened between them.

In her recent big interview to discuss this storyline, Elle Mulvaney ? who plays Amy ? strongly hinted that it's only a matter of time before her character will reach out for support.

Asked about the reaction from Amy's friends, Elle said: "I think the dynamic will definitely change, because you'll find that people will have to almost pick sides. With Amy being how she is, you can't be friends with them both. That's going to be really difficult, because what happens when they all want to go out or they all want to go on holiday together?

"Amy isn't going to want to be in the same room as Aaron. She feels like he's a threat to her now. So I feel like that will definitely have an impact on the wider group, because now they're stuck in the middle."

On the likely response from Amy's parents, Elle added: "Steve and Tracy love Amy ? she's their world. So they are going to be heartbroken when they find out. That will manifest in different ways between them both, because they don't know what to do and it's out of their hands.

"All they'll do is try to get justice for Amy. It's a question of trying to support her in the best way ? and whether Amy agrees or not whether their way is the best way. The Barlows do what the Barlows do! Sometimes they go off the rails when Amy doesn't want them to."

7. Abi is drawn into the Amy and Aaron story

When Corrie first hinted at the big issue-based storyline for the teens at the start of the year, it was revealed that Abi will play a significant role in the storyline further on down the line.

Life has been quieter for Abi since she finally secured full-time custody of baby Alfie, so this storyline will see her back at the centre of the drama again.

Iain MacLeod said in January: "[Abi] becomes a key confidante to one of the youngsters in the big socially responsible issue story.

"Abi becomes a surrogate mum and has big dilemmas about whose version of events does she believe and who does she side with? That causes her to investigate her own history of substance misuse over the years."

8. Max's new love interest

Max hasn't been appearing on screen much since being sent to the Secure Training Centre last month, but show bosses still have long-term plans for his character.

With producers keen to redeem Max after his time in Griff's far-right gang, the teen will feature in less heavy material and a new romance storyline.

Iain MacLeod confirmed: "There's a happy ending [for Max]. It involves a love story. He meets this incredibly unlikely love interest and it's really funny.

"At the risk of making it sound like a tonal collision, we go from that really serious story that we've told and it evolves into a rom-com almost, over the course of the next 12 months."

9. Stephen is finally caught out

Don't expect it to happen anytime soon, but a comeuppance will be unleashed for resident villain Stephen in the long-term.

At the start of this year, Corrie confirmed that Stephen would continue to pose a threat to the Weatherfield residents for at least 12 months, taking us to the end of 2023 at least.

However, Iain MacLeod also recently told Loose Women: "Of course he is [going to be caught]. It's a soap, bad guys always get their comeuppance in the end, don't they?

"So yes, 100%. There's a lot of fun to be had between now and then, I will say."

10. Paul faces further problems

Coronation Street star Peter Ash was recently spotted filming on location for upcoming scenes focusing on his character Paul's health-related storyline.

Paul has been struggling with a hand injury since being hurt by Carla in his recent collision with the Underworld van.

Paparazzi photographers caught Corrie filming scenes where Paul is stopped by the police and accused of erratic driving. Is his ongoing problem the reason why?

11. Zeedan returns?

Zeedan recently waved goodbye to the cobbles to start up a new life with his wife Marrium in London following their reunion.

However, rather than confirm an exit after Zeedan's final scenes aired, the Corrie team were quick to clarify that Qasim Akhtar ? who plays him ? remains a member of the cast.

While no details have been revealed about how long we'll have to wait to see Zeedan again, it's thought that he'll continue to pop in and out of the show to visit his family.

12. Faye's second chance with Miley

Faye will be reunited with her daughter Miley for the first time in years next week, as she bows to pressure from her father Tim.

Tim is keen for a chance to get to know his granddaughter and predicts that Faye will regret it for the rest of her life if she doesn't start bonding with Miley.

In a recent interview, Ellie Leach ? who plays Faye ? hinted that the long-term arc of the story will see her character become nervous over the prospect of losing Miley again.

Ellie said: "Faye has a real fear of realising that she still loves Miley and realising that she wants to be a mum to her again because she is scared that Miley will be taken away again.

"So if it does go well, Faye will try to be a mum to Miley for as long as she is in Weatherfield, but it would be playing on her mind that Miley might go back to Canada and she would be constantly thinking about when that may be."

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/cor...ter-christmas/

Coronation Street confirms upsetting Christmas storyline for Stu Carpenter
Coronation Street's Stu Carpenter, Yasmeen Metcalfe and Eliza Woodrow have been revealed as three more characters who'll be taking centre stage over the Christmas period.
Stu is currently facing a difficult time, as he's struggling with his granddaughter Eliza's decision to go and live with her father Dom Everett.
Dom previously demanded cash in return for dropping his interest in bringing up Eliza, much to Stu's disgust.
More recently, Stu has hired a private investigator to dig up dirt on Dom, hoping that this will help to get Eliza back.
Speaking in a recent press call, Coronation Street's producer Iain MacLeod told Digital Spy and other media: "This is another one of those stories that we were hoping to play as an incredibly relatable tale ? about parental versus grand parental influence over a child.
"There is loads more to come for them. It's incredibly poignant. Stu makes some incredibly bad decisions in the course of the story, fully believing that he's right. But he makes a total hash of things.
"I think it's fair to say, in the course of that, Stu will seriously endanger his relationship with Yasmeen. After Geoff and Sharif, Yasmeen has profound trust issues when it comes to men ? and Stu's behaviour around this story will give her, at the very least, serious pause for thought."
He continued: "It's got fantastically good actors in the middle of it.
"Christmas will be upsetting for that family, in a way that will trigger something a bit bigger as we head into the early New Year and spring."

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/cor...istmas-arrest/


Coronation Street star Jane Hazlegrove has discussed her family's tragic Christmas storyline.

Jane plays Bernie Winter on the soap, the mum of Paul Foreman ,who is set to receive devastating news ahead of the holiday season.

Coronation Street has already confirmed that Paul, who has motor neurone disease (MND), will be told by doctors that he has only six to 12 months left to live.

Speaking about how Bernie and her family feel after hearing the news, Jane said: "When they discover that he only has six to 12 months to live she is thinking, 'Can it get any worse for them?'

"They've all been holding on to the fact that he's in the chair now, it's gone from the cane to the chair and that's been quite rapid. But it's always that thing that maybe, the chair is going to be another six months that things will move more slowly.

"But this news is devastating. There's nowhere for them to go really now. Bernie is struggling to be positive, there are other things going on with the family with Joseph being poorly and she wants to be strong for them all but even she feels a bit beaten now by it all."

Bernie will face a further struggle during the festive season when she finds herself on the wrong side of the law and possibly set to miss what could be Paul's final Christmas.

However, Jane says Bernie will pretend things aren't so bleak when the police come knocking at her door.

"Yet again the positive Bernie comes to the fore," Jane said. "She is convinced they have nothing on her and that everything is going to be fine.

"That's what she's spreading. That's the face that she's wearing. There's a little voice that's going, 'This could be a horrific'. Her time could be up but she's still she's still got the mask on."

But while Bernie is putting on a brave face, inside Jane says she is "full of upset and self-loathing".

The actress added: "She's done it again and when they need her the most because Gemma is struggling as well. When they need her the most she's not going to be there again. She should have that kind of tattooed on her arm as a reminder.

"Because it's just another pattern, isn't it? And it is the truth she has never been needed more and she has let them down. By trying to help them, she hasn?t thought through the possible consequences and now they are the ones paying the price of potentially not having her around. She?s in a mess."

But, despite everything, Jane says Bernie's relationship with Dev is still strong and he's been a great support for her.

"I think sometimes the things she does can put a bit of a wedge between them but so far, he?s been supportive," Jane added. "I love their relationship, they are both single parents, they have had lives before each other and they get on like a house on fire. I love working with Jimmi [Harkishin]."

[Perdita]

Coronation Street has a busy Christmas season coming up ? with announcements and spoilers dropping thick and fast over the past few weeks.

News about a significant exit plot and a brand-new arrival are just some of the teasers that have been released in the build-up to the festive season.

Don't worry if you've missed an article or two, though, as we're now rounding up all the major announcements right here in one place.

Peter Barlow's exit

Chris Gascoyne's decision to bow out from the role of Peter Barlow was announced in July. His final scenes were shot at the end of October ? and filming photos obtained by Digital Spy showed Peter leaving Weatherfield on a tram.

Before Peter goes, he and his wife Carla will take centre stage in a special episode on Boxing Day.

Corrie producer Iain MacLeod told us last month: "There are a few explosive Peter Barlow-style outbursts that start to bring to Carla's attention that he's really not okay.

"They reach this enormous fork in the road where they love each other, but perhaps their happiness is no longer reliant on each other. Maybe they start to wonder if they'd be happier in some other situation somewhere else, basically.

"It all builds up to this incredibly surprising Boxing Day episode. There's a huge two-hander between the two of them ? more or less they are the only two cast in the episode.

"It's a greatest hits compilation for those of you that have been big fans of Peter and Carla since the start. It picks over every single detail of who they are, what they've been as a couple, what they want for their future and what happiness looks like for them.

"It's building towards an exit for Peter, which is really brilliant and bittersweet and feels like Corrie at its very best."


Bobby arrives in Weatherfield


Britain's Got Talent star Jack Carroll has joined the cast of Coronation Street in the role of Bobby ? the nephew that Carla Barlow didn't know she had.

Bobby is the son of Carla's brother Rob Donovan. Rob, who's in prison after killing Tina McIntyre, only discovered Bobby's existence recently and hadn't had an opportunity to fill Carla in.

Viewers can expect Bobby to arrive during the festive season, shortly after Carla has said her emotional goodbyes to Peter.

Iain MacLeod recently said: "This was born from the desire not to let Carla tread water for too long [after Peter's exit].

"It's just at the point where this world-ending decision is made on Boxing Day and Carla is going: 'What does the rest of my life look like, when I've decided that happiness looks like this for me?'

bobby and carla in coronation street, a behind the scenes of filming as a woman and young man with walking aid stroll down the street
ITV
"Suddenly we land this huge human hand grenade in the middle of it as Jack's Carroll's character Bobby turns up. He's connected to Carla because he's Rob Donovan's son that Carla didn't know existed. Here he is, suddenly causing all kinds of trouble for Carla with immediate effect.

"Basically what we wanted from Bobby's character and from Jack was a gobby little troublemaker with a heart of gold.

"He's going to be a massive ball of energy for us and loads of fun. He's just going to tip Carla's life upside down in lots of very interesting ways."

Bernie could miss Paul's last Christmas

Corrie has confirmed that Christmas 2023 will be Paul's last, as his Motor Neurone Disease is progressing quickly and he only has months left to live.

Although Paul hopes to enjoy a final festive season with all his loved ones around him, his mum Bernie may be absent after landing herself in trouble with the law.

Bernie is due to face serious repercussions for her recent involvement in selling stolen goods. After she pleads guilty in court, Bernie is told that it's highly likely she'll receive a custodial sentence and miss Christmas on the cobbles.

Iain MacLeod recently warned: "This Christmas, [a] catastrophe arises from Bernie and her historical involvement with Shelly's slightly dubious online scamming.

"It puts her in a massive amount of legal hot water, to the extent that there's every likelihood that she's not going to be present for what will be Paul's last Christmas ? and the family might not get to be together for one last festive moment."

Peter Ash, who plays Paul, also recently told Good Morning Britain: "It's quite a sad Christmas really, for Paul. He finds out that he's got six to 12 months left, so it's looking likely this could be his last Christmas.

"So for him, it's just making the most of every little moment and spending it with the family and kids."

Ed hits rock bottom



Ed and Ronnie's father Sarge will be joining Coronation Street in the coming weeks, with former Desmond's actor Ram John Holder taking on the role for a guest stint.

The arrival of the new character coincides with a difficult time for Ed, who has fallen into a downward spiral with his gambling addiction.

Revealing how this story builds up to Christmas, Iain MacLeod recently said: "On the surface it's very fun with the addition of the dad, but underneath it all, Ed's problems are spiralling and mounting.

"It culminates in Ed hitting rock bottom shortly before Christmas. In an effort to keep the wolves from the door, he's forced to do something extremely upsetting and commit a really awful betrayal.

"Ed will feel like he's let himself down in the worst conceivable way. I think the viewers will find it very sad. This man has been driven to a point of desperation, but it's very nuanced and very multi-layered.

"Inevitably it stays a secret for a time, but then there's an explosive storyline that deals with the family discovering what it is that Ed has done. He's cast out into the wilderness and then there's a loyalty battle between the children as to which of them is going to be sticking by their dad and which one's going to cut him adrift.

"The story has really fantastic performances in the middle of it. It just feels like a really strong ensemble piece running all the way to the New Year."

Stu alienates his family

Things aren't looking much better for Stu over the Christmas period, as he remains consumed by jealousy and suspicion over Eliza's dad Dom being back on the scene.

Although it's no secret that Dom can't be trusted, Stu's methods in dealing with the situation are threatening to make matters much worse.

Iain MacLeod recently said: "It's incredibly poignant. Stu makes some incredibly bad decisions in the course of the story, fully believing that he's right. But he makes a total hash of things.

"I think it's fair to say, in the course of that, Stu will seriously endanger his relationship with Yasmeen. After Geoff and Sharif, Yasmeen has profound trust issues when it comes to men ? and Stu's behaviour around this story will give her, at the very least, serious pause for thought.

"It's got fantastically good actors in the middle of it. Christmas will be upsetting for that family, in a way that will trigger something a bit bigger as we head into the early New Year and spring."

Tommy Orpington returns


Former Weatherfield County footballer Tommy Orpington was recently announced as a surprise return for the Christmas period.

Ex-Emmerdale and Hollyoaks star Matt Milburn will be reprising the role of guest character Tommy, who was last seen in the show in 2021 when he retired from his sporting career.

Iain MacLeod teased: "You'll see Tommy again on Christmas Day! Since leaving football, he has made some bad business investments, including opening a Tommy Orpington-themed gourmet burger restaurant. They've all gone belly up!

"Tommy's wife has left him ? and he's now had to return to the trade he had when he was a non-league footballer, which is painter and decorator. You'd think, given all that, it'd be quite miserable ? but he's not at all.

"He's in a good place where we find him. There might be one of our female characters that needs some decorating done. A story evolves where this attractive, historically successful man arrives into one of our female character's lives and upsets the apple cart in fairly spectacular fashion."

The Rovers returns

As the festive season nears its end, the Rovers Return will re-open on New Year's Eve after being closed for two months.

This sets the stage for big drama in 2024, as the circumstances surrounding the pub's big comeback aren't entirely above board.

Iain MacLeod confirmed: "It's not going to stay closed for that long. In fact, it reopens on New Year's Eve, but the interesting thing is that the circumstances of it becoming open again are all tied up with Stephen's legacy.

"Somebody will do something that is at best, naughty, at worst, slightly criminal to get their hands on the keys to the pub and reopen it. So it will reopen, but the reopening of it will be based on this slightly shaky foundation of a criminal act."