Coronation Street has threatened a major change for the Michaelis children amid fears for their safety.

Recent weeks have been difficult for Brody, Joanie and Shanice following the arrest of both of their parents. While the two girls were taken in by Sally and Tim Metcalfe, Brody has been looking after himself at home.

In tonight’s (4 August) episode, Kit Green checks in on Brody and learns that the teen has a new job at Webster’s Garage. Brody explains that he can use the money to help look after his sisters.

Kit is upset when he realises the huge amount of responsibility his biological son has had to shoulder, and tries to get to know him better. The pair go to a football match together before hanging out at Speed Daal.

Kit invites Brody to Bernie and Dev’s wedding and is pleased to discover Brody is already planning to attend having formed a bond with his new grandma. Could this be a turning point for Kit and his son?

Though troublemaker Brody appears to have straightened out his act, it seems the disruption to their home life has been too much for Joanie.

While fighting over the TV, Joanie angrily throws the remote at Shanice and is sent to her room by Sally. As they comfort Shanice, the Metcalfes are horrified to discover bruises on her arm.

“Kids do as they see, don’t they? And we both know what Mick and Lou were like,” Tim reasons with his wife.

Later, when Brody arrives for dinner, the couple share their concerns that Joanie has been hurting her sister – despite Shanice’s claims that she fell over at school. “They’ve had the odd scrap, but Joanie would never want to hurt Shanice,” Brody explains.

Sally suggests telling social services about the incident, which she fears could be “a pattern of behaviour”, but Brody insists everything is fine. He worries the girls might be split up if the authorities get involved.

But will Sally take matters into her own hands?