Nathan Curtis (Christopher Harper)

[Ruffed_lemur]

Bethany spots Nathan lurking at the reconstruction of Lauren's last known movements and her mind is thrown into overdrive.

Initially believing Nathan was still behind bars, she is shocked to discover he was released from prison some time ago and is working on a building site nearby.

Knowing his history with young girls, Bethany worries that Nathan could be behind Lauren's suspected murder. Determined to get some justice for Lauren, Bethany is forced to confront her abuser.

No she isn't forced to confront him! Just go straight to the police.

[lizann]

i can't believe he is out already

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/cor...urtis-changed/


Coronation Street returning star Chris Harper has weighed in on Nathan Curtis' comeback to the cobbles.

Nathan has returned to Weatherfield amid the disappearance of Lauren Bolton, prompting Bethany Platt to try and connect the dots. In a 2016 storyline, Bethany was abused by Nathan, who groomed her for prostitution before she reported him to police.

Now, he's back in town after being in prison, and he doesn't seem to have shed his old ways, as Harper explained.

"I really don't think prison has reformed him in the slightest. In some ways, I think he's even more clever and more manipulative," the actor said.

"He's hardened, he's aware that he can take a kicking and he's aware of the advantages of getting other people into trouble, so he plays people off against the law."

The soap star said his character is always "on the lookout for more opportunities to exploit".

"Give him half an inch and he'll take a mile. He will spot weaknesses in people and capitalise on them for his own ends," he said. "I think if anything he's got even better at that."

Being back means he's well aware he could run into Bethany, and he soon realises that she's gotten stronger thanks to her support network and that it wouldn't be easy to manipulate her this time around.

"I think he tries to stamp his authority and it doesn't work as well as it did, and that catches him off guard momentarily," Harper said.

"She's definitely grown up. She's been through a lot, but she's been lucky enough to be supported by family and friends and there's a strength she can find in that, so even when she's faced with the snake, she can stand up to it a bit.

"He's not used to that, so not being able to push her over anymore means he'll move on pretty quickly. But I imagine he'll spend a lot of time loitering and making his presence felt."

As to whether Nathan has anything to do with Lauren's disappearance, Harper didn't shut down the possibility of his baddie being involved in some capacity.

"All the signs are there ? the similarities in Lauren's behaviour before she disappeared, her vulnerability, all really ring bells with what Bethany went through," he said.

"It wasn't so long ago that Bethany was at a petrol station on a motorway about to be smuggled over to Europe, so we know that Nathan's ruthless and things could have been even worse for Bethany.

"I think if you watch that slippery slope, you recognise the behaviour. You recognise the situation she was in, and it could definitely be Nathan who's been involved in one way or another."

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/cor...eturn-details/

Coronation Street has confirmed the full story details for evil Nathan Curtis's return.

The soap recently revealed that the character, who previously abused Bethany Platt and has been behind bars, will be back as part of the Lauren Bolton disappearance storyline.

Further details about his reappearance have now been unveiled, with scenes airing next Wednesday (May 8) and Friday (May 10) seeing Bethany shocked to spot Nathan in a crowd who gather to watch a police reconstruction of Lauren's last known movements.

Bethany struggles to keep her emotions in, and Daniel returns home to find her in a state of distress. She admits she thinks she saw Nathan at the precinct, though Daniel assures her that he is still in prison and that her mind is playing tricks.

Later on in the week, Bethany shows Daniel a video of the reconstruction, pausing to show him a close up of Nathan to prove that her mind isn?t playing tricks.

She heads to the police station, where DS Swain confirms to Bethany that Nathan was recently released from prison, before Bethany urges her to bring him in for questioning as she's convinced he's Lauren's murderer.

Bethany and Daniel manage to track Nathan down after learning that he is working on a building site nearby. She comes face to face with Nathan as he comes round a corner, before Bethany accuses him of murdering Lauren.

Speaking recently about whether Nathan is involved in Lauren's disappearance, returning star Chris Harper said: "All the signs are there ? the similarities in Lauren's behaviour before she disappeared, her vulnerability, all really ring bells with what Bethany went through.

"It wasn't so long ago that Bethany was at a petrol station on a motorway about to be smuggled over to Europe, so we know that Nathan's ruthless and things could have been even worse for Bethany.

"I think if you watch that slippery slope, you recognise the behaviour. You recognise the situation she was in, and it could definitely be Nathan who's been involved in one way or another."