Coronation Street viewers have started to spot some worrying behaviour from Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce)’s boyfriend Theo Silverton (James Cartwright), as a nastier side to the character has begun to emerge.
Theo is dealing with a very complex situation. Having made the decision to accept that he’s gay and move forward in a relationship with Todd, Theo has had to navigate splitting up with his wife Danielle (Natalie Anderson) and trying to maintain a relationship with his two children.
This has been made more complicated by a character called Noah (Richard Winsor), who is part of a church group that seeks to ‘save’ gay people by putting them through conversion therapy. This is something Theo has endured in the past and it’s left him with severe trauma. Noah is now living with Danielle and the children, which is a horrific situation for Theo.
Todd has been trying to help Theo through all of this, but there have been signs that Theo’s behaviour towards Todd is tipping towards being controlling.
Gareth Pierce told us last month: ‘I think at this point, we’re starting to spot some anger management issues on Theo’s part, at the very least. There’s some flashes of anger that have left Todd shocked but equally, because he’s had that insight into the conversion therapy and where Theo is coming into this new life from, he’s perhaps willing to guide him through it.
‘I think Todd has spotted many things from Theo, but he still has the mindset that he can fix this and because of the love that’s there, he’s thinking they will get through it. Our audience are probably also spotting some of those flashes of jealousy and perhaps a kind of need to control that maybe Todd is not currently spotting or doesn’t want to spot.’
In upcoming episodes that jealousy and control becomes more overt and leads Theo to issue an ultimatum to Todd.
Theo is irritated when he hears from Gemma (Dolly-Rose Campbell) that she’s hosting drinks in memory of her brother Paul (Peter Ash), who died last year. She says Todd will be there with Billy (Daniel Brocklebank). Later, Theo emotionally blackmails Todd into staying at home with him rather than going out to the pub.
The next day when Billy sees Theo’s son Miles (Lewis William Magee) accompanying Noah in handing out leaflets in the street, he tries to reason with the boy.
He warns him that he’s being brainwashed by some bad people and he needs to realise which people in his life truly care about him.
Theo is obviously jealous of the close bond between Todd and Billy, and Billy’s interference in his son’s life – however well intentioned – tips him over the edge.
Furious, Theo tells Todd that he doesn’t want him seeing Billy any more, and says he must choose between them.
Todd can’t believe what he’s hearing, but Theo is deadly serious. Unless Todd cuts Billy out of his life entirely, things are over between him and Theo.
