Carl Webster continues to cause a stir across Coronation Street, but the biggest shift may come from a truth he has kept buried for years. As tensions rise around him, hints suggest that the next chapter of his story will dig into the wounds he carried long before he ever returned to the Websters.
The Recent Chaos Leading Up to Bigger Revelations
Fans will recall that Carl arrived in Weatherfield after making the decision to leave his life in Germany behind. He reunited with Kevin and Debbie Webster, his half-siblings through their shared father Bill. Carl grew up with Bill and Elaine Webster abroad, while Kevin and Debbie were raised by Bill and his first wife, Alison Webster. That split upbringing already set Carl apart from the rest of the family.
However, his return didn’t take long to descend into trouble. Soon after moving in, he began a secret affair with Kevin’s wife, Abi, putting him on a collision course with both Kevin and Debbie. His financial schemes quickly escalated, too. He ran a fraudulent MOT operation at the garage without Kevin noticing, and later manipulated Debbie into giving him control over the Chariot Square hotel finances.
The chaos only deepened in recent episodes. Carl admitted privately to a friend that he intended to move back to Germany, even as he reassured Abi that he felt happy in their relationship. Once again, he demonstrated how easily he bends the truth with the people who trust him most.
Despite all this wrongdoing, Jonathan Howard suggested that Carl’s actions stem from something more complicated than simple spite or selfishness. At the 2025 Inside Soap Awards, he revealed that Carl has long carried a deep yearning to belong to a family he never fully experienced growing up.
Coronation Street to Explore Carl’s Painful Childhood
Jonathan confirmed that the show will soon dive into Carl’s past, especially his strained relationship with his parents. He explained that Carl’s bond with his mother, and the emotional distance she kept, played a major role in shaping him. According to Jonathan, Carl never felt genuine love from his mum, and that missing connection continues to fuel his desperate decisions as an adult.
The actor added that Kevin and Debbie barely visited Carl during his childhood in Germany. He described Carl as someone who grew up largely ignored, with a mother who dismissed him, leaving him to navigate life without the affection he needed. This difficult early life, Jonathan hinted, will soon come to the forefront of the storyline. Jonathan also expressed a strong desire to portray Carl with more depth as the character moves through these revelations.
Jonathan mentioned that he always embraces scenes that let him show Carl’s emotional side, stressing that he doesn’t want viewers to see Carl as a simple villain. Instead, he views Carl as a man whose bad decisions stem from desperation and a lifelong lack of support. Jonathan’s comments make it clear that the show is preparing to peel away the defensive layers Carl hides behind. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for every Coronation Street updates.