2025 looks set to be a huge year on Coronation Street, especially with new producer Kate Brooks at the helm.
It’s already been a dramatic Christmas period, with Gail Platt’s (Helen Worth) exit after 50 years, Leanne and Toyah Battersby’s (Jane Danson and Georgia Taylor) vicious fight and Daniel Osbourne’s (Rob Mallard) romantic proposal.
But with the season for being merry and bright over and done with for another year, some Corrie residents aren’t set to have a Happy New Year…
Carla’s health horror
When DS Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers) learns that Carla has lied about her whereabouts and is in hospital, she is devastated and makes it clear that she won’t tolerate dishonesty in their relationship.
With Carla’s condition worsening and the factory boss refusing to accept a kidney from Bobby Crawford (Jack Carroll) and Ryan Connor (Ryan Prescott), the hunt is on for a donor…
The return of Rob Donovan
Rob Donovan (Marc Baylis) is set to return to our screens in 2025 as Bobby attempts to appeal to his better nature in the hopes of convincing him to donate a kidney to his sister.
With Carla and Rob having left things on bad terms, will Rob agree?
Producer Kate Brooks previously revealed that Rob’s return will cause problems for Carla and Lisa, as well as explore more of the siblings’ history.
‘I love Rob and Carla,’ she enthused. ‘I love tapping into their history together, and we really explore that through this story. There’s so many twists and turns along the way, it’s really exciting. It’s going to be eventful for Carla and Lisa…’
Becky Swain’s murder case
In the New Year, Lisa remains determined to get to the truth about wife Becky’s death, after Matty Radcliffe (Seamus McGoff) previously suggested that there were more people involved.
Determined to prove that he had something to do with it, Lisa confronts him and demands to know where he was the day she died, before being warned off by Kit Green (Jacob Roberts).
Later, Lisa confronts Mason Radcliffe (Luca Toolan) with photos from the crime scene, revealing that his brothers were driving the car that killed Becky.
Mason is genuinely shocked, and soon embarks on a mission to help prove Lisa right.
After doing some digging in the Radcliffe brothers’ flat, Mason and Dylan Wilson (Liam McCheyne) arrive at the police station with a WWII helmet – is this the evidence Lisa needs?
Knife crime terror
Having turned against his brothers, Mason fears for his life as he makes plans to leave Weatherfiield.
After upsetting Abi Webster (Sally Carman) by stealing heather from Seb’s memorial garden to give to Betsy Swain (Sydney Martin), Mason attempts to convince her that he had nothing to do with Becky’s death.
With Betsy still scathing, Sally Metcalfe (Sally Dynevor) tries to get through to her about how difficult it was for Mason to turn in his family.
After apologising to Liam Connor (Charlie Wrenshall) for bullying him, Mason is horrified when Matty and Logan Radcliffe (Harry Lowbridge) track him down and attack, while Dylan screams for them to stop.
Abi later finds Mason bleeding from a stab wound and tries her best to stem the flow of blood while calling for help.
When the ambulance finally arrives, Dylan explains that Mason was stabbed by his brothers using a zombie knife.
As the ambulance rushes Mason to hospital, Betsy holds his hand as she and Abi try their best to comfort him. Will Mason pull through?
Joseph’s confession
When Joseph Brown (William Flanagan) overhears paramedic Asha Alahan (Tanisha Gorey) tell Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin) that a hoax call stopped them from getting to Mason sooner, the youngster takes himself down to the police station.
He reveals to Kit that he placed the hoax call, sending the ambulance on a wild goose chase.
When Craig Tinker (Colson Smith) informs Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell) and Chesney Brown (Sam Aston) of Joseph’s crime, they are horrified.
However, when Craig leaves, Joseph reveals that it was all Hope Stape’s (Isabella Flanagan) idea. How will Chesney react?
Later, when Gemma reveals that Joseph will be let off with a youth caution, Fiz Stape (Jennie McAlpine) is sympathetic, knowing that it was all Hope’s idea.
Abi’s trauma
Meanwhile, when reports of the stabbing make the news, a traumatised Abi thinks it’s about Seb.
Struggling to cope, she is horrified when Alfie disappears from the playground, and is frantic as she searches for him.
When she finds him with Toyah, she accuses her of abducting him.
Back at home, Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) watches on with concern as Abi is unable to take her eyes off her son.
Cassie’s sinister plot
Cassie Plummer’s (Claire Sweeney) plot against Ken Barlow (William Roache) continues in the New Year, as she guilt trips him into believing that she’s spent all of her money on Christmas presents.
When Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) spots Cassie coming downstairs in a dressing gown, she is horrified, but Cassie assures her she just stayed the night to take care of Ken while Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) was on a night shift.
However, Cassie later winds Tracy up by making out that she fancies Ken, before pulling at Ken’s heartstrings by insisting that she wished she was as cultured and intelligent as him.
While Ken feels sorry for her, Tracy can see through her act and warns Steve that it would be a bad idea for him to move out as she is clearly desperate to get her claws into Ken.
When Tracy learns that Ken has given Cassie an advance in her wages, she tells Steve and Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney) to keep a close eye on her.
David’s rage
Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) despairs as David Platt (Jack P Shepherd) continues to treat wife Shona (Julia Goulding) with contempt and urges him to move on for the sake of his marriage.
When Sarah overhears Kit taking a call from Shona revealing that Matty and Logan are in Fresco’s car park and warns her to get away, Sarah is concerned.
Passing on the news of what she’s heard to David, he gets the wrong end of the stick and speeds off in search of Kit.
Daisy’s dilemma
When Sarah spots Daisy Midgeley (Charlotte Jordan) chatting to Daniel in the pub, she is concerned as Daisy is reduced to tears, and soon follows her to find out what is going on.
Will Daisy come clean about her pregnancy and the possibility of Daniel being the father?
Later, Daisy heads to the builder’s yard flat with a bag full of Bertie’s toys, insisting that it is best for him that she cut contact completely.
Will she regret her decision?
Evelyn’s future
After worrying that her life lacks purpose, Evelyn Plummer (Maureen Lipman) decides to take Roy Cropper’s (David Neilson) advice and apply to study law at university.
At her interview, things look bleak when she spots a familiar face, but it soon becomes clear that she has nothing to worry about when she is granted a place.
Excited to begin her new chapter, she informs Yasmeen Nazir (Shelley King) that she will be moving in to student halls, and Yasmeen can’t help but feel envious.
A romantic proposal
When Chesney receives a cheque for £20,000 from the abattoir where Les died, Gemma suggests they go to the Rovers to celebrate.
Elsewhere, Dev tries his luck at proposing to Bernie Winter (Jane Hazlegrove) again – will she say ‘yes’ this time?
Even more teasers
She also revealed a harrowing storyline for Kevin as he is diagnosed with testicular cancer.
‘As we go into the new year, Kevin will discover that he’s got testicular cancer, which causes a massive strain on his relationship.
‘Abi is a really strong character, but she’s going through her own turmoil at the same time. We want to tell this really truthfully. We’ve been working closely with Macmillan to make sure that we tell the story right. Ultimately, it’s about their relationship and testing that relationship.
‘It was really important that we don’t show Kevin being embarrassed or being reticent to talk to his friends about it. He’s quite open about it, which I thought was quite refreshing. He talks to Tim and Steve about it, and they all have their own way of handling it, but ultimately it’s about his relationship with Abi, and that is going to be truly tested.’
In terms of newcomers, Kate teased a new romantic partner for Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce), the arrival of Kevin and Debbie Webster’s (Sue Devaney) brother Carl and a new family that are set to be ‘neighbours from hell’.
