OMG SHOCKING!!! Special Coronation Street episode may pack a harrowing twist for Theo and Todd

At last. Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) is about to break free of his abusive husband Theo Silverton (James Cartwright), who will soon leave Coronation Street for good either in a black cab, a police car… or a coffin.

In a special single strand episode, Todd’s domestic violence nightmare at the hands of his toxic partner is set to reach an explosive endgame after months of physical and emotional abuse.

Over the past year, Theo has taken a confident, witty, charming, beloved Corrie character and reduced him to a shivering, terrified wreck. The relationship is a prison, where Todd was given strict instructions what he could do, where he could go and who he could see. Every time he objected,psychological gaslighting – or terrifying bouts of violence – were used to reign him back into line.

Like all bullies, Theo’s need for control comes from his own insecurities and failures. His failed marriage to ex-wife Danielle Silverton (Natalie Anderson), his struggle to accept his own sexuality, the fact that his own children don’t want to see him. It all fuels the coercive control, and the constant desire to pull Todd closer, isolating him from all others.

The story has felt like a frustratingly real depiction of an abusive relationship, with constant ups and downs and gigantic red flags where Todd was so close to walking away… only to end up back in Theo’s arms an episode later.

This was showcased expertly in the Behind Closed Doors single strand episode last year, told entirely through ‘found footage’ recorded with police body cams and ring-doorbells, where Todd stood up to Theo for the first time and pushed him back during one of the monster’s violent rages. This resulted in Todd’s arrest, and the couple’s first break up.

The last special episode was a critical milestone in Theo and Todd’s toxic relationship, which begs the question… what will happen in this one?

Todd has put up with a lot from Theo, mostly out of fear. However, let’s not forget that Theo is keeping a secret that could finish him for good – he left Todd’s friend and ex Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) to die in the Corriedale crash out of sheer jealousy.

So far, only Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard) of all people knows the truth after hearing Theo’s sobbing apology to Billy’s corpse on the day of the funeral. Presumably, the reveal has to come from him, although Carl’s unlikely to reveal the information out of the goodness of his heart.

Nobody knows Theo is a killer yet, but he’s not exactly Mister Popular either. Since the death of Billy left Todd a grief-stricken mess, Theo has become more and more desperate to keep him closer, even financially abusing his victim by forcing him to cut up his credit cards.

The worst thing Theo did was literally taking Todd down the aisle blind-folded and forcing him to get married. The more reckless Theo became, the more Todd’s nearest and dearest starting to suspect something was wrong.

Thanks to Todd’s loyal friend George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley), Theo has been exposed as the violent, vitirolic, controlling narcissist he’s always been. George happened to use Todd’s bathroom when Theo was giving him a tirade of vitriolic insults.

Ever since, George has been determined to free the closest thing he’s got to a son from the clutches of his abuser. He’s even packed him an ‘escape bag’ for the day he needs to run away from Theo. Will that day be the special episode?

Once George told Todd’s friends Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) and Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) about who Theo’s been treating their friend, the sinister scaffolder is persona non grata on the Cobbles.

Even his best mate and boss Gary Windass (Mikey North) has fired him from his job at the builder’s yard. Gary may be a reformed bad boy, but he is not a man you want as an enemy… mainly because he’s killed two people. Gary’s already threatened to come after Theo.

Is the special episode the day he makes good on his threat? Honestly, I wouldn’t be furious if Theo escapes police justice only to end up six foot deep in concrete…

The only person still under Theo’s spell is Todd – and time is running out. Theo’s accepted a job in Belfast, and plans to move there very soon, taking Todd with him. Then there will be no escape. Will George and the gang be able to make Todd see the light before it’s too late? And what will it take for Todd to walk away?

Unfortunately, something terrible might have to happen before Todd breaks free. That’s certainly been the case with the last two times he and Theo ‘broke up’, once when Todd shoved him in self defence, and the other when Theo pulled a knife on him and a broken Todd dared him to put him out of his misery.

We already know that upcoming episodes will see Sarah Platt sneak into Todd’s flat for a crisis meeting… which Theo interrupts. The vile bully already hates Sarah for turning Gary against him. This cannot end well.

So what do we know about the special episode? Is this truly the end for Theo?

Let’s not get too optimistic, but it’s certainly looking that way. In this moving one strand episode Todd finally stands up against Theo as he reports him for assault and opens up about the months of abuse to Lisa Swain (Vickey Myers) and Kit Green (Jacob Roberts).

Meanwhile, Theo knows his time is up and plans to flee Weatherfield like a rat from a sinking ship. But as news of his violent controlling behaviour spreads is it too late for him to escape? And will he take Todd with him?