Next week on Coronation Street, Bernie Winter-Alahan finds herself pulled into one of her most frightening storylines yet. What began as a one-night mistake in a hotel with Mal Roper quickly turns into something much darker. Now that Mal has arrived in Weatherfield and refuses to back off, the show is lining up scenes that have been described as “absolutely terrifying” and Bernie is right at the centre of them.
Mal’s Return Becomes “Absolutely Terrifying” For Bernie
At first, Bernie may have hoped her hotel hook-up with Mal would stay in the past. However, that hope disappears when he suddenly turns up in Weatherfield.
Instead of keeping his distance, he begins showering her with unwanted attention and acting as if their brief encounter meant far more than it did. Then, in scenes airing next week, the situation escalates.
Bernie ends up alone with Mal in the café, and things quickly take a disturbing turn. He locks the door and confesses his feelings, seemingly convinced he is making a romantic gesture. In reality, Bernie feels anything but romance.
Instead, she feels trapped and frightened. Jane Hazlegrove explained that her character is “really quite frightened” of him. Because Bernie has previously dealt with aggressive and violent men, this situation hits especially hard.
A Chilling Discovery Makes The Threat Real
As if being cornered in the café were not enough, things grow even more unsettling. Soon after, Bernie discovers that someone has cut her head out of her wedding photo. In that moment, the story shifts from uncomfortable to deeply disturbing.
Naturally, Bernie realises what this could mean, Mal has been inside her house. That thought alone terrifies her. Up until now, Bernie has relied on her tough outer shell to protect herself.
Letting her guard down, even briefly, now feels like a dangerous mistake. Hazlegrove described Mal as “unhinged,” underlining just how serious the threat has become. Because of this, Bernie begins to think about how she can take back control. Mal has been blackmailing her, and she knows the only way to remove his power is to tell Dev the truth about the kiss in the hotel. However, although confessing could free her from Mal’s hold, it could also destroy her relationship.
Unsurprisingly, Bernie feels “deeply, deeply anxious” about coming clean. On one hand, she knows Dev deserves honesty. On the other hand, she fears she may have pushed him too far this time. She questions how many times she can test his patience and whether he will forgive her again. With Mal’s behaviour set to escalate further next week, that sense of stability may not last. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Coronation Street spoilers.