Coronation Street launches a big new storyline for Todd Grimshaw on Friday (November 7) as he is viciously beaten by a gang of thugs, leaving him scarred for life.
The nasty incident takes place after Todd wanders off alone into the night, having been stood up by his family when they decide to avoid a meal he has organised for them at the Bistro.
The plot that follows will see Todd at his most malicious as he blames his loved ones for what happened and begins to plot his revenge.
Here, Bruno Langley - who plays Todd - reveals all on what fans can expect from the storyline.
How long did you have to spend in make-up for the immediate aftermath of Todd's attack?
"For the scenes where you see Todd after he's been beaten up, it took an hour and a half and sometimes two hours in make-up. I don't think that's a lot, because when I watch behind-the-scenes stuff from movies, they're sometimes in make-up for seven or eight hours. So I would consider myself quite lucky!
"Prosthetics were needed for two places - on the cheek and also on the eye to make it look like Todd's eye had swelled up. They had to blend it into my skin tone and make it look like it had been stitched as well, so it was a bit of a work of art, really!"
As Todd is scarred for life, will you have to spend a lot more time in make-up from now on?
"They've told me that they can get it down to 15 or 20 minutes. Todd's scar is going to be there permanently, as it would be in real life. That's kind of cool, because I don't think that happens very often on a soap when something dramatic happens to a character. The scar is not going to be gone in six months - it's going to be permanently there."
It must also take time to take it all off again!
"Yeah, sometimes when I've wanted to get home I've just gone and tried to get it off myself, but I couldn't as the glue is so strong! I've learned my lesson and the team at work take it off now, so it's just another 10 minutes added onto my day!"
Bruno Langley in make-up for Todd Grimshaw's facial injury
© ITV
Bruno in make-up for the facial injury
How does Todd feel about his injury?
"He's not a particularly vain person but he's always looked after his appearance, so it's a very big deal to him. It's been quite fun to do it.
"I think it could also affect his confidence when it comes to men. There are some scenes where Todd wants to go out for a drink with Jason and Sean. Sean is not sure it's the right time, because he says to Jason that people will react badly to Todd as a character and it won't be the same as it was before. Maybe it won't be as easy for Todd to get his way!"
Will Todd change as a person after this?
"The storyline coming up is that Todd blames his family as the reason for why this happened. He's not going to deal with it well and he's going to try to get his revenge. I'm not sure how far that's going to go, but I think it's going to be quite a long process.
"I'm not sure exactly how that's going to happen yet, as they've not told me and I've not asked. I'm seeing the producer soon so maybe I'll know then!"
Why does Todd blame his family?
"He sees it as a chain of events. If his family hadn't have stood him up in the Bistro, then he wouldn't have been mugged, then he wouldn't be in hospital. That's how he sees it, very black and white and he thinks the fault lies completely with his family and not himself.
"That's not how I personally would regard it. I think karma has got a lot to do with it - but Todd certainly doesn't think he has anything to feel guilty for. Even in the hospital, you can see little snippets of Todd trying to make his mum and Jason feel bad. I don't know how long that will go on for, or whether he will ever resign himself to the fact that he has to take some responsibility too."
Eileen and Jason are horrified at Todd's injuries.
© ITV
Eileen and Jason are horrified at Todd's injuries
Does he blame anyone in particular?
"No, he blames everyone - Eileen, Jason, Eva, Julie, Tony. The thing is, Todd was genuinely trying to make it up to his family. He was trying to do a good thing by arranging the meal at the Bistro so he could become a better person and make it up to them. But the minute they don't turn up, Todd changes direction again and he's back where he was, if not further away. This is a huge setback and it'll be interesting to see where he goes from there."
Does Todd milk the situation to win sympathy from his family?
"I think he does! He moves back home, but it's quite sad that the only reason he's got back into the house is because this has happened to him. Jason didn't want Todd anywhere near him before this, and the only reason he's being nice is because this horrible thing has happened to Todd. It's not a nice feeling for everyone to feel sorry for you."
Have you ever had any similar experiences in real life?
"I've been mugged before. I was 17 and I was approached by three or four guys. They just said, 'Give us your stuff' and I just said, 'Okay!' I was waiting for a train and they were saying 'give us this' and 'give us that'.
"I was hoping this train would turn up because there was nobody on the platform. Anyway, as the train was pulling up they finally got off. They took my phone and a few other things, but then one of them felt sorry and handed me the SIM card! I went 'Cheers mate!' and got on the train. Nothing had ever happened to me like that before, but it's not as bad as what happens to Todd."
How have you felt about playing a nastier version of Todd?
"To be completely honest, it's been nothing but fun to do it! Some of the things that Todd says are things that I would never say to anyone in real life. It's great and I'm enjoying it. The reaction I get is people saying that I'm very naughty but they still like me, but I think that's a very good reaction to have."
Will we find out what happened to Todd in London to bring about such a dramatic character change?
"I think we will. I haven't been told 100%, but I know a lot of people have been asking why Todd has changed. That's a good question and I think the viewers will find out, but I'm not sure when that will be. It's still a bit of a mystery!"
Todd is attacked
© ITV
Todd's attack airs on Friday
Is Todd staying around for a while?
"I'm contracted for another year and then we'll see. Contracts tend to run from year to year, so we'll have to see - it's obviously up to the producers and the writers."
How will Christmas be for the Grimshaws this year?
"We've been filming those scenes and Todd is not in a good place. He doesn't want to ruin Christmas for his family, but there are a lot of scenes in The Rovers with everyone together and it's not a particularly happy Grimshaw family Christmas. It never is in soaps!"
Does there come a point where Todd's attitude towards his injury changes?
"He spends a while taking it all in and internalising what happened. I think Todd feels sorry for himself, everyone else does too and he's not in a good place. But we've done some good scenes where Tracy Barlow comes round, drags Todd out of the house and says, 'Stop feeling sorry for yourself' - and he does! It took Tracy Barlow coming round to do that!"
Will Todd and Tracy have more scenes together?
"He's working at Barlows Buys at the moment and I hope he stays there because I'm having such good fun with Kate Ford. We work well together."
Tracy confronts Todd about the shop
© ITV
Tracy and Todd
Before the attack, Todd is trying to make amends with his family. Do you think he really was going to change his ways?
"I think Todd genuinely was on the road to try to redeem himself and that's the way I played it. When Todd is attacked, it just flips everything back on its head again. Who knows how far it would have gone if this hasn't happened? It could have been very different.
"Todd is not Eileen's favourite son anymore, but I think that's great because it creates conflict. You need conflict in soaps and this has created a lot of conflict between the two brothers. I'd like to see that more in the future - I'd like to see Jason and Todd have a go at each other!"
As Corrie has reintroduced Jason's father, would you like Todd's dad to make an appearance too?
"Yeah, but who knows whether he will? There was some mention of him a long time ago. I remember when I was first screen-tested in 2000, there was some comment about where Todd's dad came from. I think it was a one-night stand, and to be honest I can't even remember his name. It would be interesting if his dad came back, but I think the scenes have been great with Jason's dad Tony too. Terence Maynard is a great actor and he's slotted into the show really well."
Is there more to come between Todd and Tony?
"I think there is unfinished business. Obviously Tony and Todd are not speaking at the moment. Personally I think a lot of that was Todd's fault. Tony was quite manipulative, but so is Todd! They're probably as bad as each other.
"I think there's more stuff to be done with Todd and Jason - lots of unfinished business!"
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