Time is running out for Coronation Street’s Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) to escape his abusive husband Theo Silverton (James Cartwright). A desperate intervention with Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) may be his last chance… until Theo gatecrashes.

Todd’s abusive nightmare is one of the most tense, nail-biting and frustrating stories to watch in Soapland right now… and yet I find myself unable to switch off. I can’t.

Not now Theo is so close to being exposed as a violent, controlling narcissist. Not now George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley) has seen the monster’s true colours, and with the help of Todd’s friends like Sarah and Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby), is determined to free the closest thing he’s got to a son from this nightmare.

To be fair, things aren’t looking rosy for Theo. Now Sarah’s managed to convince Gary Windass (Mikey North) that Todd’s being abused, Theo’s losing his best mate, his mentor, his job on the builder’s yard – and maybe even his life, if Gary makes good on his threats. With the angry mob gathering, Theo plans to flee Coronation Street like a rat from a sinking ship…

… But he’s taking Todd with him.

In a sickening move, Theo led a blind-folded Todd down the aisle and literally forced him to get married. Now his victim is legally bound to him Theo has accepted a job in Belfast and plans to start a new life there with Todd, trapping him forever in a never-ending cycle of abuse.

The only thing standing in his way are the people who love Todd the most. George secretly gave Todd an emergency bag in case he ever needed to escape Theo. Unfortunately, Theo found it, and pressured Todd into confronting George and the others in the bistro, insulting his friends one and lambasting them for interfering in his relationship.

Sarah was among the people Todd verbally tore to shreds. When Theo sniped that none of them are Todd’s real friends, Sarah bit back that they are Todd’s real friends, and they would never hurt him like Theo does. This prompted Todd to have a pop at his oldest friend. ‘Who are you to talk?’ He snapped. ‘You change fellas like you change your knickers.’ But Sarah knew that Theo was pulling the strings. ‘This isn’t you talking.’  She insisted.

Despite Todd’s cruel words, Sarah is not about to give up on her oldest mate. But her intervention may have dire consequences for Todd in upcoming episodes of Coronation Street, where Sarah’s last ditch attempt to get her friend to leave her violent partner is interrupted by Theo…

Outside the flat on the cobbles, Sarah makes sure that Theo has left before pleading with Todd to let her in. Reluctantly, Todd covers the doorbell camera and ushers her inside.

As she quizzes Todd about why he is not replying to George’s messages, suddenly they hear Theo returning.