If one good thing comes out of Billy Mayhew’s (Daniel Brocklebank) tragic death, it will be justice for his killer, the evil Theo Silverton (James Cartwright). Hold on to your hats, Coronation Street fans. Billy’s about to get a confession from beyond the grave.

Monstrous Theo was a real piece of work even before he became a murderer. Despite acting like the world’s most perfect boyfriend in public, behind closed doors he proved to be a bully and a narcissist who took out his insecurities on his boyfriend Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) with violent outbursts, emotional manipulation and routine humiliation.

For months, Todd has been trapped in a toxic cycle of abuse with a man constantly hurts him and turns on the waterworks every time he musters up the strength to leave.

Like all abusers, Theo was desperate to isolate Todd from any safety nets like his friends and family. The only person who really smelt a rat was Billy, who was worried to notice the change in Todd since he started dating Theo.

It wasn’t until Debbie Webster’s (Sue Devaney) wedding that Billy saw Todd’s bruises and finally realised the extent of the abuse. With Billy’s support, Todd was finally ready to leave Theo for good. For a moment, it looked like the nightmare was over.

Then along came Corriedale.

In the explosive aftermath of the multi-car pileup, Theo had the opportunity to save Billy’s life. He had always been jealous of the reverend, especially because he was Todd’s ex. In a horrific split-second decision, Theo strapped an unconscious Billy back into the driver’s seat and left him to die in the fiery wreckage of the minibus.

Grief-stricken and at his lowest ebb, Todd felt he had no option than to go back to Theo. It seemed that Theo had won.

But there’s one thing the villain didn’t count on – his conscience. While assault and coercive control don’t seem to keep him up at night, apparently murder is where he draws the line. Upcoming episodes will see Theo tormented by constant guilt until it all explodes when he finds themselves confessing his crime to the most unlikely person – Billy.

With Billy’s funeral fast approaching, Theo’s tormented by the blood on his hands and seeks out the Bishop for absolution. Without knowing all the gory details, the Bishop assures Theo that he is not to blame and suggests that he talks to God.

While the idea of the vile bully getting struck by a thunderbolt outside the Rover’s Return is a satisfying image, what happens next is almost as good.

Left by George to mind the undertakers for a moment, Theo seizes the opportunity to save his tattered soul and approaches Billy’s coffin, tearfully confessing how sorry he is for leaving him to die… then a door slams. Somebody heard Theo’s confession – and it wasn’t just the Almighty.

Who was in the undertakers?

Whoever heard Theo’s confession has the ammunition to bring him down. Unfortunately, that might make him more dangerous than ever. Coronation Street Executive Producer Kate Brooks provides a chilling insight into how Billy’s death has affected the abuser’s mental state.

‘We’ll see Theo, who is obviously ravaged by his own guilt – yes he did something absolutely despicable but he justifies it as being absolutely necessary to keep hold of Todd. Because he does, in his own very warped, very unhinged and tarnished way, deep down love Todd, he does everything he can to be an absolute pillar of support for Todd, Summer and George. He’s an absolute rock.

‘Part of this is about masking his own guilt that he feels about his part in Billy’s death, but he also knows how close he came to losing Todd so he wants to do everything he can to make sure he doesn’t lose Todd again.’